How to Eat Like a Local in 5 French Cities

Indulge in Basque cuisine, sip bordeaux wine and visit a lively Breton food market on Regent’s Lisbon-to-London cruise.

Immerse yourself in the culinary traditions of four French ports on Regent’s 11-night Lisbon-to-London cruise then continue your journey of discovery on board Seven Seas Grandeur. With capacity for 744 guests, the all-suite ship has a private balcony attached to each room, sumptuous decorations such as crystal chandeliers and an art collection by 20th-century masters, including Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró.

The international flavours of the ship’s speciality restaurants extend to poached lobster and roasted lamb rack at French fine-diner Chartreuse, sashimi and Peking duck at the pan-Asian Pacific Rim and côte de boeuf at Prime 7, where a dry-ageing program emulates the great American steakhouses.

You’ll have the chance to sharpen your own cooking skills, too. Onboard classes teach how to sauté, grill or bake to perfection, while a wine-matching course complements Seven Seas Grandeur’s collection of fine drops.

Embrace Basque flavours in Biarritz

This glitzy surf haven is grounded in the rustically authentic flavours of Spain’s Basque region. Sip sangria while overlooking Biarritz’s historic port or explore globally renowned food destination San Sebastián on foot, stopping at tapas bars for sherry and pintxos. On a Regent excursion to the foothills of the Pyrenees, step inside a brightly painted village home for a guided tasting of produce from nearby farms, such as nutty Ossau-Iraty sheep’s milk cheese paired with apple marmalade and white wine petit manseng.

Sip fine wines in Bordeaux

The world’s best cabernet sauvignon and merlot hail from France’s storied wine region, where a tour and tasting in the cellars of 19th-century manor Château Rousseau de Sipian is followed by a lunch of local produce – perhaps confit quail or a porcini flan. Further north, the charming medieval village of Saint-Émilion is another site of wine worship. Here, you’ll try the region’s acclaimed merlot at a historic chateau. In the UNESCO World Heritage-listed town of Bordeaux, dine with a family in their home, enjoying time-honoured recipes such as entrecôte Bordelaise paired with wine.

Sample seafood in Lorient

Lapped by clear Atlantic waters, the colourful fishing port of Lorient on Brittany’s southern coast is renowned for its pristine seafood. Take a seat at a waterfront terrace on the harbour to enjoy freshly shucked oysters, crisp pan-fried cod or steamed mussels, along with a glass of local cider. A short drive away, the beautifully preserved medieval town of Quimper is home to the bustling Les Halles covered market. Order a crêpe bretonne – thin, airy and made with buckwheat – and explore the stalls run by farmers and producers.

Sip mead in Saint-Malo

Striking fortified towns give France’s Breton coastline a dramatic point of difference. Tucked inside stone ramparts, the town of Saint-Malo once harboured pirates who made their living pillaging foreign ships but it’s now a haven of wine bars, cafés and restaurants. On a Regent excursion to the walled riverfront town of Dinan, wander down streets lined with ancient stone and timber houses before settling into a cave à vin (wine cellar) with a glass of the local tipple, apple mead.

Savour Paris at your leisure

It’s one of the world’s culinary capitals, with gourmet surprises around every corner. A day exploring Paris independently means following your senses – perhaps to the Musée du Fromage’s celebration of cheese or a creative cocktail at pocket-sized Bar Nouveau. Or be seduced by Regent’s immersion into Bénédictine herbal liqueur with an excursion that takes you to the ornate palais where it’s brewed for a tour and tasting.

SEE ALSO: How to Taste Your Way Around the Mediterranean