Posts Tagged ‘French Wine’

Many people around the world think that they know quite a lot about French life. This may be due to the abundance of caricatures of the French nation and also because France is the number one tourist destination in the world. This may seem a little odd when you think about some of the common complaints that French people are arrogant, rude and refuse to speak English which, of course, they can all do perfectly well . . .

So, what is French life famous (or infamous) for?

Few dispute the fact that French restaurants are excellent. French cuisine is endlessly copied throughout the world, and the French language is often used for menus and cooking terms. Although we often associate the French with “haute cuisine”, the day to day home cooking and standard cheap restaurant lunches are another cause for pride. Choice of ingredients and cooking methods interest the French public; choosing a restaurant or a dish in a restaurant can be a matter for heated argument. Food is important and it’s this importance that will keep French cuisine at its high standard.

With less overweight and the associated health problems, the French are a good example of how to eat. To eat a full meal at lunchtime with several small courses is better for us. We then have the rest of the day to use the energy and a lighter evening meal allows us to avoid going to bed with a full stomach.

Perhaps the most famous symbol of French life has been the French loaf. The term “French bread” is usually taken to mean the traditional baguette, but there’s a huge variety of shapes, sizes and ingredients available. Even going into a boulangerie to buy a baguette, you’ll find that there are a great many other long thin loaves which you might have thought were baguettes! Each of these has its own name (which might vary slightly from area to area). The traditional baguette goes stale within a few hours whereas a growing number of other breads, such as multi-cereal, wholemeal and so on, keep longer and this may be why they are gradually gaining in popularity with younger generations.

We know that the French are famous for their cheese but our knowledge of that cheese is sometimes restricted to just one or two sorts. Some people say they hate French cheese because they don’t like Camembert, not realising that this is just one out of over four hundred French cheeses with a huge variety of tastes, ingredients, maturing processes, textures, etc.

And so to the wine! French supermarkets offer a wonderful selection at very reasonable prices. It’s still a constant topic of discussion and there’s a lot of knowledge about the subject. It’s usual for a household to possess a “cellar” and to add bottles regularly. Every autumn, the majority of wine outlets have special tastings and offers. Driving through wine producing areas is always fascinating and a continual learning experience.

We may be admiring of the French wines and cuisine, but we are not so happy about how they are made. Whilst farmers and fishermen make up a small percentage of Finch workers, we do become annoyed at their apparently widespread power and there are frequent televised images of angry protesting farmers and others.

So what else is typical of French life in this land of wonderful food and drink with its assertive farmers and unfriendly officials?

The Arts are prominent in French life. Theatre, painting, sculpture, design and many other art forms all have a place in towns and villages all over the country. Literature and cinema are particularly well served and many tiny villages will have their own libraries and film showings, which are managed by teams of local volunteers. The Cannes Festival is the world famous symbol of the French involvement with film.

French designers are also world famous and Paris fashion shows are televised all over the world; we consider French people to be sophisticated dressers.

So, a complicated country and people, but visitors from all over the world readily embrace the French life when given the chance as tourists.

French Life and the joys of living in France have been featured in magazine articles the world over. For a real taste of Living in France take a look at Amanda Lawrence’s new blog at www.frenchvie.com. Lots of real life stories and anecdotes from the Quercy. It takes you right there – you’ll never want to leave. Don’t forget to register for her free newsletter.