• Fresh vegetables make French cuisine irresistable.ratatouille image by Mathieu Haller from Fotolia.com
  
  Fancy French cuisine includes dishes that are familiar and unfamiliar. But whether it is the latest trendy party food or a treasure that never made it to the U.S., fancy French dishes can usually be made of ingredients available in most supermarkets. Learn a bit about French foods, and you will be inspired to incorporate them into your regular recipe rotation.
  
  

Tarte au Pistou

• Quiches and tartes can be beautifully arranged.quiche image by danimages from Fotolia.com
  
  Tarte au pistou is similar to a quiche--"tarte" means pie in French, a quiche is an egg-based dinner pie--but tarte au pistou contains garlic and basil that is traditionally crushed in a mortar and pestle (hence "pistou," the Provencal word for pounded). Other ingredients found in tarte au pistou are a flaky pie crust, tomato sauce, eggs, cream, salt and pepper. This food is vegetarian, though not vegan, and hails from Provence, France. Another food using pistou is soupe au pistou, a famous French vegetable soup with an olive oil, crushed garlic and basil sauce.
  
  

Tapenade

• Tapenade: truly a dish for olive lovers.olives image by timur1970 from Fotolia.com
  
  Tapenade is an all purpose olive butter spread also hailing from Provence. Tapenade is made from blended black olives, garlic, capers, olive oil, pepper and, optionally, fresh herbs and anchovy. Salt isn't necessary because the rest of the ingredients are salty enough. The name tapenade comes from the Provencal word for capers, tapeno. Traditionally, tapenade is served on bread or with raw vegetables as an appetizer, but today it can be eaten with anything from potatoes to sandwiches to cheeses. Green olive tapenades are also popular.
  
  

Chips de Citrouille

• Pumpkins aren't just for carving.pumpkins image by Maria Brzostowska from Fotolia.com
  
  Chips de citrouille, or pumpkin chips, make a great alternative to potato chips when you are trying to upgrade to fancy French food. Pumpkins, which originated in North America, grow readily in France, making them a commonly eaten food there. Chips de citrouille are usually made by breading raw pumpkin slices in flour seasoned with herbs and pan frying them. Recipe ideas include serving them topped with finely chopped garlic and parsley or with a side of saffron rice. Also, try pairing them with a fancy sandwich or served as an hors d'oeuvre. They taste best when they're hot.
  
  

Ratatouille

• Be sure to soak eggplants before cooking.eggplant image by askthegeek from Fotolia.com
  
  A famous dish with a Mediterranean origin including Provence and Riviera, France, ratatouille is a vegetarian casserole. Ratatouille is made with eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, onions, olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic, and herbs like parsley and marjoram, which are essential for robust flavor. Ratatouille can be eaten as a main course or as a side dish. It can even be used as a stuffing for crepes, which are famous thin French pancakes. Ratatouille may be constructed with layering of vegetables, like a lasagna, or with chunks of vegetables all mixed together.