New Zealand may be nestled away deep in the Pacific, but myriad French influences can be found throughout the country. From the food and drink with which we stock our pantries, to the way we eat out, how we shop and cook and even how we fill our leisure time, traces of French culture can be glimpsed all around. So why is French food so influential? Whether it’s quick bites on the go or savouring a three-course meal paired with spectacular local wine, no matter what the occasion we can all agree that the impact of French food isn’t just the taste it leaves in your mouth: it’s an experience of every aspect reflecting the charm of the culture. New Zealand may be far from France but Cuisine has collected a roundup of how you can get a delicious taste of France right here in your own backyard.

EATING IN

Pairing an exquisite cheese with freshly baked bread is the very essence of perfection. Fortunately, across the country talented cheesemakers and well-stocked delis offer an array of delightful selections for us to enjoy. Our top selections for French bread include: La Voie Française, Auckland (facebook.com/LVFrancaise); Ya Bon French Baker, Hawke’s Bay (yabon.co.nz); Bellbird, Christchurch (bellbirdbakedgoods.co.nz) and Rüdi’s, Hamilton (rudis.nz). Noteworthy cheesemakers to complete the pairing include Auckland’s Anabelle’s Fine Fresh Cheese (anabelle.co.nz) and Marlborough Sounds’ Cranky Goat Cheese (crankygoatltd.co.nz). Belle Chèvre Creamery (bellechevrecreamery.co.nz) in Waipu offers a tasty range of ethically crafted artisan goat’s cheese, found at selected stockists and online. And of course, we cannot forget brie. Little River Estate (instagram.com/littleriverestate) in Upper Moutere, Tasman, has a wonderful trophy-winning Brie de Moutere. However if you’re after cheese right from the heart of France itself, Le Marché Français Deli (lemarche.co.nz)is the place to go. Boasting Wellington’s largest selection of imported French and European cheeses with more than 50 varieties, the ever-evolving range ensures there’s always something new to discover. Look no further than Taranaki-based Maison Aotearoa Charcuterie (maisonaotearoa.co.nz) for a range of Basque-influenced pâté and rillettes. At this boutique business, Mike and Julie Tewhata use traditional French preparation and preservation methods to transform locally sourced meats into high-end gourmet delicacies.

DINING OUT

We are lucky enough to be surrounded by numerous eateries embracing and showcasing all the iconic dishes, ingredients and stories behind French cuisine. Ben Bayly’s Origine (origine.nz) is an Aucklander’s slice of France in the midst of busy and bustling Commercial Bay. Combining the best of Kiwi and French, wild-shot venison tartare comes with a tarragon mayo and crispy Agria wafer; wood-fired escargot have XO butter and an almond herb crumb. Take a drive a little further south to Hamilton and arrive at Zealong Tea Estate (zealong.com). At Camellia Restaurant, Jean-Baptiste Pilou and Valentina Avecilla embody the essence of French cuisine with each meticulously crafted dish showcasing the elegance and precision of French culinary tradition. The experience is enhanced by pairing the estate’s own Zealong teas with its dishes, creating a unique fusion of flavours. Tucked away in the serene beauty of Wānaka, Bistro Gentil (bistrogentil.co.nz) offers a true taste of France told through the finest local ingredients: the French onion soup topped with a Gruyère-laden crouton is a rich and soulful nod to the cosy bistros of Paris. With its charming ambience, a carefully curated wine selection and sweeping lakeside location, Bistro Gentil is a little bit of French indulgence in Central Otago. Akaroa’s French Farm Estate (frenchfarmestate.co.nz) not only has remarkable vineyard views, but the menu offers a delicious expression of European flavours. Try Camembert wedges and baked brie paired with a glass at this haven of French-Provincial style set in immaculate gardens. It’s hard to narrow it down to just a few eateries but Cuisine’s picks to visit include Le Bouillon Bel Air (lebelair.nz) in Wellington, Le Plônc (leplonc.co.nz) in Nelson and Apéro (apero.co.nz), Le Garde Manger (legardemanger.co.nz) and Kazuya (kazuya.co.nz) in Auckland.

