Ingredient appreciation — what makes Bouillabaisse special

What sets Bouillabaisse apart is the handling of shallots. In lesser versions this is treated as a background note. Here it's central and the elegantly balanced result shows it. I've started buying it to cook with at home after this experience.

French cuisine is a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. The a countryside auberge atmosphere was right for this kind of food. I had a digestif of Calvados as recommended and it matched well. If you want to understand what makes this cuisine distinctive, Bouillabaisse is the place to start.