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The French are famously proud of their food, yet there is a concession to enjoying the culinary delights of other culinary giants, especially Italy.
In a nation where food is taken so seriously and where the French meal is protected by UNESCO a recent survey by conducted by Groupon and Harris* reveals that the French remain fiercely loyal to their own fare while having a soft spot for Italian favourites like burrata, pasta and pizza.
Spanish cuisine follows in third place, while US food featured worst, coming last in the rankings of food preferences.
The Favourite Three
The French don't stray far from home when it comes to their food preferences, with French food winning the favour of the majority of French at 97%, as well as being considered the most refined by 66% of respondents.
Italian cuisine was appreciated by 94% of respondents for its refinement, its diversity and of course its taste. While, Spain followed up third with 86% of French people saying they like their cooking, and 26% considering Spanish gastronomy the most colourful after Indian cuisine (30%).
American cuisine fared the worst, favoured by only 35% of respondents as well as being considered "too hearty" and "the least healthy".
Going Global
The survey also results also suggest that the French are adventurous eaters, with most respondents using dining out as a way to discover new flavours as well as educate and introduce their children to other cuisines.
Forty percent of respondents said they opt for exotic dishes when they dine out to discover new flavours (51%). Also, 94% of parents believed that it is important to introduce new flavours to their children, including through dining out in restaurants. According to the survey, 60% of parents take their children to an exotic restaurant at least once a month.
However, when cooking at home many French prefer to stay within their comfort zone, with the study revealing that dining habits depend on the context. For example, 86% of French people who cook at home prepare French dishes. Conversely, when they order food for delivery or take away, the respondents opt instead for foreign flavours (62%).
* Survey conducted online September 23 and 24, 2019 by Harris Interactive on a sample of 1034 people representative of the French population aged 18 and over.
