a taste of europe

“The “Gratin Dauphinois” or Potatoes Gratin is a very popular, though rustic, French recipe.
It draws its name from the region in which it originated: “Le Dauphiné,” a province in the
southeast of France, which covers part of the French Alps. This region produces a lot of milk,
a key ingredient in the recipe, and therefore, is also known for its wide variety of cheeses.
The city I was born in, Grenoble, is in the heart of the Dauphiné and it is believed that the
Latin name of the city, Gratianopolis, could be at the origin of the French term “gratin.” The
“Gratin Dauphinois” is a very traditional dish in my family, and I’ve lost count how many
times I have watched my grandmothers preparing it. There are many variations to the
original recipe but the one we cook at home is probably the simplest one and the closest
one to the original recipe. In France, tradition is to have three meals a day shared with your
close family when possible.”
A Taste of Europe: Celebrating Five Years of the Center for European Studies 97