FOOD & WINE DISCUSSION
iowagreen
POSTED: Sat, 05/02/2009 - 1:47pm
France changing??
I was thinking of ordering a book on amazon called "Au Revior to all that: Food and Wine and the end of France". I think the premise is about how France is becoming global, and maybe commercial and losing the core of what has made them so great with food, wine, culture and many other things. I really hope this is not true - I do know that this is happening many places - I hope France does not let it happen that they stay true to their culture and uniqueness. I have never been there - I don't want them to change! I have much to learn. Has anyone heard of this book or read it - I may not order as I don't want it to depress me.MIREILLE'S CALENDAR
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Editor
POSTED: Tue, 05/24/2011 - 6:51am
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As a reminder, our message boards are intended as a forum where we can all inspire and help each other. Per our Terms of Service, they are not to be used as a platform to sell your products or services.Sheri
POSTED: Mon, 07/12/2010 - 12:45pm
A neighbor's report
Whether France is changing or not, I do not know. But according to my neighbor, it is still unique in food and movement. Yesterday she just returned from a week helping at a children's church camp. Her stories included that even "camp food" was served in 3 courses (sliced tomato, entree, fruit, for example), food tasted "bland" to her (aka no sugar and little spice), pastries were "not sweet", and they walked everywhere (for example - a two mile round trip to walk for pizza - which "tasted different"). She said "No wonder they are slim. They don't eat sugar, they eat slowly, and they walk or bike everywhere. I'm going to start biking to work." Sounds like a good way to eat and move.Marilyn
POSTED: Wed, 07/14/2010 - 5:20am
So glad
I think a lot depends on where you are in France. Our second cottage was in a village with all the usual expected village facilities, shop, bar-cafe,restaurant etc. A more touristy area than the first with more job opportunities for the local people. Every where changes in some way especially in times of recession when perhaps we take more time thinking of the simpler things in life as our spending money doesn't, perhaps, go quite as far.Marilyn
POSTED: Thu, 06/17/2010 - 10:21am
Yes and No
Whilst in France this time and doing more food shopping than usual as we are self-catering I have been paying particular attention to the shopping in the French supermarket trollies. Sadly I have noticed many more convenience foods being purchased than in previous years. There are many more available as well. The supermarkets have always displayed a good variety of this type of food but I think the choice has definately expanded. There is of course a much larger selection of the fresh produce grown in France as well. The older generation still is seen carefully selecting the fresh ingredients but the majority of younger ones were seeking the packaged goods. Luckily there are still the daily markets where one can get the locally grown fresh produce with the growers happy to give you a little taste of the cheese, charcuterie, olives etc before you purchase.I think many more women go back to work when their children are young and do not have the time in the wek to prepare from scratch. You see more of them with fresh articles on a Friday evening or at the Saturday markets, children in tow making it a fun trip.
In the towns the brasseries and bistros are still there but a noticeable growth in the MacDonalds etc of this world. You can usually see when you are approaching the commercial centres by the big yellow M on the horizon!!!
I don't think France will ever change completely it has just embraced some of the US culture. Comparing with Italy maybe a little too much. As they say in examinations 'discuss'. We are having a quick drink with the owners of our cottage tonight and it will be interesting to see if I can get this into conversation. They are an English couple who have transferred to France for the French way of life so they may be more outspoken on the subject (and easier to understand!!).
Marilyn
POSTED: Sat, 06/19/2010 - 2:12pm
Latest Avatar
This is the sitting room of our 2nd cottage. It is in the medieval town of Caunes Minervoise near Carcassonne. A tiny town house in the medieval centre of the town. Narrow streets no wider than our car. Glad I did not have to drive!!! Will explore tomorrow when hopefully the torrential rain will have stopped. They promise fine weather from Monday. Owner of this one is South African.Vintage1944
POSTED: Sun, 06/20/2010 - 8:44am
OK
I am totally green.Sounds fabulous.Enjoy...sending you our sunshine.OXOiowagreen
POSTED: Fri, 06/18/2010 - 1:09pm
let me know
Hi Marilyn - let me know what they say! I really hope France hangs on to all the rich traditions - they just have to take a look at Americans (a broad generalization) to understand that the grass in not always greener. Best.Vintage1944
POSTED: Sat, 06/19/2010 - 8:02am
Hi There You!!
Nice to see you posting.I agree I do hope France can resist some of the changes.They are stubborn individuals ,perhaps they can hold on.No culture is perfect,but we must retain what has value and work to improve life. Be well.OXOMarilyn
POSTED: Fri, 06/18/2010 - 2:51pm
Hi Iowagreen
See the posting about 2 below for my latest rant. Hope you are keeping well, it is a while since we heard from you. Take care.MrsKoller
POSTED: Thu, 06/17/2010 - 10:33am
It would be disappointing
Unfortunately we have become a much more global society and businesses conform to the market. International corporations have offices in France and their employees come from countries that may not follow the more traditional French-style of life. Personally, even as a working mother, I love the time I spend at the market after work before I get home to start cooking. My fiance works odd hours so we have adjusted to having a later dinner. I am always picking up fruit for the kids to eat while they wait for dinner.I too am interested in hearing what the owners have to say. Please keep us posted about your conversation.
