A new survey has found that French cuisine is the second most popular among British foodies, just behind traditional British fare.
The research, conducted by Mindful Chef to mark its partnership with Côte Brasserie, revealed that while 90% of respondents still rank British food as their favourite, 77% put French cuisine in second place. Spanish, Italian, Chinese and Indian dishes followed behind.
The study highlighted just how fond Brits are of French flavours. Two thirds admitted they prefer steak frites to fish and chips, and the same number believe the French cook a steak better than we do. Seven in ten also confessed they rate French fries above chip shop chips.
When asked about their favourite French dishes, steak frites came top with 44%, followed by chocolate fondant and profiteroles, both at 37%. Classics such as boeuf bourguignon (30%), French onion soup (28%) and quiche Lorraine (25%) also made the top spots. Other much-loved dishes included steak tartare, coq au vin, ratatouille and moules marinière.
The findings also showed that while two thirds of British foodies view French cuisine as indulgent and sophisticated, many are hesitant to cook it themselves. Seventy percent said they find French dishes intimidating, and 66% described them as the hardest to prepare. As a result, 14% only attempt them for special occasions.
Jesse Kempner, Head of Food at Mindful Chef, said: “It’s clear from the research that as a nation we love French food, even if we are intimidated to cook their dishes at home or feel they are too indulgent for a midweek meal. That’s exactly why we’ve partnered with Côte, to deliver a healthy twist on the classics we know and love and make it easy for people to enjoy French food at home, any day of the week.”
Steve Allen, Executive Chef at Côte, added: “The data reveals a common misconception that French cooking at home is overly complex – it doesn’t need to be.”
The Mindful Chef x Côte Brasserie range of recipes is available to order now at mindfulchef.com, with delivery between 7 and 14 September.
