I’ll never forget living in France for a month. Every evening with my host mom, we would have a traditional french meal at 7:30pm with at least three courses. One evening, after the vegetables were served and consumed - probably those spicy fingerling radishes served with salt - my host mom went back into the kitchen to retrieve the main course. Was that the sizzle of something just put on the stove? Hm. Only a few of minutes later, she came out with our steaks. Double hm. I have never experienced a steak quite like that - very rare & very chewy. As I politely chewed and brainstormed french words to string together, I realized that, like Dorothy, I too was very far from home. French food is wonderful, but like every cuisine, there’s always something that catches us by surprise. That steak was the surprise.
Yet, I forgave France long ago for its particular ways of cooking steak. And here’s one of the many reasons why… Traditionally, the french eat dinner divided by courses. They always begin with the vegetable to prepare your digestive system, followed with the main course (always accompanied by cheese and baguette), and then something sweet, sometimes a pastry, other times an in-season fruit. Though there are multiple courses, this doesn’t mean that every meal is elaborate, but it does mean that it’s slower paced & deliberate. Don’t rush out the door with a burrito! The food before you and the people across the table deserve better than that from you.
As I politely chewed and brainstormed french words to string together, I realized that, like Dorothy, I too was very far from home.
I fell in love with this way of eating course by course because even if your meal is simple, it still makes you feel like royalty. You lean back in your chair a little more and set aside the urge for speed, choosing delight and repose instead. Maybe this isn’t a habit that feels practical with little ones or a hectic schedule, but what about spicing up an ordinary Wednesday and giving it a try?
Toss a simple salad, make a main course of stew, serve a few slabs of cheese with bread, and a fresh fruit to finish it off. You may end the evening practicing your french - “Oui! Oui!” - and feeling delighted by this change of rhythm. At the very least, I hope this inspires your next dinner party - be a little fancy, organize the meal by course, and always… eat like the french.
Stay in touch,
Joanna