Learning About French Traditional Food Habits
Learning About French Traditional Food Habits
There are certain customs and rules of etiquette that are of great importance in France but not in the rest of the world. If you are planning on visiting France however, you are going to want to be aware of these sorts of things, so that you do not come across as being rude or juvenile. There are certain French traditional food habits for instance, that you will want to know about, so that you can go out to dine in the beautiful French locale and fit in with the traditional French crowd.
French Traditional Food Habits
It is first important to realize that the French have a great respect for their food. They have surrounded food with so much commentary, and cooking is viewed as being a major art form. Innovations having to do with food are celebrated and talked about as though they were phases in the development of a style of painting or poetry, and so you need to understand and respect the food more when you are in France.
One of the most important French traditional food habits then is that you take your time when you eat, rather than shoving it down quickly as we are so used to in the Western world. You should even sit your fork down between each bite, if you can remember to, and you should always have a glass of water with each meal, which will also help to make you fuller faster.
The French are truly notorious when it comes to their rules and regulations regarding their food. Most French chefs will take umbrage if you add condiments to a dish before even tasting it and it is also considered as being a grave insult if you ask for ketchup. This is because you are basically then telling the chef that their cooking is unsatisfactory, and it is unnecessary to add any flavoring to meals in France for the most part anyway because they are usually so well prepared.
Another of the most important French traditional food habits involves having conversations with others at the table. It is very important to keep up conversation while you are eating, but never talk with your mouth full because not only is this rude everywhere in the world but especially so in a place like France.
Keeping both of your hands visible is another French traditional food habit, one that is very important because if one or more of your hands is missing, then people will assume that you are playing with the legs of the person next to you or doing something else rude and uncalled for. You should also always turn your cell phone, pager, and other electronic gadgets and gizmos off while eating.