Top 11 culinary specialities in Lille

It’s time to discover the range of specialities from the north of France! A generous, rich and assertive cuisine that will keep you going throughout your days of exploration in Lille. In essence, Nord Pas de Calais gastronomy is made up of very simple, inexpensive products and specialities. The potato plays a central role in the dishes, accompanied by cheese and rustic vegetables. Pork also features strongly, followed by chicken and some beef.

You should know once and for all that in the North, we cook with butter, and that’s that! And don’t expect a single nut – we don’t count calories here.

As a matter of culture, there’s always a dish simmering on the stove. You’ll recognise the strong influences of Belgium and Alsace-Lorraine on your plate. Of course, beer is served at every table in the old town and in the bars of Lille (like everywhere else in the Hauts-de-France region, you might say!).

What to eat in Lille Our selection of 11 Lille specialities

Have you ever heard of fricadelle? A kind of street-food sausage, the preparation (and composition) of which remain a mystery. This vagueness hasn’t stopped it from becoming one of the most popular specialities in the north of France. To try it, go for small chip shops or food-trucks. Coat your fricadelle with Bicky sauce and serve with a punnet of fresh chips. These are meticulously prepared and compared by the people of Lille. In the Nord, we don’t mess around with chips!

1. maroilles tart

Enjoy one of France’s most famous cheeses in a melt-in-the-mouth tart. There are two types: maroilles-apple (yes, the fruit) or maroilles-potato. The Maroilles tart is a typical dish for facing the winter cold! Order it as a starter or main course – it’s up to you to choose your challenge!

2. Chicory au gratin

“Chicon” is the nickname given to chicory in northern France and Belgium. In fact, this vast territory is the world’s leading chicory-growing region! Chicory is commonly eaten raw in salads or braised, but the Ch’tis like to prepare it in a gratin. First braised, then wrapped in a slice of ham, before being covered with a thick layer of béchamel sauce and Gruyère cheese. A very generous starter that can also be a main course. But be careful! It’s very hot!

3. The Welsh

The hearty welsh is an absolute must in the region. Perhaps too hearty for some, but in any case, it’s best not to count the calories when you reach the bottom of the dish. Beneath a thick layer of opaque cheddar cheese lies a kind of croque-monsieur soaked in beer and topped with ham. The whole thing is baked au gratin and served in a steaming soup plate. The original version is even heartier, as it comes with a fried egg.

4. Flemish Carbonnade

This typical dish from the estaminets of the North is a Nordic version of Boeuf bourguignon. Carbonade flamande consists of beef simmered for a long time in a sauce of beer, brown sugar, gingerbread and mustard. A real treat to keep you going on those long northern winter days! Serve with a glass of red wine and a few fried potatoes, fried in beef fat for unrivalled flavour and crispiness.

5. Moules marinières with chips

Take advantage of the proximity of the English Channel and the North Sea to fill up on fish and seafood. Mussels in particular, wonderfully cooked by local chefs. The marinière style of cooking is based on white wine, parsley, onions and celery. It’s a simple preparation of fried mussels, but full of flavour, with a divine aroma you can smell from afar. The mussels marinière will be served piping hot, with home-made chips that only the people of Lille can cook to perfection. And don’t forget to come along to Lille’s “braderie” to see the mounds of mussel shells in the streets!

6. Potjevleesch

Proudly pronounced “Po-tche-vetch” or simply “potch” for the less linguist. This funny dish has been a favourite of everyone, especially meat lovers, since the Middle Ages. Made from 4 different meats: rabbit, veal, poultry and pork. The pieces are then slowly simmered in wine or beer, flavoured with fresh herbs. If you’re not over the moon about its appearance, the explosion of flavours that follows, accompanied by delicious home fries and a slice of bread, will take care of that.

7. Sugar Pie

The “tarte au chuc'” as it’s called in Ch’ti consists mainly of… sugar, of course! However, it’s more of a brioche than a tart. A brioche filled with fresh cream, butter, sugar and eggs. Good to know, in the North, “chucs” also means “sweets”, so don’t get us wrong.

8. La Cramique

The Lille snack par excellence! The cramique is a large brioche. During preparation, the baker adds chocolate chips, sugar pearls or… Both. The bread is then shared (or not) as you stroll through the streets, or to accompany a hot chocolate on a rainy day. The bakeries and tearooms in Lille city centre compete in ingenuity to produce the most delicious cramiques. It’s up to you to decide.

9. Le Merveilleux

With a name like that, this delicate chocolate meringue is the worst-kept secret in the North. This speciality is made up of two meringues that melt inside, bonded together by a generous layer of chocolate whipped cream, then covered in chocolate shavings. Some marvellous meringues come with a cherry on top, others do not. The size can also double depending on the pastry. Whatever, we’ve got a crush!

10. Waffles with vergeoise

There’s no denying it, the North gives a whole new dimension to waffles. No doubt in collusion with the famous recipe of our Belgian neighbours. You’ll find them on virtually every street corner, including most restaurants, to round off your meal. To make your waffle as northern as possible, sprinkle it with vergeoise. This is the star sugar of Lille desserts, because it comes from local sugar beet. Hauts-de-France is the leading producer of sugar beet.

11. The drink: Beer

When it comes to drinking, the North of France immediately conjures up images of beer. Blonde, brown, white or amber, Northern beers are characterised by their character and strong flavour. What better beverage to accompany a good carbonnade flamande, or a barquette of fricadelle-frites? You’ll find local and craft beer merchants in the Rue Esquermoise in Lill.