Tour de France 2022 - your “tour de food”

The world’s most well-known bike race is on again: the Tour de France. All the thrills and domino-like spills, the Lycra and the foolish spectators determined to make spectacles of themselves. 

So, while some members of your household are glued to the screen why not enjoy some Tour-inspired food to enhance the experience for you all?

Here’s very quick sampling of the food regions that will be flashing across our screens, in order of appearance.

The 2022 Tour de France also known as “Le Tour” is a big deal. It’s probably the world’s best known bicycle race known for its spectacular mountain climbs and nail-bitting finishes, with the odd collision with silly spectators that get too close to the action.

But you don’t have to be a cycling nut to enjoy the spectacle. The amazing, televised coverage of the event gives us all the chance to experience the action.

This year the cyclists will travel through four countries: Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland and of course France.

Here’s very quick sampling of the food regions that will be flashing across our screens, in order of appearance.

Stage 1 – Copenhagen (13.2km); Stage 2 – Roskilde to Nyborg (202.5km); Stage 3 – Vejle to Sonderborg (182km) all with flat terrain.

Let’s start our culinary tour de food with a quick overview of traditional Danish foodways.

There’s the national dish, Stegt flæsk med persillesovs or fried pork belly with parsley sauce enjoyed throughout Denmark. The there’s Smorrebrod or open face sandwiches piled high with a range of toppings including ham, salami, beef tartare or salmon, herring, cheese with garnish like lettuce leaves, raw onions, radish or gherkins. Finish it all off with Wienerbrod (known as Vienna bread in Danish and Danish pastry to the rest of the world).

The food treats on offer in Dunkirk include Potjevleesch or potted chicken, pork or veal, a traditional French-Flemish dish, that looks like a terrine. Then there’s Stoofvlees, a meat casserole cooked with beer. And there’s always the Belgian style waffles to complete the meal.

The specialities of Calais include Le Welsh or toasted bread topped with a mixture of beer, ham, cheese and mustard and Le Calais, a coffee and chicory flavoured pastry.

Lille Metropole food options include Waterzooi or simmered chicken or seafood soup and Mimolette, a cheese modelled on Edam but made with annatto giving it a distinctive orange glow.

Arenberg Porte du Hainaut has lots of sweets on offer including Pavé d'Enfer, a cake made with orange marmalade; Craquelins a citrus flavoured brioche style pastry; and Terril de Germinal or chicory flavoured chocolates.

The food treats in Binche, Belgium include the Doubles de Binche or crepes with cheese and Herve, a classic Belgian cheese made of cow’s milk. Longwy, France has Potée Lorraine or stew cooked in traditional clay pots.

Now we’re in the Grand-est region of France where you can sample, blood sausage or Flammekueche, an onion and bacon flatbread. There’s also Carré de l’Est, a soft cheese made of cow’s milk. Finish with a Rum baba, for a sweet treat.

La Super Planche des Belles Filles is famous for blueberries, biscuits and Kirsch. Nice.

Some specialities around Dole, France are Franche-Comté pork, Morteau sausage and cheeses like Morbier and Comté.

Lausanne, Switzerland has Papet Vaudo, a dish of leeks and potatoes served with smoked pork sausages or Taillé aux greubons, a flaky savoury pastry. For dessert try the local speciality Bouchons Vaudois, uniquely shaped almond sweets that are shaped like a cork as a sort of homage to local wine making.

We’re climbing into the Alps now. So, during this stage you’ll want to sample some warming fare, after all it’s winter here. How about some potato fritters, fondue and cheeses like L’Etivaz, Vacherin or Raclette? For dessert, Apple Matafan, like an apple turnover cooked in a pan.

During this stage try Croziflette, a French style pasta bake, a semi-hard cheese called Abondance or Chevrotin, a goat’s milk cheese. Finish your meal with Glaçons de Megève, a praline sweet.

Now we’re in the Auvergne-Rhone Alpes region. Must tries are Diots, pork sausages with nutmeg and Beaufort cheese, a firm, cow's milk cheese a bit like gruyere.

