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
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 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..
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.
Thank you for reminding me to live life instead of analyzing it...
Always have the baguette…and the croissant, butter and cheese!
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. ❤️
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!
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 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..
A delightful account of your foodie life in Paris so far
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.
Your dog is over the top adorable, BTW
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.
Bon manger!