Article by Richa Shah
Coming up next at ISM is Francophone Week! Every year, ISM’s French Honor Society hosts Francophone Week, a week-long event that celebrates the French language and culture in different ways, some of which include French bake sales, replacing the school bell with French music, and holding French film screenings! This year, Francophone Week is from April 23 to April 27, which gives us enough time to get hyped not only for their event but also for their special French buffet on April 25! The best way to do this is by familiarizing ourselves with everyone’s favorite part: the food! Here is a top ten list, in no particular order, of the best French recipes that you can try just in time for Francophone Week!
1. Les Crepes
In simple terms, a crêpe is a thin pancake that commonly consists of flour, eggs, milk, and butter. This can be eaten for breakfast, and can be topped with Nutella, powdered sugar, or just some fruit!
Recipe: https://www.thespruce.com/basic-crepe-recipe-sweet-or-savory-995317
Where in Manila: Cafe Breton, Greenbelt 3
2. Les Macarons
For all of those with a sweet tooth out there, macarons are classy French confections made from egg whites, food coloring, and lots of sugar. They are bite-size treats that are usually circular in shape and come in different colors and flavors, which is what makes this particular delicacy so tempting.
Recipe: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/french-macarons-3362691
Where in Manila: TWG Tea Salon & Boutique, Greenbelt 5, Makati City
3. La Mousse au Chocolat
Chocolate mousse is an all-time favorite comfort food that consists of butter, eggs, and sugar, and is rich in chocolate. It’s well-known foamy and creamy texture can be topped with chocolate drizzle, whipped cream, a few sprinkles of cocoa powder, or even a cherry if you’d like. Lucky for you, this dessert can be made in minutes!
Recipe: http://www.oliviascuisine.com/mousse-au-chocolat/
Where in Manila: Mary Grace Cafe, Power Plant Mall
4. La Crème Brûlée
Crème brûlée is a French dessert consisting of a sweet custard base with its top layer being a crispy crust of caramelized sugar. It also includes vanilla bean, eggs, heavy cream, and sugar.
Recipe: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/creme-brulee-recipe-1916827
Where in Manila: Italianni’s, BGC
5. La Tarte au Citron
Lemon meringue pie is a baked French delicacy that can easily be made from eggs, sugar, butter, lemon juice, and lemon zest. It is well-known and is often served at cafés and restaurants here in the Philippines.
Recipe: http://thisnzlife.co.nz/recipe-french-cafes-lemon-meringue-pie/
Where in Manila: Bo’s Coffee, Powerbooks in Greenbelt 4
6. La Soupe à L’Oignon
French onion soup consists of a base of meat stock and caramelized onions and is oftentimes served with a crust made of baked croutons and cheese, as well as a piece of bread; simple yet rich in flavor.
Recipe: http://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/easy-french-onion-soup-11181
Where in Manila: Wildflour Café + Bakery, BGC
7. Le Soufflé au Fromage
Cheese soufflé is a dish with a baked-egg base, cooked with parmesan cheese, butter, milk, and flour. This particular comfort food follows a very simple and straightforward procedure, and it can be served both savory or sweet.
Recipe: https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/classic-cheese-souffle-242119
Where in Manila: Larry’s Café and Bar, Serendra, BGC
8. La Tartiflette
Tartiflette is a savory dish made with potatoes, reblochon (French cheese), lardons, and onions. Tartiflette is a combination of vegetables and meat, making it a healthy and balanced dish. A vegetarian alternative to this recipe would be substituting the meat (lardons) for mushrooms so that all food enthusiasts can enjoy this dish!
Recipe: https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/tartiflette_59096
Where in Manila: Spiral at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila, Pasay City
9. La Quiche Lorraine
Quiche is a savory tart made with eggs, milk, cream, and cheese. Quiche lorraine, in particular, is more specific, as it contains bacon. Depending on your personal preference in protein, quiche can be composed of seafood, meat, or vegetables.
Recipe: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2868/ultimate-quiche-lorraine
Where in Manila: Wildflour Café + Bakery, BGC
10. La Ratatouille
Last but not least, ratatouille, also known as ‘ratatouille niçoise’, is a vegetable-based dish cooked with herbs and garlic. In terms of the content, ratatouille is extremely healthy and rich in flavor, so if you are someone who dislikes vegetables, this is the perfect dish for you!
Recipe: https://www.thespruce.com/ratatouille-recipe-1375502
Where in Manila: Melt Grilled Cheesery, Uptown Place Mall, BGC
Now if you see any of these recipes come up in a BuzzFeed quiz, you’ll know exactly what they’re talking about. Make sure to check out Francophone Week from April 23 to April 27! Bon appétit, Bearcats!
