When in France eat.
If you want to experience the French lifestyle… Then you must eat.
Sit in cafes, take your time,
Sip wine,
Converse over your meal,
drink coffee and
Have dessert.
The French way is to savor the moment. To eat dine at the proper time (that rhymes!)
Breakfast up until 9:30
Lunch between 12:30 – 2:00
Coffee at 2:00
Tea time between 4:00 – 6:00
Cocktails between 6:00 – 8:00
Dinner anytime after 8:00
A white tablecloth and wine glasses on the table doesn't mean the meal is going to cost a fortune. A cloth on the table is how it is in France. Setting up the atmosphere is part of the mis en scene.
My friend Mari left today. Mary came to France to buy for her stores in Austin. She also wanted to be inspired. She asked me to tag along and show her the France I love.
I asked her one question and gave a statement:
Do you like to garlic?
I hope you like old things.
Luckily she answered correctly.
The First Day we dined on salad with a garlic sauce. Talking was from the side of the mouth after that.
Mari asked me if I ever thought of given tours, taking people around France, showing them the brocante…. being a tour guide.
"Sure. I even know how I would do it." I smiled.
"Really," she said, "Tell me what your plan would be."
"I would only take one or two people at a time. Custom Tours, my way. The client(s) would pay for everything: The beautiful hotels, the car, the glorious restaurants, the tolls, the cafes, etc. etc. and I would plan where we would go, and where we would stay and where we would eat." I offered.
"Would the hotels or restaurants be negotiable for your client(s)?" Mari asked.
"Nope." I said and continued, "And I would plan the whole tour around creative inspiration, food and antiques. Plus two critically important details," Mari interrupted me and asked;
"…and what would that be?"
I chimed, "I would have first dibs on everything at the brocante regardless if they bought it or not… actually it would be better if they bought it," I grinned, "… and my fee would be $5000 for a week plus expenses."
Mari cracked up laughing, "Is that negotiable?"
"Nope." I offered.
"I do not think you will have many clients. Though I think that is what you are saying."
I smiled.
We ate.
Lunch out everyday.
The Second Day: Fish soup baked in a shell.
Garlic puree for the fish soup. Mari licked it clean. She is a kindred spirit.
Third day Mari had grilled duck. I forgive her because she likes garlic and old things.
The Fourth day: Fish with two types of mango sauce and sesame garlic oil.
The Fifth day: Cod with creamy garlic potatoes and roquette.
A carafe of water was my luncheon drink… I drove.
The Sixth day: Pumpkin soup with whipped goat cheese on toast.
Mari made the mistake of asking French Husband how whipped goat cheese was made. French Husband felt so honored, nobody ever asks him about cooking or recipes. He barely knows the difference between mustard and chocolate. I am not kidding.
French Husband told Mari, "Well, whipped goat cheese is made by grabbing a goat, holding it above your head and shaking it."
Mari not missing a beat continued, "And whip cream from a cow is made the same way?"
"Oh no," French Husband grinned, "A cow is too heavy to shake over one's head. I buy my whipped cream in a can."
We had tea.
Mariage et Freres.
Creme Brulee was Mari's favorite.
Mine is Tarte Tatin.
Of course if you love cheese… France is the Royal Kingdom of Cheese.
Cheese and salad was on the menu on the Seventh Day. The cheese was served with a fig, mango jam.
Deliciousness at best.
Oh, the tab. Or reality check.
I made dinner every evening.
On the second to the last night we made Dolmas, or Stuffed Grape Leaves.
If you want to hear part of the conversation where I say O.K. a million times, and where Annie tells us we are doing it wrong and where you hear a big crash… then listen here:
Mari said, "The Stuffed Grape Leaves were the best! Annie was the highlight of my trip to France."
I poked her, then corrected, "Annie, the stuffed grape leaves and Corey were the high lights of your trip."
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