For many, French cuisine is virtually synonymous with gastronomy. French food boasts a rich and sweeping culinary history that includes rustic home cooking, elaborate court-dining masterpieces, and avant garde Parisian haute cuisine. So we've compiled a list of some of our favorite French recipes, from Normandy to the Côte d'Azur (and everywhere in between).

For breakfast, try your hand at baking these buttery croissants; for a more filling weekend brunch, a traditional quiche Lorraine is sure to please. Fancy a sandwich for lunch? The Provençal pan bagnat, savory with tuna and olives, or a decadent croque tartine parisienne (open-faced ham-and-cheese with béchamel sauce) is in order.

Come dinner, start with appetizers-les entrées, en français. Steak tartare, frogs' legs, and escargots are bistro staples that'll make you feel like you're dining in Paris. If, however, you're after something lighter, a vegetarian Provençal soup or salade Lyonnaise will leave your guests ready for a hearty main course.

As for the pièce de résistance, France offers endless entree options. On cooler nights, consider hearty Gascon cassoulet, Alsatian choucroute garnie, or Burgundian coq au vin. Warmer weather calls for trout, lobster, or an epic bowl of bouillabaisse. Side dishes such as tender poached leeks vinaigrettes and ratatouille are delicious, but it's harder still to resist the comfort-food classic bistro fries cooked in duck fat.