Marilyn
POSTED: Fri, 06/18/2010 - 11:51am
Here goes
The cottage is the conciergerie of a chateau in the Pays Basque both owned and renovated by an English couple who want to embrace the french life style. They are still busy renovating the chateau in keeping with french style. They are using french workmen and french materials as they are concious that the rural economy in the area is struggling. She runs the cottage business while he has been teaching in the local Lycee. He commented that because of the large commercial centres popping up all over the place the small local businesses are closing with the exception of those in villages well away from the larger towns. Some villages have lost not only their local shops but also the cafes and bars which one could find in every village or small town 10 years ago. Even some of the local markets have deteriorated because the producers 'buy in' rather than selling locally grown produce. He teases the students he teaches by telling them that MacDonalds is the biggest profit earner in France (thereby hangs the tale!!).You cannot of course compare the area I am in with Paris etc or the more tourist attracting areas such as Provence. There the economy will not be suffering as badly. Tomorrow we move to Carcassonne in Languedoc an area which attracts more tourists so it will be interesting to compare and contrast.
We came to this area 18 years ago and can see that many new houses have been built around the larger villages and small towns but this has of course attracted the larger supermarkets to the detriment of the local entrepreneurs. The good thing I suppose is that they provide jobs for the local people. It is the same in the UK with TESCO etc springing up on the outskirts of towns creating jobs but at the cost of the smaller individual retailers. Every town will soon look the same. We overheard 3 English ladies discussing the same subject in a restaurant in Pau the other day. Complaining, as I do, that wherever you go it's the same shops. I know that in some towns, Kendal not far from us being one, there are more lovely little individual shops but they are getting fewer.
I know there are a couple of other English ladies on this forum and I would be interested to know how things compare where they live as well as those of you that live in the USA etc.
Rant over, I will go and prepare our meal for which, like a good girl, I bought the produce in the local patisserie and on the local market. A bientot.
MrsKoller
POSTED: Fri, 06/18/2010 - 12:12pm
Wow!
That is distressing. You have TESCO, we have Walmart. What attracts the tourists (travelers probably sounds better) to the regions outside of Paris, Lyon or Provence is that village charm. Who wants to go where it's just like home.Thanks for sharing.
Tori
POSTED: Fri, 06/18/2010 - 3:31pm
This is very interesting...
I have noticed in Provence and St Paul de Vence (the last two places I stayed in France) that supermarkets are much more similar to those in England than they were ten years ago, say. There are more pre-prepared, 'lazy' foods and (most interestingly perhaps) a MUCH larger range of 'diet' and 'weightloss' foods. This spells trouble if you ask me; we all know dieting is the most efficient way of getting fat there is! Where England is concered: As a child I grew up in rural Essex and mostly lived off the contents of ours and our neighbours gardens (idyllic!)- our own fruit, veg, eggs and honey :) Today, I am lucky enough to live in Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk and before that, lived in Cambridge and before that Saffron Walden in Essex. All three places are most deliberately backwards-looking and have many small, independent shops and producers. The people who chose to live here are the sort who like local produce, markets, organic goods and that sort of thing, so we create a demand which is then provided- literally talking with our feet. Of course there are huge supermarkets etc on the outskirts but the population support the small businesses enough to keep them going for the most part.We're having a street fair in my street tomorrow with morris dancers,music, the boutiques and little shops are getting involved and all sorts! We also have a market twice a week (and as the town's archivist I can tell you there is evidence the town has held said market since before the Norman invasion!)and I do use it for fruit and fish. I must say that the produce is NOT all local and organic but it's a fantastic asset to the local community and is well used by all. Market days are very busy indeed. So there is hope! In my little corner of England, tradition is very much still the way to go ;)Marilyn
POSTED: Sat, 06/19/2010 - 1:09am
Tori
So glad that in your corner there is hope. We do have some local markets in Cumbria and I think more of us are trying to use the local producers. I am definately using more local businesses since I retired. Our small village lost it's local shop when the post office side closed and the nearest pub/restaurant has since been resold and will never be that again. Don't know yet what is going to happen to it.We spent a lovely weekend in Saffron Walden when DD gave us a visit with lunch to an English winery. Stayed there quite by accident as Cambridge was brim full as it was graduation weekend!!
