Top 10 Culinary Specialties in Grenoble

1. Gratin Dauphinois

Here's a dish that makes hearts flutter and stomachs vibrate! Under its golden crust made of potatoes hides a smooth and succulent liquid cream that brings it worldwide fame. Gratin dauphinois is a must-have in Grenoble: it's a dish that can pair with anything, salad, fish, meat cooked in any way... It's enjoyed hot, so that when tasted, the potatoes can gradually melt in our mouth.

2. Bleu du Vercors-Sassenage

This one is a rather original cheese. Made from cow's milk, it mainly comes from mountain agriculture, very respectful of nature and the environment, so much so that the milk comes from selected breed cows. Very mild, its paste is soft but not creamy like other types of cheeses. The marbling, or even the blue veins that also differentiate it from other dairy products, gives it all its character and unique taste.

3. Ravioles de Royans

If you think they'll be exactly like traditional ravioli that you can eat from canned goods at the supermarket... Not at all! Ravioles de Royans are known for being finer and more delicate. Their stuffing contains cheese and fresh herbs, hence their little green color. Many people like to fry or pan-fry these little pieces barely bigger than your pinky finger. It's a meal that young and old alike love!

4. Murçon de la Matheysine

This pork sausage to cook is widely consumed in Grenoble. Perfect for small snacks and afternoon treats, it pairs perfectly with a few slices of fresh bread. It owes its taste to a fine unique blend of meat and caraway that also gives it its very recognizable aromatic smell. As a dish, Murçon de la Matheysine is generally served with some vegetables, but especially potatoes, foods widely consumed in southern France. A very ancient sausage, we find the first traces of it during the 17th century, but it could date back much further.

5. Chartreuse

Most certainly, here's Grenoble's cult drink, which you'll find in all the bars and bistros in the city! The liqueur exists in yellow and green forms, and was produced in ancient times by monks, under the guidance of two Carthusian monks (hence its name). Each bottle is unique, so much so that it's completely impossible for you to taste the same nectar twice from two bottles of chartreuse. A delicacy to try!

6. Bonnat Chocolate

Life is more beautiful with chocolate! Bonnat chocolate is a variety of chocolate whose taste and color will make your taste buds travel. This local pride comes directly from the "Bonnat" family, who have been making this confectionery for several centuries. With pure origin beans, you can find these little chocolate bars all over France, but it's in Grenoble where they're sold the most, in absolutely all the little grocery stores, and on every restaurant menu in the gourmet dessert section!

7. Saint-Marcellin

When it comes to cheeses, Grenoble has more than one trick up its sleeve! It's a small square barely bigger than your palm made from raw cow's milk, whose exquisite paste is soft with a bloomy rind. It's 80 grams of deliciousness concentrated in a single delicacy! On fresh bread or some crispy rusks, this makes an excellent snack, and perfect as an appetizer. For sure, you'll be won over, cheese holds no secrets for the people of Grenoble, and it shows!

8. Grenoble Walnut

You should know that Grenoble is known for being a major walnut production center. Having obtained AOC (controlled designation of origin) in 1938, there are three varieties today: Franquette, Parisienne, and Mayette. These walnuts are particularly precious, because the walnut trees that give them birth begin to produce around 8 to 10 years of maturity, and you have to wait at least 25 years for them to be in full production. In other words, this tree nut, rich in plant proteins and omega-3, should be savored slowly.

9. Chicken with Crayfish

In many French cities and regions, chicken with crayfish is an essential and tasty dish. With two very different types of meat, one being white meat and the other a crustacean, this dish has managed to establish itself and become one of the references in the city. To be enjoyed slowly, appreciating each bite, chicken with crayfish is composed essentially of carrots, tomatoes, leeks, a hint of white wine, onions, and some herbs and aromatics to enhance the taste of the meat. A divine meal!

10. Grenoble Wines

Let's finish this little overview by mentioning some of Grenoble's most appreciated wines. Among them, we count "Chardonnay," "Persan," and "Jacquère" or even "Isère blanc." You should know that in Isère, there are some harvests that are the pride of the region as well as the people of Grenoble. These white and red wines turn out to be quality products that have the ability to invigorate your palate and awaken all your senses.