French Food Quiz

1. A croissant is made from which type of pastry dough?

1. Choux pastry
2. Laminated yeasted dough
3. Puff pastry
4. Shortcrust pastry

2. Which famous sauce — made from egg yolks, butter, and lemon juice — is a cornerstone of classical French cuisine?

1. Béarnaise
2. Beurre blanc
3. Hollandaise
4. Velouté

3. Coq au vin is a classic French braised dish. What does 'coq au vin' translate to?

1. Chicken in cream
2. Duck with cherries
3. Rabbit in mustard
4. Rooster in wine

4. The five French 'mother sauces' are the foundation of classical French cooking. Which of these is one of them?

1. All French sauces derive from just two mothers
2. Béchamel, Bolognese, Hollandaise, Espagnole, Velouté
3. Hollandaise, Béarnaise, Rémoulade, Beurre blanc, Velouté
4. Hollandaise, Béchamel, Velouté, Espagnole, Sauce Tomat

5. Bouillabaisse is a traditional Provençal fish stew. Which French city is it most closely associated with?

1. Lyon
2. Marseille
3. Nice
4. Paris

6. Crème brûlée is a classic French dessert. What is the defining feature that sets it apart?

1. A layer of caramelised sugar is torched on top of a rich custard
2. It contains fresh fruit in the base
3. It is made with meringue
4. It is served frozen

7. Which city is often called the gastronomic capital of France?

1. Bordeaux
2. Lyon
3. Paris
4. Strasbourg

8. Foie gras is a controversial French delicacy made from which bird's liver?

1. Chicken or quail
2. Duck or goose
3. Pheasant
4. Turkey

9. Ratatouille is a traditional Provençal vegetable dish. Which vegetables are classically used?

1. Aubergine, courgette, tomato, peppers, onion, and garlic
2. Beetroot, fennel, asparagus, and artichoke
3. Cabbage, turnip, potato, and celery
4. Potato, carrot, leek, and peas

10. A French baguette must meet specific criteria in France. Approximately how long is a standard baguette?

1. 30 cm (1 foot)
2. 55 cm (22 inches)
3. 65–70 cm (26–28 inches)
4. 90 cm (35 inches)

11. Which cheese — soft, white, and creamy — is known as the 'king of cheeses' and comes from the Île-de-France region?

1. Brie de Meaux
2. Camembert
3. Comté
4. Munster

12. French onion soup is topped with what before being placed under a grill?

1. A layer of cream
2. A poached egg
3. Croutons and melted Gruyère cheese
4. Puff pastry lid

13. Escargot is a French dish made from:

1. Baby shellfish
2. Frog legs in cream sauce
3. Small whole crabs
4. Snails, usually cooked in garlic butter

14. Béarnaise sauce — the rich accompaniment to a steak — is a variation of Hollandaise. What gives béarnaise its distinctive flavour?

1. Capers and lemon zest
2. Dijon mustard and cream
3. Red wine and black pepper
4. Tarragon and shallots

15. Which cooking technique — beloved in French cuisine — involves slow-cooking food in vacuum-sealed bags in precisely controlled warm water?

1. Bain-marie
2. Confit
3. En papillote
4. Sous vide

16. Cassoulet is a hearty slow-cooked French casserole associated with the Languedoc region. What is it made from?

1. Chicken braised in red wine with root vegetables
2. Lamb and white bean stew with tomatoes
3. Lentils, vegetables, and duck confit
4. White beans slow-cooked with pork, duck confit, and sausage

17. Which French dessert consists of two round almond meringue shells sandwiched with a filling — often ganache, buttercream, or jam?

1. Éclair
2. Macaron
3. Madeleine
4. Profiterole

18. Confit is a French preservation technique. Duck confit involves:

1. Air-drying duck for several weeks
2. Marinating duck in vinegar before grilling
3. Slow-cooking duck in its own fat at low temperature, then storing in fat
4. Smoking duck over apple wood

19. Vichyssoise is a classic cold French soup. What are its main ingredients?

1. Carrot, ginger, and orange
2. Cucumber, yogurt, and mint
3. Leek, potato, cream, and chicken broth
4. Tomato, basil, and olive oil

20. Auguste Escoffier is considered the father of modern French cuisine. Which landmark hotel did he work at, developing the classical French menu format?

1. The Georges V Paris
2. The Grand Hotel Monte Carlo
3. The Ritz Paris
4. The Savoy London