Alright, let’s gab about them Frenchy side dishes, you know, the little extras you put on the plate next to the main grub.
What are these “side dishes” anyway?
Well, I’ll tell ya, side dishes, or what them fancy folks call “les accompagnements,” are just the little bits of food you eat alongside your main meal. Like, if you got a big ol’ steak, you might have some potatoes or somethin’ with it. That’s a side dish! It ain’t the star of the show, but it sure makes the whole meal better.
Them Famous French Ones
Now, French folks, they got their own special ways of doin’ things, and their side dishes ain’t no different. They got a whole heap of ’em, some simple, some a bit more… well, let’s just say they like to get fancy sometimes.
- Ratatouille
First off, there’s this thing called rat-a-too-ee, or somethin’ like that. Sounds like a critter, don’t it? But it ain’t! It’s a bunch of veggies all cooked together. You got your tomatoes, your zucchini, your eggplants, peppers, onions – all chopped up and simmered ’til they’re soft and tasty. Real colorful, it is. And healthy too, I reckon. They grow this stuff down in the sunny south of France, where the sun shines real bright, ya know. Kinda like them tomatoes I used to grow in my garden, only these French folks got a fancy name for it.
- Pommes Frites
Then you got your “pum freets”. That’s just French for French fries, I swear! But theirs are a bit different, sometimes they’re real thin and crispy, not like them thick-cut ones you get at the burger joint. They fry ’em up real good and golden, and they’re mighty fine with just a sprinkle of salt. Kids love ‘em, grown-ups too. Can’t go wrong with a good ol’ fry, no matter where you are.
- Gratin Dauphinois
Now, this one’s a bit more… well, let’s say it ain’t for everyday eatin’. It’s called “grah-tan doe-fee-nwah,” and it’s basically fancy potatoes with cream and cheese. They slice up the potatoes real thin, layer ’em in a dish, pour on the cream and cheese, and bake it ’til it’s bubbly and brown. Rich, real rich. You eat too much of that, you’ll be needin’ a nap, I tell ya. But oh, it’s good. Specially on a cold day, when you need somethin’ warm and hearty in your belly.
- Haricots Verts Sautés
And don’t forget the green beans! But not just any ol’ green beans, mind you. These are the skinny little French ones, and they cook ’em up real quick with a bit of butter and garlic. They call it “har-ee-koh vehr soh-tay,” which just means sauteed green beans, I think. Simple, but good. And green, so you know it’s good for ya. My grandbaby, she loves these green beans. Eats ’em like candy, she does.
Why Bother with Sides?
Now, you might be thinkin’, why bother with all these extra dishes? Ain’t the main course enough? Well, sure, it could be. But a good side dish, it just makes the whole meal better. It adds flavor, it adds texture, and it fills you up real good. And it just makes the plate look prettier. It’s like puttin’ on a nice scarf with your Sunday best, you know? It just completes the whole look. Same with food. A good side dish, it just completes the meal.
Pairing Sides with Your Meal
And you gotta pick the right side for the right grub, see? You wouldn’t eat mashed potatoes with a fish, would ya? Well, maybe you would, I ain’t here to judge. But generally, you want somethin’ that goes well with the main course. Like, if you’re havin’ a big ol’ stew, you might want some plain rice or potatoes to soak up all that good gravy. Or if you’re havin’ a light fish, you might want some steamed veggies or a salad. It’s all about balance, see? You want somethin’ that complements the main dish, not somethin’ that fights with it.
Making it Your Own
Now, don’t go thinkin’ you gotta follow all these fancy French rules to the letter. You can make these dishes your own, put your own spin on ’em. Like, if you don’t like eggplant, leave it out of the ratatouille! Or if you don’t like cream, don’t put it in the potatoes! It’s your kitchen, you can do what you want. That’s what I always say. Cooking ain’t about followin’ rules, it’s about makin’ food that tastes good, and makin’ food that makes folks happy.
So there ya have it, a little somethin’ about them Frenchy side dishes. Next time you’re cookin’ up a meal, don’t forget the sides. They might just be the best part of the whole dang thing. And don’t let them fancy names scare ya. It’s just food, after all.