MARKETS & PRODUCE

Fresh ingredients and produce are what makes a meal truly special. Immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere of a classic French market at Alliance Française French Market (alliance-francaise.co.nz) in Auckland. Offering a vibrant experience for Francophiles, food lovers and anyone seeking a fun weekend outing, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. While it’s not quite full-on French, you can get a slice or a serving of France at the Otago Farmers Market. La Crepe, founded by skilled pastry chef Christophe Degas, offers high-quality French crêpes and galettes stuffed with creative, seasonal fillings.

Truffles make for a sophisticated dish and Kings Truffles (kingstruffles.com) based in North Canterbury specialises in fresh, organic black truffles from a sustainable farm. Each truffle is carefully graded and packaged before being offered to both home cooks and restaurants. When the season opens in June, visitors to the farm can also enjoy truffle hunting, guided by the farm’s dogs. Other exceptional producers include Limestone Hills (limestonehills.co.nz) from Hamner Springs and George’s Truffles (georgestruffles.co.nz) from Riwaka.

If there is one ingredient that truly shines in French cooking, it’s garlic. Moa Valley Garlic (moavalleyfarm.co.nz), located by the Moawhango River in the central North Island, is dedicated to rejuvenating its land to grow nutrient-rich garlic. The farm focusses on organic, sustainable methods to cultivate diverse, healthy soil and produce high-quality, culinary garlic.

Perigord black truffles from Kings Truffles

PÂTISSERIES & EVERYTHING SWEET

Pâtisserie is top of mind when we think about French cuisine here in New Zealand, but with such a wide selection choosing only a few to mention is no easy task. Pembroke Pâtisserie (pembrokepatisserie.co.nz) brings the essence of French pâtisserie to Wānaka with handcrafted pastries such as almond croissants, custard squares and doughnuts. Founded by Matt and Kirsty Schmutsch, the bakery combines classic French techniques with local flair, offering both sweet and savoury treats. Little French Café (littlefrenchpastry.co.nz), located in Point Chevalier and Mount Albert, Auckland, offers all the Gallic goodness of freshly baked baguettes and boulangerie favourites. Founded by French duo Matt and Ben in 2015, it brings a modern French food experience with indulgent treats such as macarons and mille-feuilles. In Christchurch, Corentin Esquenet of Butter crafts exquisite treats that can be ordered online, or picked up from the bakery window on Tuam St for just a couple of hours each Saturday morning. J’aime (jaimelesmacarons.co.nz) has been serving decadent macarons in a range of innovative flavours since 2008. Co-owners Bridget O’Sullivan and Denise Morreau offer these delights at select stockists across New Zealand and in Christchurch’s Merivale Mall and Auckland’s Commercial Bay. Others of note are Muddy Creek Café (facebook.com/p/Muddy-Creek-Café) in Omakau, Emmalou Macaron & Coffee House (facebook.com/emmaloumacaron) in New Plymouth, Dhi Ferrari (dhiferrari.co.nz) in Christchurch, Crepes a Go Go (crepesagogo.co.nz) in Auckland and Wellington and Beabeas Bakery (beabeas.co.nz) in Auckland.

To experience bean-to-bar chocolate with traditional French methods using exceptional Pacific-sourced cacao beans, try Coromandel Chocolate (coromandelchocolate.co.nz).

GET COOKING

What better way to truly immerse yourself in a great culture than to get involved in a cooking class? If learning the art behind the elegance interests you, Vaniyé Patisserie (vaniye.com) in Auckland’s Parnell offers dessert and baking classes taught by Sonia Haumonté. Sonia trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and honed her skills in Michelin-starred establishments. Returning to New Zealand, she founded Vaniyé to share her passion for exquisite, handcrafted French desserts. Learn how to prepare the great Gallic dishes and become a gourmet in a day at Riverside Kitchen’s ‘French Classics’ class in Christchurch (riversidekitchen.co.nz). For a true French connection head to New Zealand’s own little slice of France, and spend the day at The Akaroa Cooking School (akaroacooking.co.nz) indulging in a traditional five-course French menu with wines. And for those in Wellington, a visit to Savour Cooking School (savour.org.nz) is an essential addition to your weekend cooking itinerary.

