France: The Land of Haute & Hilarious Cuisine

France: The Land of Haute & Hilarious Cuisine

by Rasmenia Comment Closed
When I first moved to France a little over 4 years ago, I was immediately enamored with the food.  I'm sure that's hardly a surprise.  I mean, this is the country that invented haute cuisine, chefs, bistros & the words "restaurant" & "gourmet".French dishes from various regions are known far & wide outside of France's borders: foie gras, escargot, cassoulet, bouillabaisse, crepes & croque monsieur.Everyone knows about Brie & Bleu Cheese.  Grocery stores in the U.S. sell Herbes de Provence.  Any idiot knows what a croissant is.The point is, these people are not fucking around when it comes to the food.  It's an art; it's one of life's greatest pleasures & should be enjoyed.  It isn't just a means of survival or fuel - it's a way of life.However, while America eats itself to death, it's only natural for the fat of that land to spread.  Little bits of American culture can be seen everywhere & France is no exception. ...
Read More
Annoying Americans, Volume 3 – Ordering Food

Annoying Americans, Volume 3 – Ordering Food

by Rasmenia Comment Closed
Ok, so imagine this: a group of people that you don't know come over to your house for dinner.  They don't speak your language very well - they expect you, as the host, to comprehend everything that they say.  They point & pantomime, occasionally spitting out a few words that you can understand.This group of strangers gag when they see the food that you set before them.  They balk in their foreign tongue & ask for other food items that you've never heard of, as those things exist only in their country.They're obnoxious, rude & don't understand what the problem is.Of course, the problem could be that they're naturally assholian, but it's more likely that they're just ignorant.Which is worse?  Um... does it matter?I've seen this happen here in Paris.  It's fucking painful to watch.  American tourists in restaurants & cafés who haven't the slightest clue about ordering food in France. To be fair, it can be confusing.  However, I've...
Read More
The Bouillabaisse Binge

The Bouillabaisse Binge

by Rasmenia Comment Closed
Okay... most people are aware of the fact that the food here in France is fucking incredible. I mean, they can even make this nasty, slimy thing taste good.Naturally, if you head down south toward the Mediterranean coast, there are countless places serving seafood. Fresh seafood. Since I'm from Colorado, which happens to be a bit inland, I tend to get over-excited about eating seafood that didn't have to travel on an airplane, or that isn't being served at the Red Lobster.There is one place in La Grande Motte that my husband I & like to go to - they have an awesome bouillabaisse there. You have to order it earlier that day, or the day before because it takes that long for them to make it just for you.In case you don't know, bouillabaisse is just a type of soup that is made with different kinds of fish & shellfish.So, we get to the restaurant...we have some wine...... &...
Read More