Traditional cuisine: know-how, traditions and a strong comeback
Traditional cooking: a return to basics that is increasingly appealing to households.
What is traditional cuisine?
Traditional, or old-fashioned, cooking is a bit like a culinary heritage passed down from generation to generation. It evokes a simple yet rich culinary art, based on raw, natural, often local ingredients, cooked with patience and expertise. It's the cooking of grandmothers, the kind you make for long evenings around the fire, where stews and homemade jams simmer.
This cuisine is based on several fundamental pillars:
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Raw and local ingredients , because true taste comes from the quality and freshness of the products, not from factories.
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Homemade preparations , often long to cook over low heat, to release all the flavors and textures.
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Traditional techniques , such as cooking in a casserole dish, broth, natural fermentation, or cooking in a wood-fired oven.
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The use of old and robust utensils , designed to last: cast iron pots, manual vegetable mills, stone mortars, wooden boards, etc.
Together, they form an authentic culinary universe, rooted in the land and tradition.
Why is traditional cuisine making a strong comeback in 2025?
1. A vital need to return to authenticity
We live in the age of ultra-processed food, often packed with additives, preservatives, and hidden sugars. Traditional cooking brings us back to basics:
“We know what we eat, and we know where it comes from.”
This quest for authenticity is not just a trend, it is a genuine awakening, a desire to eat better, healthier, more natural food.
2. A slower, more mindful way of life
The frenetic pace of our modern lives encourages many to slow down. Cooking in the old style is, in a way, an act of protest against fast food, against rushing.
It's about taking the time:
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Choose your ingredients carefully.
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To let a dish simmer for hours.
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To savor, to share, to create connections around the table.
Recipes like sourdough bread, slow-cooked dishes, and homemade preserves are regaining their prestige, with a return to patience and simple pleasures.
3. A response to ecological emergencies
Traditional cuisine is also sustainable and respectful of nature:
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It limits packaging , by promoting fresh, bulk and homemade products.
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It reduces food waste , thanks to the use of leftovers, dish bottoms, and long-term preservation (jams, fermentations, etc.).
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It favours seasonal and often local products, thus reducing the carbon footprint linked to transport.
By 2025, these reasons will carry enormous weight in the choices of committed consumers.
4. Family and cultural transmission
Traditional cuisine is also about stories, memories, and a living tradition passed down through generations. It creates social and family bonds, and revives a culinary heritage that is often forgotten.
This return to basics includes:
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Recipes from our ancestors.
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The pleasure of cooking together.
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A taste for simple and genuine things.
Vintage kitchen utensils are making a big comeback
To cook like in the old days, the right tools are essential. Here are the must-haves that make today's cooks happy:
Cast iron casserole dish
The cast iron casserole dish is a staple of traditional cooking. It retains heat for a long time, ensures even cooking, and is ideal for stews, casseroles, and pot-au-feu. It goes directly from the stovetop to the table, for rustic yet elegant service.
Manual vegetable mill
Practical, robust, and requiring no electricity, the vegetable mill allows you to prepare smooth homemade purées from fresh vegetables. A classic from kitchens of yesteryear that's making a triumphant comeback.
Wooden board and chef's knife
Working with vegetables, meat, or bread requires sturdy, natural tools. A beautiful wooden board and a sharp knife are essential for precise cutting and the pleasure of the process.
Mortar and pestle
For grinding herbs, spices, garlic, or preparing homemade sauces, the mortar and pestle remain unsurpassed. They embody the age-old manual skill that gives flavor and character to dishes.
Traditional recipes that stand the test of time
The richness of traditional cuisine also lies in its iconic recipes, which are simple, nourishing, convivial, and often updated in a healthier way.
Here are some must-try dishes:
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Pot-au-feu : the king of simmered dishes, a concentrate of flavors and conviviality.
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Veal stew : tender, creamy, it appeals to all generations.
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Onion soup : comforting and tasty, perfect for winter evenings.
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Homemade sourdough bread : a symbol of patience and artisanal know-how.
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Seasonal jams : seasonal fruits in jars, concentrated bursts of sunshine to enjoy all year round.
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Gratin dauphinois : meltingly soft and crispy, a classic for family meals.
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Semolina cake : sweet, simple, an old-fashioned dessert that brings back childhood memories.
Bonus: Classic Sweet Recipe – Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
Ingredients for 6 people
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3 boxes of sliced pineapple in its natural state
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9 large eggs
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3 lemons
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60 g of flour
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9 tablespoons of liquid caramel
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300 g of caster sugar
Preparation steps
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Drain the pineapple slices. Pour the liquid caramel into a round mold. Rotate it so the caramel coats the bottom and sides. Line the mold with the pineapple slices, trimming them to fill any gaps.
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Cut 8 slices into pieces. Blend the rest. Pour the resulting puree into a saucepan, add the sugar. Boil for 5 minutes over low heat. Add the pineapple pieces. Continue cooking for 3 minutes. Let cool.
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Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). In a bowl, whisk together 1 whole egg and the flour until smooth. Whisk in the remaining 5 eggs one at a time, then the cooled pineapple compote. Finally, stir in the juice of 2 lemons. Pour into the prepared tin.
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Bake for 1 hour. Let cool then refrigerate until the next day.
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Remove from the mold at the last moment and serve very chilled.
How to reintegrate traditional cooking into your daily life?
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Cooking with raw ingredients : unprocessed vegetables, whole meats, flour, eggs, butter…
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Invest in some good, durable utensils , like those mentioned above.
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Take inspiration from grandmother's recipes , and dare to experiment.
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Plan your meals to cook in quantity and reduce waste.
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Passing on to children the pleasure of getting their hands dirty and discovering these valuable skills together.
Where can I find utensils for cooking like in the old days?
At our Chef's Utensil shop, we select products inspired by traditional cooking methods, which are durable and practical:
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Sustainable and zero-waste utensils: we have a blog post about this here
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Accessories for preserving, fermenting, and preparing at home. We've designed a fermentation kit with a PDF guide to help you and a few recipes to try.
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Kits for making your own bread , jams, and stews
Each product is chosen for its actual usefulness, quality and lasting value.
Related articles to further your knowledge
FAQ – Old-Fashioned Cooking
Q1: Why is traditional cooking trendy today?
R1: Because it responds to a desire for a return to authenticity, healthy and natural food, and promotes a slower, more mindful lifestyle. It also helps to pass on family know-how and reduce our ecological impact.
Q2: What utensils are essential for cooking like in the old days?
R2: The essential utensils are a cast-iron casserole dish for simmering, a manual food mill, a mortar and pestle for spices, a wooden board, and sturdy knives. These are durable tools, often requiring no electricity, that facilitate traditional cooking.
Q3: Is it possible to cook the old-fashioned way without spending more?
R3: Yes, by prioritizing raw, local, and seasonal products, and avoiding processed foods. Traditional cooking also values leftovers, which limits waste and helps control your budget.
Q4: What are some classic recipes from the cuisine of yesteryear?
R4: Among the iconic dishes are pot-au-feu, veal blanquette, gratin dauphinois, homemade jams, sourdough bread, and semolina cake. These recipes are simple, nourishing, and perfect for sharing.
Q5: Where can I find utensils suitable for this traditional cuisine?
R5: From specialist shops like Ustensile de Chef, which offer casseroles, mills, mortars and other durable tools, designed for healthy, authentic and zero-waste cooking.