Lille
Population 236,234
KNOWN FOR: Lille France is home to many attractions and landmarks worth visiting such as the Old Stock Exchange building, the Opera House and the birthplace of Charles de Gaulle.
The Lille France Tourist Office has put together a list of the best places to go and things to do in Lille and the surrounding area. In one of Lille’s prestigious restaurants, let the flavors explode on your plate. Chefs, often well known to the locals, concoct innovative specialties or revisit great classics for your gastronomic enjoyment. Office of Tourism for Gastronomie
Located in northern France, Lille is another great destination for food lovers. The city is renowned for its waffles, beer, and cheese. Waffles are a popular street food in Lille, and they come in a variety of flavors, from sweet to savoury. Lille is also famous for its beer, which you can enjoy in one of the many bars and pubs in the city. And of course, no visit to Lille would be complete without trying some of the local cheeses, which are some of the best in France.
The capital of French Flanders, Lille France is a haven for foodies with a wide range of local dishes and flavours served up against a backdrop of elegant architecture, world-class museums and a vibrant cultural scene. Traditional dishes here are robust – think hearty, slow-cooked stews and recipes flavoured with local beer or Maroilles cheese.
Iconic Dishes
CARBONNADE FLAMANDE
Flemish beef stew simmered in beer with slices of gingerbread, and served with frites.
LE WELSH
A Flemish twist on Welsh rarebit. Toast with ham and topped with copious amounts of Cheddar simmered in beer. Frites an optional extra.
POTIEVLEESCH
Meat in a pot. A mix of white meats such as rabbit, pig, veal and poultry stewed with herbs and served in jelly, it’s similar to a terrine. Served with frites, of course!
FLAMICHE AU MAROILLES
A calorific but delicious pie made with pastry and local Maroilles cheese along with cream, eggs and bacon lardons.
LES GAUFRES LILLOISE
Visit Pâtisserie Méert’s chic tea room (in Lille France) for their famous vanilla waffles, loved by de Gaulle, Churchill and Jackie Kennedy.
unique to lille france
CHEESE: There are local cheeses like Vieux-Lille, which is a washed-rind cheese similar to Maroilles but with a more pronounced flavor.
POTJEVLEESCH: This cold meat terrine made from layers of meats like chicken, rabbit, veal, & pork, cooked in a jelly.
GAUFRE LILLOISE: Lille’s version of waffles, lighter & crisper than the Belgian varieties, served plain w/ powdered sugar & toppings.
CARBONNADE FLAMANDE INGREDIENTS
Beef, onions, beer, bread, beef stock, brown sugar, mustard, bay leaves, thyme, butter, salt, pepper, garlic, parsley vinegar and flour.
