Food and drink is taken very seriously in Corsica, making the French island the ideal destination for those who like to indulge on holiday. Rich meats dishes and light desserts combine to offer the complete Corsican dining experience. The popular local spirit, eau de vie features heavily in Corsican cooking, adding a kick to traditional dishes. Staying in a gite is the ideal way to sample a different restaurant each night of your holiday, rather than being tied to one hotel. With the plenty of gites listed by the tourist body gites de France Corsica has a wide range of self-catering properties to choose from. This article highlights some of the most popular dishes served on this beautiful island.
Meat Dishes
Wild boar casserole is probably the most famous dish in Corsica, this rich, tasty casserole includes boar, carrots, onions, garlic, eau de vie and red wine. This dish is available in many eateries from simple, rustic cafes to high-end restaurants. Veal with olives, another very popular meat dish is veal with olives. This slow-cooked stew consists of veal, olives, tomatoes, onions, herbs and a substantial glug of white wine. Corsican lamb - slow-roasted lamb with lashings of fresh rosemary and garlic is served with potatoes in this popular Corsican dish.
Seafood
Seafood remains widely eaten in Corsica, although prices have increased in recent years due to a shortage of some fish. Some of the most popular dishes on the menu in seafood restaurants are red mullet, sea bream, oysters and crayfish.
Dairy
Dairy produce is big news in Corsica and much of the local cuisine takes advantage of this fact. Ewe's cheese is widely used and is similar in taste and texture to goat's cheese. Called brocciu, this cheese is versatile and appears in many dishes.
Desserts
Beignets are delicious doughnuts, made from chestnut flour and often stuffed with cheese. Fiadone is a variation on the cheesecake; the fiadone is made using the local brocciu cheese, eau de vie, chestnut flour and eggs. Flavoured with lemon zest and served chilled, this is a refreshing, tasty way to end a traditional Corsican meal. Chestnut tart -a very simple, very popular dish, this tart uses chestnuts, eau de vie and eggs to create a tasty and traditional Corsican dessert. With an array of delightful gites listed by the French tourism organisation gites de France Corsica has the perfect self-catering accommodation for groups of all sizes.