SOMETHING TO SIP

New Zealand and France share an appreciation of great wine. The Cuisine team loves a divine glass of bubbles, which is why our wine experts search out the best great Champagnes. Top picks from the latest batch are: Piper Heidsieck Cuvée Rosé Sauvage NV; Piper Heidsieck Cuvée Brut NV; Taittinger Brut Réserve NV; Pol Roger Brut Reserve NV and Champagne Charles Hubert Cuvée Prestige 2018. The southern wine regions of France also craft some top flight rosés and Secret De Léoube 2022 was the winner of our latest rosé tasting with Barton & Guestier Tourmaline Côtes de Provence Rosé 2023, Ultimate Provence Rosé 2023, Maison Fortant Provence Rosé 2022, Les Petites Jamelles Rosé 2023 and Triennes Rosé IGP Méditerranée 2023 also in the Top Ten (see issue 226 November 2024 – Champagne and issue 227 January 2025 – Rosé for our expert panel’s full list of recommendations and tasting notes, or go to cuisine.co.nz).

The Vitrine

BRINGING IT HOME

How could we possibly resist bringing a little French panache into our own homes? Alongside culinary delights, tableware and fine linens play an essential role in creating the perfect dining experience. All Things French (allthingsfrench.co.nz) specialises in antique and vintage French furniture alongside quirky and interesting homewares such as copper pans and embroidered linens. At The Vitrine (vitrine.co.nz), Amanda and Julien Thery’s flea-market finds fill a warehouse store in Grey Lynn with industrial and vintage furniture, lighting and interesting objets. If you’re searching for the unusual, the stylish, the rustic and raw, the wonderful and wondrous, then take a look at French Treasures (frenchtreasures.nz). Antique and vintage sideboards and dressers, dining tables and buffets are some of the treasures to be found at French Originals (frenchoriginals.co.nz) in Whangārei.

ON CAMERA

It’s no secret that at Cuisine we love food, but we also love movies, docos, dramas and little bit of history and romance. Tantalising food scenes abound in these examples of French-inspired screen faves, so get your snacks sorted and settle in.

CHOCOLAT
When the mysterious Vianne arrives in a tranquil French town she opens an unusual chocolate shop, where she encourages villagers to abandon themselves to temptation. Juliette Binoche at her charming and whimsical best.

RATATOUILLE
In one of Paris’ finest restaurants, Remy, a determined young rat, dreams of becoming a renowned French chef.

Meryl Streep playing Julia Child in Julie & Julia

JULIE & JULIA
New Yorker Julie Powell embarks on a project to prepare all 524 recipes in Julia Childs’ landmark cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Intertwined with Julie’s story is the true tale of how Julia Child herself conquered French cuisine with passion, fearlessness, and plenty of butter. With Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci – what more can we say?

MENUS-PLAISIRS LES TROISGROS
The Troisgros family restaurant, established in 1930 in central France, has maintained three Michelin stars for 55 years and through four generations. This immersive doco showcases the artistry, ingenuity, imagination and hard work of the restaurant staff in creating and presenting meals of the highest quality.

THE CHEF (COMME UN CHEF)
A veteran chef faces off with his restaurant’s new CEO, who wants the restaurant to lose a star so that he can bring in a new chef. DELICIOUS In France in 1789, on the eve of the Revolution, a chef is dismissed by his aristocratic employer. With the help of a spirited young woman, he finds the strength to break free from servitude and opens the first-ever restaurant.

HOLY COW
In the Jura region of France, renowned for its Comté cheese, 18-year-old Totone suddenly becomes the sole carer for his little sister Claire. With no money, Totone devises a plan: follow in his family’s cheesemaking footsteps and win the €30,000 Comté cheese prize – even though he has no idea of where to start.

ANTHONY BOURDAIN: PARTS UNKNOWN
(Season 3, episode 3) Anthony Bourdain accompanies world- renowned chef/restaurateur Daniel Boulud to travel back to Boulud’s hometown of Lyon, France – a once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage to the city’s rich food culture and legendary chefs, with a focus on nouvelle cuisine innovator Paul Bocuse.

CHEF’S TABLE: FRANCE (2016)
Go inside the lives and kitchens of some of the world’s most renowned French chefs. Each episode focusses on a single chef – Michel Troisgros, Adeline Grattard, Alain Passard and Alexandre Couillon – taking a unique look at their lives, talents and passion from their piece of culinary heaven.

ALSO check out the French Film Festival Aotearoa (May-June 2025) frenchfilmfestival.co.nz