Vintage1944
POSTED: Sat, 06/19/2010 - 7:54am
Bonjour Marilyn
Your descriptions and commentary are so interesting.I am getting such pleasure reading them and learning to.OXOTori
POSTED: Sat, 06/19/2010 - 3:32am
English Winery
Ah yes, I think you mean Chilford Hall, it's nice there. I'm afraid the wine is rather Ribenna-like, but we tried to buy it from time to time simply to support the business. They also do those great Oxfam walks which we used to go on as well, it's a beautiful area.nancydance
POSTED: Fri, 05/28/2010 - 10:29am
Mireille's French Women Don't Get Fat Audio Book
I wanted to let this French-loving community know that I posted Mireille's FWDGF audio book on ebay, after listening to once. I have it listed at .99 ($4.00 shipping) and just paid $14.99 at amazon. Perhaps someone is waiting to read (or listen to!) it? I think you can search ebay by seller: viveperlei. Location is NJ.writergal
POSTED: Tue, 04/27/2010 - 8:09am
You know what's interesting?
You know what's interesting? If a city in countries like Australia, Canada or the US have foods from all over the world, it is considered a good thing - it means the city is "cosmopolitan", "well-exposed" or "diverse". However, even major cities in old-world countries can't do this. Restaurants should be offering "traditional foods" of that area.frenchy
POSTED: Tue, 04/27/2010 - 6:23pm
I truly believe that
all "American" fast food joints should be removed from foreign countries. I think the countries should maintain their food identity. If Japan has its own version of MacDonalds where japanese fast food is served and only japanese food that's one thing. We have done our best to destroy the health of people in this country and it is a shame that other countries have felt the need to do the same.Mo
POSTED: Tue, 07/06/2010 - 1:02pm
Frenchy
Well said my dear!frenchy
POSTED: Sun, 07/11/2010 - 11:05am
Merci Mo
I think it is or should be a crime to have any fast food places in foreign countries unless (and only if) the traditional food of the country is on the menu. This whole McDonalds in every country is stupid.Marilyn
POSTED: Mon, 07/12/2010 - 7:05am
So agreeing with you
McD's are getting everywhere along with Burger King, Kentucky Fried Cheicken etc. What is worse is that they are always full of people mainly with children. Will those children ever learn to eat properly. Fair enough if it is once in a while but some go every week!!!! There must be children of all ages who only know fast food!!!Vintage1944
POSTED: Mon, 07/12/2010 - 7:22am
So agreeing......
Would that it were only once a week.There was a McD's in the hospital I worked in,in Richmond Va. and some people ate there 3 times a DAY,everyday.It is cringe worthy.As for the others there is nothing good to be said.annamey
POSTED: Sun, 07/25/2010 - 2:14pm
McD's 3x/day
Reminds me of the documentary Supersize Me. A New York-based filmmaker decided to try living on nothing but McD's for a month. Even his doctors were astonished at how badly his health deteriorated, forcing him to quit before the experiment was over. If you rent the DVD, make sure to check out the extras. You will never look at McD's fries the same. Anna MNya_Nya
POSTED: Mon, 07/26/2010 - 4:54am
Seen it
and it really is eye-opening. Would recommend it to everyone, along with Food Inc. Has anybody seen that?Vintage1944
POSTED: Sun, 07/25/2010 - 2:25pm
Hello Anna
I have put that on my ZipList and am looking forward to seeing it.The outcome of such a diet an only be bad,bad,BAD.I will check out the extras.Hope you are well.OXO JeanMrsKoller
POSTED: Mon, 07/12/2010 - 8:50am
Too fast
Fast food is not that it is already prepared and sitting under a heat lamp, but people also consume it quickly. Given the difficulty our bodies have breaking down those foods, eating them quickly just really mucks up our digestive system. We here in America unfortunately grew up with this food so we don't physically notice the shock to our system - we think that bloated is a naturat state of being.What I don't understand is how someone with a good diet could then adapt that nasty way of eating. I would think that the side effects would be more pronounced. I know when I stopped at a Burger King on a road trip with the kids a month ago I was absolutely miserable for hours afterwards. The food sat in my stomach like a brick and all I wanted to do was pull the car over to the side of the road and curl up in to a little ball.
Ava
POSTED: Fri, 07/30/2010 - 7:58am
Did you know?
That they make processed food as 'palatable' as possible? The food companies within the food industry break down the foodstuffs then, after adding additives and fillers, reassemble the 'food' to make it look like it did in the beginning (burgers, chicken, fries....just about everything). The idea is that when these foodstuffs go into your mouth - the breakdown easily and quickly...they have a 'melt in your mouth' factor. It's a way to make you want more, thus buy more. Ghastly stuff.MrsKoller
POSTED: Fri, 07/30/2010 - 10:07am
OK
Does anyone else find that COMPLETELY disgusting?!?!?Vintage1944
POSTED: Fri, 07/30/2010 - 10:40am
Ava and Gina
Gross and disgusting doesn't even come close.That the food industry does this is no surprise but it is disturbing,in the extreme.The level of manipulativeness is frightening.One more reason to eat the real thing.Fits in to a conspiracy plan quite neatly.