Eating like a Frenchie

On a cultural GASTRONOMICAL note...

Christine and Raymond have invited me over & we've had several meals at their home. French people eat meals differently from what I'm used to in the US, and I'm hoping to pick up on some of their habits and bring them back to the States with me.


The main difference is the concept of courses --

start off with a small, shared appetizer,

then have a (small portion) main plate,

followed by maybe a green salad,

then bring out the cheese plate with a few varieties to share,

after have perhaps some fruit for dessert,

then end with a small, strong coffee
(and perhaps a small cookie or piece of dark chocolate to go with).

So, over the course of around 2 hours, we slowly enjoy smaller portions of food while enjoying each other's company and conversation. Of course, it's not always complicated and doesn't have to be (I know it sounds like a lot!) but it's really just having an order and separating the food out. Taking your time and having smaller portions helps with digestion and helps you avoid overeating, and you feel more satisfied in the end!

The meal becomes more ceremonial-- more of an experience rather than something on the "to do" list. Here, people often take time to eat. Having a solid block of time to eat is structured into daily life and is structurally reinforced in the way businesses and schools, for example, are run. Yes, it's annoying that certain shops and offices close during lunch hours, but it's interesting to think about the cultural differences in having time for a long lunch (vs. cramming in a quick bite while you're on the clock.) And it's ridiculous to think of US schools functioning as the French do when it comes to meal time -- students have about a 2-hr break and are even allowed to go home! The teachers are not responsible for the students during this time; there are other hired people who work to regulate the cafeteria and the courtyard (aka playground).

And another thing about eating habits, people don't eat and move at the same time here. Meaning, the one time I was running late and grabbed a wrap at home and ate it on my walk to school, I felt like everyone was staring at me (even if they weren't). At home, it's normal to eat while doing other things -- I eat toast in the car on the way to work, I drink a portable coffee while I walk around the mall, I eat an apple while I'm walking down the street. And at home, it's completely normal. Here, it's not normal. When people here eat, they do it at meal time (hardly ever in between), and they sit down when they do it.

Eating here, it seems, is viewed not as a means to get fueled up for the next activity, but as an enjoyable activity in itself . Food and wine are celebrated by slowing down to enjoy the taste and experience, as well as enjoy the company with whom you are sharing them.

(I pulled all these photos off of google image searching, which means I don't have the right to "distribute" them...hopefully, since I don't get paid to blog, it's ok that I put them up here? Does anybody know the rules about that?)