Burgundy, France

What a perfect day to take a Trip to France.........

Burgundy, France 

France...the roots of Culinary Cooking (many people say) 

  

France, being the second largest country in Europe, that captures the Old World style and fuses it with the Renaissance and modern life forming a unique culture within its people, cuisines, fashion, economy, and its astonishing history. Within the country of France is the city of Burgundy, which has a lot to offer in regards to the incredible cuisine.  Some of the most classical dishes known in the food service industry have their origins in Burgundy and its surrounding region.  The city is well-known for its exquisite wine selections, cheese production, Charolais beef, rich and flavorful sauces, truffles and celebrated food and wine festivals. You don’t have to travel far in Burgundy, France to find good food because everywhere you turn mouth-watering flavors are always in the air.  From mom and pop restaurants to Michelin star establishments, Burgundy has it all.

Cuisine in Burgundy tends to be rich with a full use of butter, cream and other delicious ingredients that stimulate the senses. Famous dishes from the area include coq au vin, beef bourguignon

Coq au vin is an old French country dish. “Coq” is the French word for “cock” or “rooster” and “vin” means “wine.” In Burgundy, coq au vin is prepared with poultry, such as rooster or an older bird that’s cooked in wine, typically a wine from Burgundy.

Beef Bourguignon is a stew prepared with beef braised in red wine, traditionally red Burgundy, and beef broth, generally flavored with garlic, onions and a bouquet garni, with pearl onions and mushrooms added towards the end of cooking. 

In regards to beef, a most of the beef used in Burgundy is from Charolais cattle. Holy Cow!!! Charolais bulls can weigh up to 2,500 lbs. and Charolais cows that weigh up to 2,000 lbs.  They are raised for their meat, although they do have a higher muscle ratio when compared to other cattle.

Famous cheeses from Burgundy include St-Florentin from the Yonne Valley, many types of chèvre which is a type of goat cheese from Morvan, Époisses du Bourgogne which is an orange skinned cheese, and also a Chaource which is creamy and white. They are many different types of cheeses produced throughout the region of Burgundy and as well as throughout the country of France.

Burgundy produces around four tons of native tuber truffles each year. Wow … that’s a lot of mushrooms! These truffles are also known as the black summer truffle. The identifiable characteristic of these truffles is they have a chocolate brown interior with white veining. The Burgundy truffle grows throughout East-Central France and Northern Italy, and reaches maturity in mid-September. In Burgundy it is mainly harvested in wild public forests using trained dogs, or in the older days, farmers and hunters used pigs.

Another common ingredient that’s found in Burgundy France is the mustard seed. Mustard is a regional specialty. They are different styles of Mustard to suit many people’s preferences such as, smooth, coarse, chunky and other styles that fall somewhere in between. Also, menu variations are derived from basic mustard made with everything from honey to tarragon, with flavors ranging from spicy hot to pleasantly sweet. A simple ingredient that’s sometimes overlooked or just recognized when paired with hot dogs was once a favorite ingredient of a king.

Burgundy is one of France's main wine producing areas.  Their vineyards are small, their production is complex, and there are many different wine producers. A few well known names of wines that are produced in Burgundy are as follows: Beaune, Nuits-St-Georges, Chablis, Meursault and Gevrey-Chambertin. The different areas in Burgundy France all offer something different regarding red and white wines. Chablis, which is a northern wine region, is known exclusively for its dry white wines. The Côte de Nuits is home to some of the great red Burgundies.  Some white wine is produced as well, but the reds are the region's fame. The Côte de Beaune is known for both red and white wines, but the greatest white Burgundies, other than Chablis, would be from here. The Côte Chalonnaise is generally regarded as a lesser district, but stills produce some extremely fine wines, both red and white. The Mâconnais is the southern limit of Burgundy.

French citizens know how to make great tasting food and amazing wine.  They also know how to celebrate them both. Many festivals take place during throughout the year in all the different parts of Burgundy. One of the more interesting festivals is the an international food festival held in Dijon. Every year Dijon holds the International and Gastronomic Fair, a major event in France. It also hosts a fantastic daily food market held in a 19th-century covered market building.

In conclusion, the excellence of the cuisine goes back through history and remains as a the highlight of life today. With the wide variety of ingredients available, and the locally produced wine, some of the finest food in the world is found in Burgundy France. Burgundy, known for amazing top rate ingredients used by world class chefs to produce dishes that are famous and known throughout all over the globe. From the livestock of Charolais beef to the ground growing truffles, France has it all.  With famous dishes of Burgundy, France such as  Escargots à la Bourgogne, Boeuf (beef) Bourguignon, and Coq au Vin  just to name a few, it is easy to understand the region’s passion for food. Burgundy offers some of the greatest food and wine products in the world which everyone should be able to enjoy for themselves. Visit Burgundy France. You’ll be glad you did.