I joke that this series (you can subscribe for free) should be called Elderly In Paris, but I feel the opposite of old here. This is probably because I’m relearning basic stuff, like how to talk and how to eat, mostly from French waiters. Take, for example, the quiet scolding my sister and I got from a tall, bespectacled server at a small family-run restaurant near the
Let's get that t-shirt, always have the baguette. I sort of remember this from living here for years in my 20s, but who'd believe it's still true at this age!
I am off to buy the salted butter and the baguette. As always, dear friend, you find so much wisdom and joy in even the smallest of things, like duck fat. ❤️
When I find a post by you in my inbox my first impulse is to be oh so jealous. You are living the life I have been planning for myself, but have not yet gotten to. But I find myself living vicariously through your wonderful writing and enjoying every moment with only a slight twinge of jealousy.
On the subject of this particular post:
As a younger woman, I had assumed that as my friends and I got older, we would grow out of our obsessions about food and weight. It seems that those of us "of a certain age" can't seem to shake the media indoctrination from our formative years in the 60's and 70's. Now that we are in our 60's and 70's, it's past time we learn from judgy French waiters. I spent two weeks in Paris a few years ago, had croissant for breakfast every day, followed by whatever I damn well felt like for the rest of the day (vacation calories don't count) and upon returning home found I had lost wait.
I hope you're enjoying your new life as much as I'm enjoying reading about it!
I feel so ridiculously grateful for it all. And thank you for reading, and the kind words. And I love this line from your comment: "whatever I damn well felt like" so there! So good.
I am glad the gentleman insisted. Imagine if he had not. You'd be none the wiser. Quite literally. Here's to embracing the joys of consuming real food.
I don't eat vegetables, and haven't since I was 16 (raised in a private British boarding school in a war, and the Brits can't cook veggies even in good times). My daughter is a vegetarian. Traveling in France together on four separate occasions, we discovered that our food demands were way beyond the comprehension and imagination of EVERY French waiter we ever met..
Hi Richard! So funny. One of my kids was vegan for a while and we learned to love dahl. But now we are kind of moderates, a little meat, not every day.
I've had this same experience in countries where the bread is fresh and expected to be eaten within hours of leaving the oven! It's a real thing! Also, maybe no coincidence that when we want to say "joie de vivre" we pathetic anglophones are forced to use the french term...
Waiters in U.S. don't ask if you are finished and they certainly don't ask if you enjoyed the plate filled with food that they are removing from in front of you. They just present you with a bill! You're finally living in a civilized food society. You go, girl, eat it all and as often as you wish!
We Americans are so neurotic about food. So nice to be in a place where you can just enjoy it. Whenever I have been in France, I ate whatever I wanted, didn’t think about it, and lost weight. Wish that would happen here.
Waiters can take some managing. Once in Angelina's inside the château de Versailles I ordered both the truffle soup AND the truffle ravioli. The waiter looked disapproving. When I asked for his wine recommendation, he seemed mollified.
I hope your gall bladder is intact. Faced with that duck fat, I'd take Mr Waiter's insouciance over tomorrow's GI upset. But I'm glad you enjoyed it.
While I'm here I'll mention that the only thing you deserve is what you've earned through your own behavior. Think about that in relation to self-esteem.
An elderly lady once said to me about eating food: "If you like it, it is undoubtedly bad for you!" That pretty well summarizes what you said about the pleasure of eating something you enjoy and feeling guilty about it and having to "atone" for it! That is the part of our puritanic background which southern Europeans don't have!. I was fortunate enough to live for several years in Italy where enjoyment not just of food but of life in general is not a sin! Moderation is probably a good idea but guilt over eating good food is too bad!
Hi Dave, All went well gastrically. :) Turns out duck fat is full of unsaturated fats, antioxidents and antiinflammatory properties... mainly oleic acid and linoleic acid. And my niece who can't eat bread in the U.S. ate baguettes all week and had no upset--something about the additives in the U.S. So come on over!
Thank you for reminding me to live life instead of analyzing it...
Thanks for the kind words Vw.
Always have the baguette…and the croissant, butter and cheese!
Let's get that t-shirt, always have the baguette. I sort of remember this from living here for years in my 20s, but who'd believe it's still true at this age!
