Any culinary school student will tell you that the secret to modern culinary artistry lies in France's history with food. In fact, there's a reason why France is considered to be the grandfather of culinary arts. It wasn't only Julia Child who was enchanted by classic French cooking - there were many who preceded her and that's because many of the culinary recipes and 'rules' we follow today came from this great country and its brilliant chefs.

Does that mean that the art behind culinary prowess extends to the home kitchen of anyone who lives in France? While not everyone is a home cook, there are still many things that the kitchens of France won't go without. Even for those who aren't the most avid of foodies (but, living in France, how could one not be?), there are some items that simply must be part of everyone's arsenal. Food, fresh ingredients, and technique are at the core of France's culinary world, and that's why every kitchen comes equipped with these unique things.

A Cheese Board Set With Knives Included

In all fairness, many households in France and around the rest of the world have cheese boards. However, the culture surrounding cheese is so strong in France that the idea isn't just to have a board to lay cheese on it. Rather, a cheese board becomes the base on which to lay out appropriate tools for cutting, slicing, and spreading cheese. Many people don't realize that cheese culture extends far past the wooden board it's placed on and does include specific knives and spreaders, sometimes including things like a honey spoon or special skewers with which to pick up the cheese.

Mariage Frès Tea

Tradition is something that France holds very dear, and if there's any tea that's more traditional, and classical than the rest, it's undoubtedly Mariage Frès. It's not likely that you'll walk into a household that enjoys tea without finding a canister of this on the shelf. While traditional tea such as this has been replaced with newer, exciting blends, Mariage Frès somehow always has a place on the tea platter, especially when it's time to unwind after lunch or during the evening hours after dessert.

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French Shopping Bag

A shopping bag doesn't seem all that special until you realize how many plastic and paper bags are wasted with a weeks' worth of shopping trips. In France, it's not uncommon to find mesh shopping bags, which are incredibly convenient. Not only are these bags lightweight, but they're easy to store as they fold up into virtually nothing, they're easy to carry around, and they have a slight stretch to them to allow for bigger shopping trips. They're also the perfect thing to grab on the way to the farmer's market, of which there are many in France.

Madeleine Mold

If there's any dessert that has garnered a reputation in France, it's madeleines. This small cookie is buttery, slightly dense, moist, and undeniably the best cookie to have with any cup of tea. With a mild citrus flavor, there's no snack better while taking in the sights of France and when it comes to making them at home, the job is far easier than many people realize. Thus, many homes will have madeleine molds in order to make their own versions of these sweet shell-shaped cookies.

Guillotine Saucisson

It sounds a bit dicier than it is (although you should definitely keep your fingers far away from this gadget's swinging blade) but it serves a very valid purpose. It wouldn't be unusual to find one of these in a French household and it's designed to cut things such as saucisson, which is dry-aged meat that tends to be fairly tough to cut with a regular knife. This miniature guillotine could be used to cut other meats as well, and it's pretty handy to get the job done quickly and with minimal frustration.

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Raclette Machine

Raclette is a cheese that's becoming more and more popular around the world (it's served at ski chalets and resorts in Switzerland as a post-ski snack), and for good reason: It's hot, cheesy, and delicious. A raclette machine makes easy work of warming a slice of raclette cheese, as it's traditionally meant to be served. Once heated through, the raclette is draped over anything from vegetables to cooked potatoes and it's definitely a game-changer to have one of these machines on-hand during the process.

Baguette Toasters

Raise your hand if you didn't know these even existed! A baguette toaster is exactly what it sounds like and it goes without saying that these get plenty of use in France. Also home of freshly baked bread. baguettes are to France what ciabatta is to Italy, and a baguette toaster makes quick work of toasting a piece of this crusty bread without taking away from its shape or texture.

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