How the French eat (pt. 2)

A highly subjective (and probably incorrect) outsider's guide to everyday foods in France

An ice cream at Le Village International de la Gastronomie in Trocadero, Paris on Sunday 4 September 2022. Photo by William Sidnam.

Last week, I wrote an article about the kinds of foods that people eat in France. As my list was far from exhaustive, I thought I'd write a bit more about the everyday eating habits of French people I've lived with.

These observations, of course, should be taken with a grain of salt. My view is highly subjective and not representative of France as a whole, but I think there is some truth to what I write here. So hey, make of it what you will.

Bread

France is the country of bread — and for good reason. Here in Paris, pretty much everyone is within 15 minutes of a boulangerie, or bakery. After leaving my front door, I only have to walk for 5 minutes to buy a baguette. Baguettes (which technically means ‘small thin batons’ — chopsticks are also called baguettes, and a wand is a ‘baguette magique’) are the most popular type of bread, with some people stocking up on baguettes and storing them in their freezers. Toasters also tend to be on the larger side in France, as they’re designed to accommodate baguettes.

With that said, the downside to baguettes is that they don’t keep well. Ideally, they should be consumed within four hours, and if you leave…