Le Déjeuner

I am already well aware that transitioning back into an American diet will prove challenging. What is it about French cuisine that is so, so mesmerizing? They don't use many spices, their plates are simple, bus somehow I feel like I could eat all day and never find anything I don't love. It's a tiny slice of what it means to be here, but an important step towards embodying the Parisian lifestyle. So, I present a small guide to eating out - the French way.

1. Always start off with wine, or for those special occasions, champagne. Wine gets your palette ready for whatever else is headed for your tastebuds.

2. Choose an aperitif or an entrée. This is like the warm-up round (in french, entrée means "entrance", meaning the first course rather than the main course, as we use the word in English), so it could be a salad with warm chèvre, assorted cheeses, or soup.

3. Make sure your cheese goes with your wine (general rule is red wine with mild cheeses, white with more pungent ones), and have a basket of fresh baguette nearby.

P.S. Though it's in French, I did write a blog entry on a cheese tasting for my program... if anyone's interested,here it is!

4. The "plat", or the main course, is the star of the meal. While everything else may have been rather light, the plat is hearty but not heavy, like the duck breast and roasted potatoes Clare is modeling to the left. This day, I had a delicious Beef Bourguignon (goodbye veganism?).

5. Dessert is not an option. It is expected, welcomed, celebrated, even after lunch. French desserts are absolutely to die for, and my personal favorite part of the cuisine. Pictured here is a crème brulée and a fondant au chocolat.

It was quite the effort to get us to put down the forks and take a picture...

6. Have a café! When eating out, I haven't had a meal shorter than an hour and a half. It's all about taking your time, enjoying the company around you, and finishing off with some caffeine to ward off the after-lunch sleepy effects. While it's easy and convenient to grab a sandwich on the go, sit down lunches, when used sparingly (they're usually 11-20 Euro), are a welcome break from the chaos.