Col Du Granon Serre Chevalier has cabbage specialties like sausages and pie plus there’s also local trout.

Briançon has Tourtons du Champsaur, small fritters filled with mashed potato or mashed apple and prunes.

Alpe D'Huez boasts meat pâté; Gratin dauphinois which is sliced potatoes baked in cream; and Oreilles d'âne, a layered casserole with wild spinach.

We’re in real gourmet country now, being close to Lyon, where Paul Bocuse of France’s most famous chefs and restaurateurs built his career.

Try Farcis de l'Oisans, a dish of cabbage with pork perhaps with Crozets, a type of potato gnocchi. For dessert try Bugnes a twisted ribbon style pastry a bit like a donut.

Saint-Étienne is in the Massif Central area southwest of Lyon. Local specialities include herb sausages and Sarasson, a spreadable cheese made of buttermilk.

Mende is situated in the valley of the Lot River. Try Pélardon, a goat’s milk cheese and Croquants de Mende, a biscuit made from almonds and hazelnuts.

Rodez in the western foothills of the Massif Central features Aligot, a fondue-like dish made of a blend of cheese and mashed potatoes. Then there’s the cheeses like Roquefort or Old Rodez. For dessert try Mandarelle, a cake that’s decorated to celebrate the stain glass windows of the local cathedral.

Carcassonne is located on the plains of the Aude River and is famous for its Toulouse sausage as well as Cassoulet and Petit Carcassonnais, pastries similar to madeleines.

After a rest day the race continues. Foix is in the foothills of the Pyrenees and the hearty fare is perfectly suited to the colder winters. Try Azinat, a hearty casserole or Tommes des Pyrenees, a semi-hard cow’s milk cheese. Flocons d’Ariege is a special meringue and hazelnut praline shaped to look like the local snowy mountains – what a treat.

Saint-Gaudens’ local specialities are Pyrenean lamb; Mounjetado, a variation of cassoulet a meat and bean stew; Napoléon commingeois, a sheep's cheese; and Millasson, an egg custard flan.

Peyragudes is a ski resort in the French Pyrenees.

Lourdes is famous for many things including religious pilgrimages. Surrounded by the Pyrenees, the local food grown in this mountainous climate includes the “Tarbais” beans and Pyrenees chestnut. Try Garbure, a ham, vegetable and bean soup or the local trout. Then there’s the duck or goose foie gras, pâtés, rillettes… phew.

Hautacam is a resort location in the Pyrenees.

The food in the mid-Pyrenees is a blend of French and Spanish influences. In Castlenau-Magnoac you could try duck breast casserole or Massacanant an omlette with onions and veal. For dessert, Millasson, a Gascon-style flan. The region is also famous for Bayonne ham, Piperade sauce Roquefort blue cheese and an apple pie called Croustade.

The small town of Lacapelle-Marival is dominated by a castle that dates back to the 13th century. Rocamadour is positioned high in a gorge and features many historic buildings including monasteries and churches. Both towns are part of Occitania region which combines the former regions of Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées.

The local cuisine features pâtés, goose or duck confits, Beef Fillet with Périgord (truffle) Sauce, Poule au pot, a one pot meal of poached chicken with vegetables.

A specialty dessert is the Gâteau à la broche, a cake made using a tapered conical spit that’s patiently rotated over an open flame, rotisserie-style.

Paris, “The City of Lights” is the traditional ending for this spectacular event. If you don’t have time for elaborate gourmet hijinks, go for the French version of the toasted sandwich – the Croque-Monsieur (ham and cheese) or Croque Madame (with egg). Alternatively, some Soupe à l'Oignon Gratinée, French Onion Soup usually made with lots of onions and beef broth. Then celebrate the winners with macarons or eclairs and possibly a cheeky glass of French champagne.

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Extend the cycling moment beyond Le Tour with movies about cycling like All For One available on Amazon Prime via Optus SubHub.