From the new French language ‘Bible’ to dishes to try in every part of France and competing cultural visions of healthiness, this week’s La Belle Vie newsletter offers you an essential starting point for eating, talking, drinking and living like a local.
La Belle Vie is our regular look at the real culture of France – from language to cuisine, manners to films. This newsletter is published weekly and you can receive it directly to your inbox, by going to your newsletter preferences in “My account”.
Earlier this week, the marketing director for McDonald’s operations in France announced that the company’s expansion plan included opening up 50 new outlets in 2025.
He said the goal was “for everyone in France to have a McDonald’s within 20 minutes” of their home, and understandably this has caused some controversy.
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Personally, I don’t eat McDonald’s often, and I can understand why people in small towns aren’t interested in having an American fast food chain become the new bistro du coin.
That said, I’ve had a strange conversion when it comes to McDonald’s. When I lived in the US, I rarely ate or desired it, but after moving to France, I find myself getting the odd craving. Maybe this has to do with people trying to convince me that Le Royal Cheese is healthier here.
Reader question: Is McDonald’s really healthier in France?
I also have a theory that food that reminds you of your home country – even if it is not food you’d normally gravitate toward in your home country – suddenly becomes desirable when you move abroad.
As for the healthy argument – ‘healthy’ can of course be measured by things like vitamins, calories, salt levels, etc, but it is also in the eye of the beholder. Culture definitely plays a role in what people see as ‘healthy’.
Take French doctors for example. They recently encouraged parents to give their kids “bread with a few squares of chocolate or a little butter or jam, fresh fruit or compote or a dairy product” for an afternoon snack.
To be fair, that would replace a daily pain au chocolat from the boulangerie, so maybe they have a point.
Fruit and chocolate: What French doctors say children should eat
If you are planning a trip to France, I recommend allowing yourself to profite (enjoy) and eat as much of the delicious local food as you can.
France has such a rich culinary tradition that rather than seeking out ‘French dishes to try’ you should look up meals by French region. Here’s our sampling.
The one food you need to try from every part of France
When spending time in a foreign country, things are bound to feel strange from time to time. My friends are often taken aback when I tell them that a 6pm dinner reservation probably won’t do in France.
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And if you are learning French, there is an entire subset of French slang that is definitely strange – in fact it’s backwards. It is called verlan and it basically involves pronouncing a word’s syllables back-to-front. In fact, the word verlan itself is an example of verlan, as it’s the French word l’envers (reverse) in reverse.
Verlan: France’s backwards language you need to learn
Here at The Local, we do our best to help you keep up with the confusing aspects of the French language. We have our Word of the Day feature, and our recent series called ‘French Grammar Tips’.
But we must bow down to the true guardians of the French language – the Académie Française.
They’ve been at it for a few centuries longer than we have, and they might give The Local a run for its money with their latest ‘bible’ intended to help both French natives and language-learners alike avoid common mistakes, from mispronunciations to misspellings.
Académie Française unveils ‘bible’ of correct French language
I’m still a big fan of our Word of the Day. It’s often my job to write them, and I always learn something new. For example, earlier this week we explained the word ‘Tricoteuse’ (female knitter) which has a fascinating backstory related to the French Revolution.
I shouldn’t play favourites, but some words leave a mark.
8 favourite French Words of the Day