Not too long ago my column addressed dining in French. Sounds a little confusing but it wasn’t. We looked at some traditional French dishes that were modernized. I got the idea from a cookbook title. It worked pretty well, too.
This week, we’re going to begin a look at some typical French eating habits. It’s worth doing because the French are just different people. They consume a lot of butter, cheese and dairy items but somehow manage to stay in good shape. In fact, some would say slim. Let’s look at that.
A typical day is set up for three meals. And those meals are pretty well organized. A breakfast happens between 7 and 9 a.m. It’s a pretty light meal. Often a hot drink like coffee or tea. Maybe hot chocolate. Sometimes, the beverage might come in a bowl rather than a cup. Beside it there’s going to be a slice of bread with some butter and maybe preserves. That’s it. Not much protein if any. Not lots of carbs.
No morning snacks. Probably no more coffee. Just some water while working. For the most part, the set times for eating are strictly observed. Snacking is just not done very much. In fact, back in 2005 the French government banned vending machines in all schools. Out. It was done to help combat childhood obesity.
When noon comes around, a meal referred to as “Le déjeuner” is had. History tells us that this was the largest meal of the day. This fact is true in most places. People working farms had a large lunch that fueled their afternoon in the fields. Nighttime was a smaller meal. Many families still observe this tradition.
Most workers still take a full hour to sit down for lunch. Lunch is often a two- or three-course meal. There’s often cheese or a dessert. Eating at your desk is outright frowned upon. There’s no snack in a hurry. French labor laws actively protect this right of a proper lunch.
Fast food in France is often food made quickly. Not food consumed in a hurry. People take their time for lunch.
When we visited France a few years back, our first lunch in Bordeaux was at a local restaurant busy with patrons. There was a communal table close by full of locals. Eight to 10 folks were gathered round. Some came and others left. They had lunch together.
Close to us, there were four people in business dress. They were having lunch. There were no phones on the table. They weren’t getting any calls. Other people were also at lunch. They weren’t making calls.
Fortunately, my camera was around my neck and easily hidden. I sneaked it out for a few food shots. My phone was off and secured. We were enjoying our lunch, too. Yes, our lunch came with wine. It was included as part of the lunch we ordered. It was a surprise and a good one.
If there’s something that might be called a snack time, it’s going to be around four in the afternoon. This is really for children coming home from school. They will have a snack that is usually sweet. Maybe a touch of something with chocolate or just fruit and bread at home. It’s not an adult coffee break.
Evening is not an early time. Here in the South, we often hear the “this eenin.” It’s a way of saying this evening. According to who it is, that might be as early as four in the afternoon. Usually, it means around 6 p.m. But it could be 7 or 8 p.m. Somewhere in there night comes along.
As to eating in France, around 7 p.m. it’s aperitif time. This features beverages of some kind along with a few nibbles. This is something like some nuts or olives. It’s not loaded tortilla chips or a blooming onion that we see. It’s not a time to eat. Things slow down. It’s a social transition from day to dinner.
Dinner is begun from 8 p.m. until as late as 9:30 to 10. This could be a rather light meal if, in fact, you had a large lunch. No matter what, it’s a meal had at table. Properly served and consumed.
This structured approach to eating helps the body adjust to its needs. As one writer said, “The French don’t snack. They savor. They don’t multitask at the table. They sit, chew and talk.” Don’t worry. Someone will refill your glass when needed!
Another writer said her usual approach was to skip breakfast and then revere lunch. Followed later by dinners that lasted hours.
It is not uncommon to see a restaurant post dinner hours of 7 to 9 p.m. That’s when you are expected to arrive for dinner. There may be no closing time. Yes, reservations are accepted.
Now that we’ve had a quick look at those eating habits, next time we will explore the actual foods enjoyed and how it happens.
Dining and Cooking