SHARE
COPY LINK
For members

FOOD AND DRINK

QUIZ: How well do you know the north west of France?

As summer is here tourists will once again be flocking to this stunning area of France - with its lush green fields, beautiful beaches and fabulous cuisine.

QUIZ: How well do you know the north west of France?
Photo: AFP

But how well do you know the food, history and geography of this beautiful area with its proud heritage?

Take our test to find out whether you are a seasoned local or whether you will – unfortunately – need a few more holidays to really get to know the region.

 

 

How well do you know north west France

 

It's well known that Brittany was once part of the Roman province of Britainia, hence the linguistic similarity to Britain, but how did the Romans refer to the area covered by modern day Brittany?

 

Brittany has a proud regional identity with its own language (Breton) and a small but determined independence movement. But when did it become a permanent part of France?

 

Which of these is the Brittany flag?

 

Brittany has its own language, Breton, a Celtic based language which is most closely related to Cornish or Welsh and shares very little with French. But how many people speak it?

 

Moving on to Normandy now, what is a 'Norman's answer'?

 

Which Norman town in this?

 

What is Normandy's rather unpopular claim to fame on the motoring front?

 

Camembert cheese is Normandy's most famous produce, but what rules must producers follow to get the coveted AOP (Appellation d'Origine Protegé) on their cheese?

 

We know that cider is big in both Brittany and Normandy, but pommeau is also a popular tipple around these parts. What is it?

 

Perhaps unsurprisingly for a region with many miles of coastline, many Normans throughout history have been renowned sailors and explorers. One 14th century Norman, Jean de Béthencourt, took his explorations one step further when he conquered the Canary Islands and installed himself as king. Where was he born?

 

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
For members

FOOD AND DRINK

9 delicious French dishes to try this summer

It’s almost impossible to imagine a ‘bad time’ for food lovers in France – summer certainly isn’t one, with a huge range of fresh, flavourful and light produce easily available. Here’s a few of our favourites.

9 delicious French dishes to try this summer

Salade niçoise

Summer is the season of salads and seafood in France. Which brings us immediately to arguably the most classic of French summer classic dishes, traditionally made with tomatoes and anchovies, dressed with olive oil.

All the extra stuff you’ll see in a modern version – hard-boiled eggs, olives, lettuce, green beans, tuna were added later and French people can get quite agitated over the question of potatoes in a salade niçoise.

Speaking of . . .

Pan bagnat

A pan bagnat is, basically, salad niçoise in sandwich form. But the secret to a proper pan bagnat is in the bread. It’s a traditional, rustic sandwich made using stale bread that has been refreshed by a trickle of water.

The clue is in the name – it literally means ‘bathed bread’. And a proper pan bagnat can only come from and use ingredients from Provence. Otherwise it’s just a (mostly) vegetable sandwich.

Tomates farcies

Potagers up and down France have tomato plants in them right now, and they’re all – hopefully – giving good fruit. Enter the many stuffed tomato recipes to cope with the glut. Expect variations on a sausage meat, onions, garlic, salt-and-pepper theme.

Of course, a simple tomato salad (perhaps with a little cheese and a sprinkle of basil) is also a joy to behold.

Flan de courgette

As it is with tomatoes, so it is with courgettes. Gardeners the length and breadth of France are wondering what to do with the sheer mass of fruit their plants are giving out.

The simple and delicious courgette flan covers many a base – and also incorporates French cuisine favourites ham and cheese. Usually served warm.

Ratatouille

It’s probably illegal not to mention the famously rustic ratatouille in any piece about French summer recipes.

The dish you probably know – with tomatoes, courgettes, aubergines, pepper and garlic – is from Provence. But there are variation on this vegetable stew that you’ll find across the Mediterranean arc – think piperade, from southwest France, bohémienne, from Vaucluse, or chichoumeille, from Languedoc. 

They’re all delicious and they’ll all give you your five-a-day.

Tarte au chèvre et au concombre

Cucumbers are typical salad fare. They can be added to drinks, used to make chilled soups and detox cocktails. But you can also cook with them. Seek out a recipe for goat’s cheese and cucumber tart.

Vichyssoise

A chilled soup, perfect on a summer’s day, with a French name, created by a French chef. This chilled leek-and-potato soup actually first appeared, around 1910, as a dish at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in New York. But it has its basis in France. The chef who created it, Louis Félix Diat, said that it was inspired by his mother, who taught him how to cook. 

Chilled soups are a great bet on a hot day and you’ll see dozens of variations on menus, from cucumber to melon via variations on gazpacho (which is Spanish but the French very sensibly embrace it).

Tapenade

Black olives, garlic, anchovies, capers, olive oil. A blender. And you’ve got a delicious, simple ‘tartiner’ for a slice of toast or crusty bread. Try it. You’ll thank us.

Moules à la crème

Shellfish and summer go hand in glove. Moules-frites are hugely popular, with good reason.

But this summer moules recipe is, despite the creaminess, a little lighter overall. As always, there are always regional variations on a theme – do look out for moules à la normande, in particular.

What’s your favourite French dish on a hot day? Share your recommendations in the comments section below

SHOW COMMENTS