The fastest way to bridge a cultural gap is to break bread together. The phrase stands true especially in France where eating is no less than an art. If you check out the delicacies and sumptuous cuisine of the country, you will build a deeper connection with it.
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When you talk about France, especially eating like a local while touring the nation, you should know that the French have a deep appreciation for their culture. Here is your guide to eat like a French local. Bon appetit!
Breakfast
Usually the people start their day with a coffee and pastry. Some random picks may include croissants or chocolate. People like to team it up with a milky caf au lait. Though there are Starbucks and other major food chains emerging, the local café have coffee options and eateries too.
You may find coffee cheaper at a bar in comparison to a café. It is because of the sidewalk tax when using the footpath space.
Lunch
French have long lunches which range for 2 hours. It may be a simple lunch, but it is bound to be time taking. There are French people who can take around 45 minutes to eat a baguette sandwich.
French consider meals to be a social affair and people don’t go around with fast food there. They have a simple mentality that you work for a living but shouldn’t spend your whole day earning it.
However, it doesn’t mean that they are not serious towards their job. They often work late hours in comparison to Americans because of the long lunches they enjoy.
Dinner
Dinner is usually a two-course meal. It may appear like a big meal. Adults follow standard meal time. Bread may be served with dinner to dip and clean the plate. You have ample number of French desserts to enjoy and cheese is a local after dinner treat.
Eating Schedule
Breakfast is the earliest meal and you would find people lounging at sidewalk cafes with coffee and croissants even on weekends. Bruch has become quite a trend here, but it is the norm.
The French restaurants aren’t open all day. Lunch is usually served between 12 to 2.30 pm while dinner service is from 7 to 11pm.
If you feel hungry in between these hours, then there are boulangerie and patisserie to reach out to.
Etiquette
While the trend of reservations is quite common here, you can still get a table after a short wait. However, to be on the safe side, you can book a table. Just like the rest of Europe, French people eat with a fork in their left hand and knife in the right.
Bill
The staff is paid full page and tipping isn’t common here. However, if you loved the service, then leaving some extra money is always recommended. For instance if the bill is 28 Euros, you can leave 30.
If you are a newbie and you need to use the card for payment, then I’addition s’il vous plait should be your sentence.
Some of the delicious French meals to try
Steak Frites: it is a simple and easy steak and fries combo. It is often offered with some of the most delicious sauces!
Croque Monsieur: it is grilled cheese and one of the best and fastest comfort meal options. You will often get it with a ham
Steak Tartare: You will be surprised to see the commonness of fresh meat in France. It is well-prepared and regarded as safe. So, just rely on your guts. However, if you have a sensitive health condition, then skip this
Quiche Lorraine: It is a little shocking to someone who is non-French. This alluring omelette involves eggs, cream, cheese and bacon.
Customization
In France, people can also order food directly from the menu or make special requests. Chefs put a lot of innovativeness and effort in the dishes and you will be thrilled to find every dish unique.
The French believe that the food should be left best to the professionals. All you need do is find a good place to dine in and look at the menu
Health conscious
French have health-conscious people and they follow a good diet. In case you have any allergies or dietary reactions, then you should immediately inform the chef. Geo Allo Medecin Garde in France enables you to get in touch with a doctor 24/7. The online platform allows you to search for a doctor instantly via your geo-location. All you need to do is call their emergency number and they will give you immediate access to the doctor on call. The service is functional on all seven days of the week, round the clock. So, you can easily call them anytime from anywhere!
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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