Most French households have a copious Christmas Eve dinner which traditionally may includes what we call the 13 desserts de Noël (the 13 Christmas desserts). Other foods served on Christmas Eve may include shrimps, find patés, foie gras (fatten goose liver paté), ousters, chocolate bouchées and other canapés.
The traditional Christmas dinner starts on Christmas Eve at dinner time. Most French households have a copious Christmas Eve dinner which traditionally may includes what we call the 13 desserts de Noël (the 13 Christmas desserts). Other foods served on Christmas Eve may include shrimps, find patés, foie gras (fatten goose liver paté), ousters, chocolate bouchées and other canapés.
- Duck and Pork Terrine. A terrine is a French pâté that is named after the dish it is cooked in. This .
- Brined Roast Goose With Orange Glaze. In many parts of France, you will find a roast goose on the .
- Uncomplicated Boeuf Bourguignon. This slow-cooked beef stew is the ultimate comfort food and .
- Prime Rib Au Jus. Prime rib is a wonderful main dish to serve at Christmas dinner as it is not only .
- Classic French Gratin Dauphinois. The holidays are the ideal time to be a little decadent, and gratin .
- Easy Classic French Spinach Soufflé. The beautiful presentation of this spinach soufflé makes it .
- French Almond Macarons. Celebrate the holiday season with a French sweet treat, the almond .
- Chocolate Bûche de Noël (Yule Log) Cake. First invented during the late 1800s by a French pastry .
- Classic French Marrons Glacés (Candied Chestnuts) Marrons glacés are a beloved holiday treat in .
- Chocolat Chaud. Top off your holiday celebrations with homemade chocolat chaud. Made with .
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Appetizers. For most families, Christmas is the occasion to prepare one of the most renowned dishes of the French cuisine : foie gras. A must during winter holidays, foie gras is a real star during a typical French dinner. It is usually served with a toast and fig or onions confit.
Your Guide To A Traditional French Christmas Dinner
- a) Apéritifs, appetizers, and snacks
- b) Entrées (starters)
- c) Plat (Main Meat dish)
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What is the traditional French Christmas dinner? A French Christmas dinner is usually a traditional affair, the highlights of which are a starter of oysters, a delicious stuffed roast goose or turkey, and a yummy Bûche de Noël (Christmas Yule Log) for desert.
The multi-course affair usually begins with Champagne, and of course, Champagne is best served with nibbles. Christmas is traditionally pegged as a time to pull out all the stops, so amuses bouches to accompany France’s most famous bubbly may.
All in all, it was a simple but beyond delicious Christmas dinner. I realize that I didn’t mention the cheese, but there is always cheese in a French dinner, lots of different kinds. As for dessert, while a typical French Christmas dessert is a “bûche de Noël“, we simply had ice cream cake (forgot to.
French Christmas Dinner
As with all special dinners here in France, Christmas dinner is typically served in several courses starting with apéritif, one or two entrees, a main course and a cheese and salad course, followed by one (or more) desserts and Champagne and ending with a digestif..
A Very French Christmas. Class up your Christmas with a sophisticated menu of tried and true French classics. Sheela Prakash Social Sharing Share. Share “A Very French Christmas” on Facebook.
Fowls and Game Meat Are Popular Around the Holidays in France. Game meats such as “ le cerf ” (venison) are a popular dish for Christmas in France – or maybe a fancy beef roast, maybe “ un rôti en croûte ” (roast in a crust of dough, like a beef Wellington), like my father in law often makes.
- Foie Gras. Foie gras isn’t for everyone. The concept can put squeamish people right off of their .
- Boeuf Bourguignon. This dish is made by a lot of French families on Christmas Eve or Day, when the .
- Caviar. The French love to start their dining experiences with a hearty dollop of caviar atop a cracker .
- Escargots. Escargots are another dish served year round in France, but during the festive season .
- Wildfowl. Lobster and turkey are traditional main meals during a Christmas feast in France. Not .
- French Gratin Dauphinois. The more traditional French families might add gratin dauphinois to their .
- Soufflé. The French love their soufflés, that is not secret. These can either be served as sweet or .
- Roast Turkey. Like most of the world, the French roast turkeys at Christmas time! This dish is an .
- Bûche de Noël. The Christmas desserts in France are as important as the savory dishes. One of the .
- Thirteen Desserts. In French culture it is customary for the big Christmas Eve feast to end in a .
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Recipes for a traditional French Christmas dinner
By FrenchEntrée. A French Christmas dinner is usually a traditional affair, the highlights of which are a starter of oysters, a delicious stuffed roast goose or turkey, and a yummy Bûche de Noël (Christmas Yule Log) for desert.
