Discover French gastronomy
French people have three meals a day: breakfast when they wake up, lunch around 12pm/1pm and dinner around 7pm/8pm.
WHERE TO EAT?
The "resto-U" (university restaurants)
University restaurants have very interesting rates! For €3.25 (2017-2018), you can have a complete meal (starter, main course and dessert). Some “resto-U” are open in the evenings and at weekends.
Bars, restaurants and bistros and cafés
Prices in restaurants are very variable and not always affordable for a student. They can range from around 10 euros for a complete meal in a local restaurant to several hundred euros in the great starred gourmet restaurants of famous chefs such as Hélène Darroze, Paul Bocuse or Alain Ducasse. A word of advice: always read the map and prices before you set up.
Several sites such as La Fourchette or Tripadvisor allow you to book and sometimes benefit from a discount on your bill.
Last recommendation: in France, service is always included in the price and a tip is only left when you are very satisfied with the service (about 5 to 10% of the total amount).
WHERE TO SHOP?
In supermarkets
Buying in supermarkets is the best cost-effective solution! However, some supermarkets and hypermarkets are more expensive than others. In supermarkets, you can also find Chinese products in the "Asia" section, if you want to cook like at home! In large cities, there are sometimes Asian districts such as the 13th arrondissement in Paris. There you will find supermarkets specializing in Asian products.
In greengrocers
At home but also abroad, it is a tradition that French people like to perpetuate: going to the greengrocer/market. If you like to cook, mingle with the crowd and walk the aisles of the nearest market. You will find fresh fruit and vegetables, ready meals, local specialities.
It is also the ideal place to buy products from elsewhere, spices or aromatic herbs. The market will only offer you seasonal products that come directly from the producer. By consuming seasonal products, you will reduce your expenses. You can consult the Markets of France website to locate the markets near you!
In the mini-markets
You will find everything in the mini-markets. Food, batteries, toothpaste... However, it is to be noted that products in mini-markets are more expensive than elsewhere. The asset of the mini-markets is that it often stays open late at night and is very convenient to help out in case of an emergency!
In street shops
Although the products are more expensive, going to the butcher, the baker, the cheese maker... is part of French culture!
