Provincial Food Life
I can attest to the opinion that choosing to vacation in the countryside is a wonderful idea. In my first week in the quaint little town of Aix-en-Provence, France, I have found it to be a fascinating education into provincial life. It has been a joy to live among locals and to adopt their practices. I have been lucky enough to stay with a nice couple who I share daily bread or rather baguette with. When I say daily, I do mean every day and nearly with every meal. I would not come to France if you were planning on going light on the carbs. You’ll end up like me, constantly being tempted with sugary goodness and sweet delectables. Shops make their desserts displays so enticing. I have no self-control nor do I resist these invitations. They have numerous boulangeries and patisseries, all the makings for a happy Willa Wonka cavity infected child. Which is not to say the French are unhealthy people, I should think quite the opposite. It’s something Europeans as a general population recognise, “everything in moderation”.
Every morning they eat the equivalent of ‘toast’ which consists of jam on baguette along with coffee in the morning, yet it really can’t be called breakfast (not in the American robust sense). They complement their other meals by having a balanced diet, serving several courses or in one dish having a protein accompanied by some salad or other seasonal greens. A favourite meal I ate was this delicious beef steak served with a beet purée, beet chunks, and some red grapes at La Maison Française. It was honestly to die for! And I’m not even usually a beet eating person, which just goes to show how well done it was (not the meat, meat should always be cooked closest to rare that you can make it without poisoning someone). Although unlike the French, I can’t stomach down a steak tartare since the meat texture is just odd for my particular palette. What I’m saying is French food is spectacular and this place took it to another level. As I reviewed a little more about the restaurant it apparently is considered a gastronomic cuisine, which in layman’s terms is chic, modern, and overly posh for my own good.
On the other hand, I have to praise one other dish from Le Bistrot, the duck confit, with potatoes that were likely baked, squashed, then roasted in a butter, garlic, and freshly cut chive sauce. So delicious with it’s fatty, oily, rich flavours. I know for all you healthy calorie counting individuals out there, you’re appalled. So be it, more for me! Firstly, when it comes to duck confit, I made it my mission to memorise the name of this dish ever since, little 5-year-old me could distinguish quality food and sit properly at a fine dining restaurant, or as the French would regard as ‘a restaurant’. Le Bistrot had such a cozy atmosphere with it’s small dimmed rooms and it’s iconic French dishes. I may likely end up there one more time before this trip is over.
There’s more to French food culture than just what they eat. The French take great emphasis in giving people time to rest from their day to have a good meal. Children can eat at their respective schools which serve a hot gourmet spread. How I envy that quality which is few and far between in U.S. public schools, I digress. For the general public they are given a long lunch break consisting on average of 2 hours, thus allowing them to leisurely go home to eat or to enjoy a restaurant nearby. Frequently, the service in restaurants is slow and people generally sit with a dessert or coffee after they’ve eaten, continuing their conversation indefinitely. Once seated, no is ushered out which is why if you’re hoping to eat somewhere that is popular reserving ahead is vital. I’ve found on a few occasions when I was short for time, I felt that I was being impertinent for wanting to leave so soon. Moreover, I’m impressed that French people, dare I say it, can drink a glass of wine with their meals and then return to work without any issues. Such civility I would not find in the U.S. In general, it amazes me how restaurants will fill up between 11am-2pm and then as if with a snap of a finger, everyone has dispersed and gone back to their jobs. Most restaurants will then remain closed until the dinner rush. If you’re hankering for any kind of bites during the latter part of the afternoon, you can usually find bakeries and small shops selling sandwiches to-go or have an afternoon treat at a café. The French have shown me that food is more than just taste, it’s a window into a culture. I shall miss being able to relax while I eat, as I’m forced to wolf down what I can in the short 30 minutes that I get. Ironically, on this trip I have been more productive in the things I’ve wanted to do, because I was able to take my time to do them well. I realise now life is not how much we can accomplish, but how well we enjoy the things we get to do. Bon appetite my fellow travellers! Don’t do as I say, do as I eat.