Alright, let’s talk about them fancy French side dishes, the kind they eat in them big city restaurants. I ain’t no chef, mind you, just a plain ol’ woman who likes good food. But I’ve seen enough TV and heard enough talk to tell ya a thing or two.
First off, them French folks, they love their sauces. Creamy sauces, they call ’em. I reckon it’s like when you make gravy for your mashed potatoes, only fancier. They put it on everything! Vegetables, meat, even fish. I tried makin’ one once, with butter and flour and milk. Took me forever, and it still wasn’t as good as the stuff you get in them jars, I tell ya. But hey, at least I tried, right?
Then there’s the vegetables. They don’t just boil ’em and call it a day, no sir. They got this thing called “caramelized vegetables”. Sounds fancy, but it just means they cook ’em slow and low until they get all sweet and brown. Onions, carrots, even them little mushrooms. I gotta say, it does taste good. Sweeter than any vegetable I ever grew in my garden, that’s for sure. I guess that’s why they charge so much for it in them restaurants.
- One time, I saw this fella on TV makin’ somethin’ called “pommes dauphine”. Sounded like somethin’ a dog would eat, but it turned out to be these little fried potato puffs. Looked like tater tots, but way fancier. They mixed mashed potatoes with eggs and flour, then fried ’em up till they were golden brown. I bet they’d be good with ketchup, but them French folks probably got some fancy sauce for it.
- Another thing they like is “gratin dauphinois”. Now that’s a mouthful, ain’t it? It’s basically sliced potatoes baked in cream and garlic. Sounds simple enough, but they make it look all fancy in them pictures. All bubbly and golden brown. I reckon it’s like a casserole, only with a French name. I made somethin’ like it once, but I used regular milk instead of cream. It was good, but I bet it would be better with that fancy cream.
- And don’t even get me started on “haricots verts”. That’s just a fancy way of sayin’ green beans, I tell ya. But they don’t just boil ’em, oh no. They blanch ’em, then sauté ’em with butter and garlic. Sometimes they even add almonds or bacon. Makes ’em taste a whole lot better than them plain ol’ green beans I used to grow. I gotta hand it to them French folks, they know how to make vegetables taste good.
Now, I’ve heard tell of this dish called “steak frites”. It ain’t really a side dish, more like a whole meal. But it comes with fries, so I guess that counts, right? It’s just a steak, cooked however you like it, with a big pile of fries on the side. And of course, they gotta have a sauce for it. Sometimes it’s a creamy sauce, sometimes it’s a peppery sauce, sometimes it’s somethin’ else entirely. But it’s always good, or so they say. I ain’t never had it myself, but I seen it on TV enough times to know it’s popular. They serve it in them fancy restaurants, and even in them little cafes on the street corners.
So, there you have it. A little bit about them French side dishes. They’re fancy, they’re complicated, and they probably cost a pretty penny. But they sure do look good, and I bet they taste even better. Maybe one day I’ll get to try ’em all, but for now, I’ll just stick to my mashed potatoes and gravy. It ain’t fancy, but it’s good enough for me. And that’s all that matters, right? Good food, good company, and a full belly. That’s what life’s all about, no matter where you come from or what you eat.
Tags: [French Cuisine, Side Dishes, Sauces, Vegetables, Potatoes, Steak Frites, Cooking, Food]