- Foie Gras Terrine. Foie gras, which is often homemade, is the one that immediately comes to mind …
- Seafood Platter and mainly Chilled Oyster. Oyster are served on a large platter often covered with a …
- Smoked salmon. Even French kids love to eat smoked salmon, on blinis or thin white sandwich …
- Scallops. The French love scallops as they are very delicate and luxurious. They like to present …
- Capon or Turkey with chestnut stuffing. This is the most popular and classic Christmas dish. Capon …
- Wild Game. Almost not eaten the rest of the year unless there’s a hunter among relatives, wild game …
- Sophisticated Fish Preparations. As Christmas is a Christian feast where fish as a sign of …
- Cheese Platter. A huge cheese platter with many different kinds of cheese is a must have, neatly …
- Bûche de Noël Yule Log Cake. Bûche de Noël is definitely the one and only Christmas dessert. …
- Exotic and candied fruits. Although it’s common to find exotic fruits all year long nowadays, It’s …
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- Foie gras terrine. Foie gras is the one dish that immediately comes to mind and really represents …
- Smoked salmon. Even French kids love to eat smoked salmon, especially on blinis or thin white …
- Scallops. The French love scallops as they are very delicate and luxurious. The done thing is to …
- Capon or turkey with chestnut stuffing. This is the most popular and classic Christmas dish. The …
- Wild game. Rarely eaten during the rest of the year unless there’s a hunter in the family, wild game …
- Sophisticated fish dishes. As Christmas is a Christian feast which considers eating fish as a sign of …
- Cheese platter. A huge cheese platter with many different varieties is an absolute must-have. It …
- Bûche de Noël. Bûche de Noël is definitely the one and only Christmas dessert. Traditionally shaped …
- Exotic and candied fruits. It’s common to have lychee, clementine, passion fruit, mango at the end …
- Chocolate truffles. It’s difficult to choose a favourite from all the tiny bite size Christmas cookies …
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- The Christmas Tree in France. The Christmas tree is one of the most popular French traditions of …
- From Saint Nicolas to Père Noël. “Père Noël” (Father Christmas) is Santa Claus in France. Like in …
- The Christmas Presents. The presents offered to each other at Christmastime represent Saint …
- The Nativity scene. The Gospel of Luke recounts the story of Christ’s birth in a stable. His mother …
- Christmas’ Eve in France. The Réveillon is the big dinner French people share with their family on 24 …
- The Midnight Mass. On Christmas’ Eve, the midnight mass is part of the French traditions of …
- The French Christmas markets. All French Christmas markets (marchés de Noël) find their origins …
- Mistletoe and holly. In France, mistletoe (gui) is not only used for New Year’s Eve. It is also hung …
- Exchanging vows. Exchanging vows for Christmas and the New Year (vœux) has been practised …
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Christmas in France + French Christmas Traditions
The Traditional French Christmas Dinner. Christmas is incomplete without a hearty meal and laughter all around the table. The biggest meal of the.
- Advent. The four weeks before Christmas are dedicated to preparations for Christmas. On 1 .
- Christmas Eve. The evening of December 24th is when French families sit down together to .
- Le Réveillon. This is the name of the French Christmas Eve meal, which is a big and long feast. The .
- Midnight Mass. A church service is held on Christmas Eve. It is actually an important Christmas .
- Traditional French Christmas food. Food is a big part of French Christmas traditions. It depends on .
- Les Treize (13) desserts. This is a Provençal French Christmas tradition but worth mentioning as it .
- French alcohol at Christmas. Mulled wine is popular in bars and in French Christmas markets, .
- Table decoration. It is very important for French people to have their Christmas dining table looking .
- The sapin de noël. The Christmas tree is decorated some time before Christmas Day, so there’s .
- Shoes in front of the fireplace. French children put their shoes near the fireplace so that Père Noël .
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French Christmas Dinner Menu. Recipes for a traditional French Christmas dinner. French Christmas Meal. 3. Le Réveillon. This is the name of the French Christmas Eve meal, which is a big and long feast.The name comes from the verb réveiller, to wake up or revive.Increasingly more families start this French Christmas tradition on Christmas Day, when it is easier for the whole family to gather.
This is the night the French celebrate with a beautifully decorated table, a sumptuous Christmas feast and the very best French wines. Known as le réveillon or the “wake-up” dinner, the meal was traditionally enjoyed late on Christmas Eve after returning from midnight mass at the local church.
The dishes that make a real French Christmas feast
BÛCHE DE NOËL. Outside Provence, the likelihood is that the French will spare a little room in their bellies for the traditional Christmas chocolate log or “Bûche de Noël,” as it’s known.
Christmas Eve is a perfect time for a raucous family party that lasts well into the night. We’ve updated a traditional French-Canadian menu to help you get the festivities started.
