Food and Dining

France is famous for its food and dining, and some of the best food in the world is found there. Like many other places in Europe, breakfast is the most uneventful meal of the day. Most often a French person will simply have a café au lait (coffee with hot milk) and a piece of French bread, pastry, or perhaps a croissant.

 

Lunch varies from a quick sandwich to go to a five-course sit down extravaganza. Dinner in France is usually served around 8:00pm and includes several courses. Meals are usually finished with a cheese course, replacing dessert.

 

The French know little of diet and exercise. Their food is incredibly rich, leaving Americans to wonder how they can eat so extravagantly without expanding their waistlines. The answer is in their portion size. The French eat markedly smaller portions than Americans, allowing them to eat high quality, more satisfying foods, rather than larger portions of “low-fat” or “low-carb” foods. They also walk everywhere, eliminating the need for exercise Americans face. Gyms typically fail miserably in France, because people simply do not work out in the same way Americans do.

 

The French love to eat out. Sidewalk cafes are famous in French culture, often the subject of art and literature. There are several types of dining establishments in France:

 

A Restaurant offers a complete, multi-course meal. The meals can be very expensive, depending on the type of food and the fame of the chef. A Brasserie used to serve only beer, but now the title indicates a less casual environment than a restaurant, with hearty food on the menu. A Bistro is usually a small, family run restaurant. They are casual, enjoyable, and a wonderful part of the French culture. A Café usually serves beverages and may also offer sandwiches and desserts. A Boulangerie is a bakery, the place to go for famous French pastries and croissants.