France is known the world over for its cuisine. Indeed, there is an expression, “there are those who eat to live and then there are those who live to eat.” France and its people undoubtedly fall into the latter of the two categories. While many people outside of France eat simply for sustenance, the French consider it something that ranks up there with some of the most pleasurable experiences in life.
French meals, like American, vary depending upon the time of day. Breakfast usually is light, consisting of fresh bread, coffee and fruit. Lunch, although slightly heavier than breakfast, is not the heaviest meal of the day. It is not unusual for the French to take siesta after having consumed lunch. As such, it is not out of the ordinary for the French to come home for lunch, rather than rush through it at their desks. While this might seem impractical to an American, sitting a sandwich, eating at one’s desk seem barbaric to them. Having come home for lunch, and perhaps enjoyed a glass of wine with their meals, a nap is most assuredly soon to follow.
Dinner may not start until after 9:00 in France. Given that lunch only ended around 3:00 and a nap followed, working late and coming home late might be in order, given that the French are accustomed to taking a two-hour lunch every day.
If you have any designs on having a quick meal just prior to a movie, while visiting in France, you may wish to purchase tickets for a showing before your meal. Your dinner, should you eat in a restaurant, will consist of no fewer than three courses. While this may concern you that you over a period of a week eating like this, you will gain ten pounds, consider this: the French were eating this way long before you arrived and they’ll continue after you have gone back home. Although it might sound like a lot of food, portions are smaller than you might be used to.
At minimum, expect to eat a hors d’oeuvres, a main course, which will be followed by cheese and fruit and then desert. Of course, wine will accompany your meal as will an aperitif will compliment your desert.
