French Onion Soup

French onion soup, called soupe a l'oignon in French, is a classic French dish of onions sauteed and then simmered in meat stock or water, traditionally served as a hot starter topped with croutons or a piece of bread and melted cheese in a gratineed presentation. Onion soups of various kinds have existed in France since medieval times, but the version familiar today took shape in the mid-19th century in the area around Les Halles, then Paris's principal food market, where local restaurants began serving the soup with a generous topping of grated cheese browned under heat, creating the gratinee des Halles. That dish became popular across social classes, serving both market workers and late-night diners in the neighborhood around the market.