I am off to buy the salted butter and the baguette. As always, dear friend, you find so much wisdom and joy in even the smallest of things, like duck fat. ❤️
Aw, Lib, thank you for the kind words. Let's always make eating joyful. xx
So true about American women’s eating ‘rules’……I grew up in the 70’s with ‘Twiggy’ as my role model….so I’m well versed!
Thanks for the reminder that food is life and why the F can’t we just enjoy it!!!
A fresh baguette a day….I’m in!
Thanks for reading ,Jennifer. And I remember Twiggy, and for that matter every woman on TV....
When I find a post by you in my inbox my first impulse is to be oh so jealous. You are living the life I have been planning for myself, but have not yet gotten to. But I find myself living vicariously through your wonderful writing and enjoying every moment with only a slight twinge of jealousy.
On the subject of this particular post:
As a younger woman, I had assumed that as my friends and I got older, we would grow out of our obsessions about food and weight. It seems that those of us "of a certain age" can't seem to shake the media indoctrination from our formative years in the 60's and 70's. Now that we are in our 60's and 70's, it's past time we learn from judgy French waiters. I spent two weeks in Paris a few years ago, had croissant for breakfast every day, followed by whatever I damn well felt like for the rest of the day (vacation calories don't count) and upon returning home found I had lost wait.
I hope you're enjoying your new life as much as I'm enjoying reading about it!
Hi Jane,
I feel so ridiculously grateful for it all. And thank you for reading, and the kind words. And I love this line from your comment: "whatever I damn well felt like" so there! So good.
I am glad the gentleman insisted. Imagine if he had not. You'd be none the wiser. Quite literally. Here's to embracing the joys of consuming real food.
Me too! and yes, I'm pledging to lvoe food.
I don't eat vegetables, and haven't since I was 16 (raised in a private British boarding school in a war, and the Brits can't cook veggies even in good times). My daughter is a vegetarian. Traveling in France together on four separate occasions, we discovered that our food demands were way beyond the comprehension and imagination of EVERY French waiter we ever met..
Hi Richard! So funny. One of my kids was vegan for a while and we learned to love dahl. But now we are kind of moderates, a little meat, not every day.
A delightful account of your foodie life in Paris so far
Thanks so much Rosie, for reading and for saying so.
I've had this same experience in countries where the bread is fresh and expected to be eaten within hours of leaving the oven! It's a real thing! Also, maybe no coincidence that when we want to say "joie de vivre" we pathetic anglophones are forced to use the french term...
Hi Haley! hahaha. We also use the french word for double entendres too.
Waiters in U.S. don't ask if you are finished and they certainly don't ask if you enjoyed the plate filled with food that they are removing from in front of you. They just present you with a bill! You're finally living in a civilized food society. You go, girl, eat it all and as often as you wish!
Hi Judith, haha, yes, it feels that way,...
We Americans are so neurotic about food. So nice to be in a place where you can just enjoy it. Whenever I have been in France, I ate whatever I wanted, didn’t think about it, and lost weight. Wish that would happen here.
Your dog is over the top adorable, BTW
So true! And doggie thanks you for the kind words. :)
Waiters can take some managing. Once in Angelina's inside the château de Versailles I ordered both the truffle soup AND the truffle ravioli. The waiter looked disapproving. When I asked for his wine recommendation, he seemed mollified.
I can't yet challenge them, I just nod and say bring me the veal kidneys, ha.
I hope your gall bladder is intact. Faced with that duck fat, I'd take Mr Waiter's insouciance over tomorrow's GI upset. But I'm glad you enjoyed it.
While I'm here I'll mention that the only thing you deserve is what you've earned through your own behavior. Think about that in relation to self-esteem.
Bon manger!
An elderly lady once said to me about eating food: "If you like it, it is undoubtedly bad for you!" That pretty well summarizes what you said about the pleasure of eating something you enjoy and feeling guilty about it and having to "atone" for it! That is the part of our puritanic background which southern Europeans don't have!. I was fortunate enough to live for several years in Italy where enjoyment not just of food but of life in general is not a sin! Moderation is probably a good idea but guilt over eating good food is too bad!
Thanks so much Wissie! You're so right. The southern Europeans know what's what, and they live longer too.
Hi Dave, All went well gastrically. :) Turns out duck fat is full of unsaturated fats, antioxidents and antiinflammatory properties... mainly oleic acid and linoleic acid. And my niece who can't eat bread in the U.S. ate baguettes all week and had no upset--something about the additives in the U.S. So come on over!