The Quintessential French 'Girl Dinner'

What Is ‘Girl Dinner?’ 

Deemed “akin to an aesthetically pleasing Lunchable” by the New York Times, Girl Dinner celebrates the notion of having pieced-together snacks and leftovers for dinner, so as to avoid the need to spend extensive time prepping, cooking, and preparing a full meal. Whether enjoyed solo or with friends, Girl Dinner is proving to be one of the easiest—and most preferred—ways to enjoy the last meal of the day with little to no effort required. Zero prep and minimal dishes? Count us in.  

Did the French Really Invent ‘Girl Dinner?’ 

Well, technically no—the ‘Girl Dinner’ trend finds its roots in the USA, with the American TIkTok influencer Olivia Maher at the helm of it all. However, based on her initial Girl Dinner reel, which featured cheese, butter, grapes, and pickles, we like to think her Girl Dinner roots were somewhat inspired by French food culture.  

How Would a French Girl Go About ‘Girl Dinner?’ 

There’s no set way to officially go about girl dinner, though the name of the game here is snacks, snacks, and more snacks. While random bits of leftovers will also do the trick, we like to take our French Girl Dinner inspo from the country’s most beloved food-and-beverage-focused activity: apéro. Think of the things you’d go about sourcing for an at-home apéro amongst friends—cheese, crackers, cured meats, pickled veggies, and a variety of shareable dips and spreads. These types of foods seamlessly transfer over to French-inspired Girl Dinner! 

What Are Some Quintessential French ‘Girl Dinner’ Products? 

As mentioned above, think Lunchables-meets-apéro aesthetic here—cheese, cured meats, crackers, and all things snackable. For a versatile selection of cheeses, grab one of each of the following to ensure that a variety of pungencies and textures are met: Comté, Sainte Maure de Touraine, and Roquefort. Dress up the board with some slices of French Pear and Limousin Apples for a sweet (and healthy!) touch. Sprinkle some Grenoble or Périgord walnuts around the plate and you’re off to a solid start! 

And the French Drink of Choice for Girl Dinner? 

Generally speaking, most ladies reach for wine when assembling their Girl Dinner, simply because it’s one of the easiest beverages to serve. Simply pop the cork, pour straight into the glass, and enjoy. For a handful of go-to, food-friendly French wines, we recommend seeking out bottles from the Loire Valley, Touraine, or Côtes de Provence. (Note: As much as we love red wine, white and rosé tend to be better pairings for cheese, veggies, and salads. Should you really be craving red, look for something earthy and light, such as a Cabernet Franc from Saumur.) Beer and simple cocktails—as well as non-alcoholic alternatives including juice, soda, or sparkling water—all work equally fine here, and if you’re looking for an easy level up, simply reach for a bottle of AOP Champagne and let the bubbles do the rest.   

To all of our snack-loving ladies in France, the UK, United States, and beyond, we’re deeming this fall the official season of ‘Girl Dinner’—and we hope that you and your friends enjoy all that it has to offer!