Discover northern France through its cuisine

As with other mega sporting events, the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be a lively gathering of nations, and this is the kind of genuine friendliness with which the people of northern France are known throughout France. It's something you'll definitely see on the pitch, but warmer on the outside as well. Everywhere, people love to have a good time and share moments with others; the more they are, the more fun! With traditional events organised throughout the year such as the Dunkirk Carnival or the 100km Flea Market in Lille, locals regularly show their ability to set up a good gathering. So we all look forward to this great celebration that will be the Olympics. If you want to mingle with the locals on the Northern way, there's no better place than a bar. You can count on our Flemish restaurants that warm your hearts with generous local food, perhaps the best reflection of the warmth of the Hauts-de-France people.

As a warm-up, discover our winning regional dishes

Warm your heart with delicious northern French stews. One of the most famous is Flemish Carbonnade, which mixes delicious beef with the sweetness of simmered gingerbread in beer. For cheese lovers, Flamiche au Maroilles is a popular "ch'ti" pie (northern) of local or fermented pastries, local Maroilles cheese, cream, eggs and sometimes bacon. If you're feeling less adventurous in tasting cheese, try the local Welsh Rarebit dish. Yes, Welsh Rarebit is a British dish, but our revisited version features local beer and cheese – served in generous portions! For a cold meal, enjoy Potjevleesch ('meat in a pot' in Flemish) – a blend of premium white meat (rabbit, pork, veal, poultry) stewed and served in jelly flavored with spices and herbs. The Estaminets restaurants (typical Flemish restaurants) are friendly places to try some of the above delicacies. But of course, there's a lot to feature about our vibrant food scene. A growing number of talented chefs are re-experiencing traditional cuisine with a modern twist, using fresh and locally imported produce. From rustic dishes to fine dining, there's something for everyone here.

From tart flavored cheese to sweet victory scent?

It's no secret that the French love cheese, and that it's deeply ingrained in our culinary culture. Hauts-de-France is no exception, with more than 30 cheeses, most of which are made from cow's milk. Perhaps the most famous cheese is Marwell, a strong, soft-to-touch cheese made according to a secret recipe dating back more than 1,000 years. Used in many Flemish dishes, it is characterized by its soft, orange peel and distinctive aroma. Bergess cheese is one of the lightest French cheeses, making it a good introduction to discovering local cheeses. Soft with washed crust, it has been produced since the seventeenth century but has almost disappeared until a few local enthusiasts decide to keep it alive. We also recommend Memolite cheese (or "Paul de Lille"), which can be identified by its orange color resulting from a natural pigment that has historically been used to distinguish it from Dutch cheese for tax purposes. It has a pressed, hard dough making it a great appetizer or sandwich ingredient to enjoy at half-time.

Bring local specialties to your home

Amiens macarons" are delicious pastries that are perfect for sharing with your loved ones. The secret to the delicate taste of almonds with a touch of honey lies in a recipe passed down by the six generations of the Trogniox family in Amiens unchanged from father to son. Also suitable for lovers of sweets, Betty's de Cambrai is a small dessert invented in the nineteenth century and now produced by only two family businesses. It is a delicate blend of honey and caramel, and sells it all over the world in beautiful metal cans. There are also Flemish pancakes to try. Shi Mert, one of the oldest pastry shops in the world, has a secret recipe for stuffed waffles that have delighted Lille residents since the seventeenth century. Fillings vary depending on the season: lemon, vanilla, almond, caramel... Winston Churchill seems to have been a fan of her! At breakfast, you can try the famous Shikori, made from dandelion roots grown in the region, which are added to water, milk or coffee for a signature drink. Last but not least, your trip to Hauts-de-France may include the opportunity to learn how to whisk Chantilly cream in the very place where it was invented – the city of Chantilly itself, which is also famous for its fairy castle and horse racing.

Where do we go next?

Now, I'm going to find it very difficult to serve better dishes than the ones we're going to serve tonight, especially in such a simple preparation. However, I'll try. Next time, we'll go back to Italy. Italy is another country that understands local ingredients. The pride of Italian cuisine rivaled the pride of France. But as usual, I won't tell you what region we'll explore in Italy — you have to guess. What are they, do you want a hint? Fair enough. The name of this region sounds lazy, and its capital was the first city in the world with a population exceeding one million.