Love your article. So recognisably French. And humour is a scarce asset on Substack. Thanks for sharing.
Just be careful with rule number 4. The French elite often frown upon a well-meant 'bon appétit'. It's considered a bit 'plouc'. That's another good French attitude for your DFH to describe. And how do you know when to use it or not? Typically French, you don't. Just wait and see what the hosts or the guests of honour are doing. Then copy.
BTW I literally eat everything (haggis in Scotland, poisonous snakes in China, cod sperm in Japan, goat tendons in Kenya, tripe in Rome, lamb testicles in NZ,...), but I generally pass on andouillette, even though I think the word is beautiful.
With the exception of the goat tendons—a delicacy for the Maasai elders, but chewing on a rubber hose for mere humans—all the rest is actually very tasty, especially the cod sperm and the lamb testicles. Clear proof that males are not totally useless ;-)
Hilarious! Brought back memories! I visited Paris often when my sister lived there and always cracked up that they put an egg on top of everything-especially pizzas...that they insisted my pregnant sister must have a glass of wine for the "Vetamens" as they pronounced Vitamins, and that McDonalds served beer...miss France!
I'm pretty omnivorous -- even though my parents weren't French, I wasn't allowed to get up from the table until I finished everything on my plate -- but I don't think I could cope with andouillettes. Good on you for giving it a go, and also for finding a real prince.
I forgot to add, another unspoken rule is never order soda (Coca-Cola etc.) at a sit down nice meal. It is very frowned upon and in a couple of Michelin starred restaurants we went to not even available! Another odd thing....tried to order frites in Cassis at a regular restaurant and they said I wasn't a child!!! It was one of our last meals in France and I do love the way they make fries but it was not possible to have then because they were on the children"s menu.
This made me laugh a lot. As a devout francophile and foodie, my favorite thing to order in France is cuisses de grenouilles. The préparation with parsley, garlic and butter is fantastic to me and I often joke I could eat the phone book if prepared in that way. However, I agree completely about andouilettes. I have tried blood sausage...beurk! Can't handle it. Ordered trout once and server mistakenly thought I had ordered tripe but as it was crunchy and fried so I was able to eat it. But rognons.....can't get pass the odor of urine. And please no brains!!!
My parents were French and I grew up eating almost anything. But I remember sitting in front of a fish for what felt like hours (probably just 15 minutes) for refusing to taste it. I was told to keep my hands on the table, don’t fill your glass to the top, the baguette sits flat side down because we don’t earn our bread on our back (unless you’re a prostitute I said because I had a smart mouth). But after declaring tripe was gross, as was andouillette (such a cute name don’t you think? It should be delicious) and I’d tasted tongue I wouldn’t taste it again, and oysters ( I have family that raises them so I keep trying but nope still can’t swallow them raw) I didn’t have to try it again.
OMG I'm laughing so hard at this! Just absolutely hilarious! Married to a Frenchman myself, I have had my own run-in with Andouillette, and it is everything you described LOL!
My husband and his family on the other hand drive me crazy because most are extremely picky eaters. Some won’t try anything, things that are universally inoffensive.
Love your article. So recognisably French. And humour is a scarce asset on Substack. Thanks for sharing.
Just be careful with rule number 4. The French elite often frown upon a well-meant 'bon appétit'. It's considered a bit 'plouc'. That's another good French attitude for your DFH to describe. And how do you know when to use it or not? Typically French, you don't. Just wait and see what the hosts or the guests of honour are doing. Then copy.
BTW I literally eat everything (haggis in Scotland, poisonous snakes in China, cod sperm in Japan, goat tendons in Kenya, tripe in Rome, lamb testicles in NZ,...), but I generally pass on andouillette, even though I think the word is beautiful.
You are a brave woman!
I think you're the brave one!
With the exception of the goat tendons—a delicacy for the Maasai elders, but chewing on a rubber hose for mere humans—all the rest is actually very tasty, especially the cod sperm and the lamb testicles. Clear proof that males are not totally useless ;-)
How did you manage not to cry, dear? That, my friend, is a testament to your fortitude.
I was weeping on the inside.
Hilarious! Brought back memories! I visited Paris often when my sister lived there and always cracked up that they put an egg on top of everything-especially pizzas...that they insisted my pregnant sister must have a glass of wine for the "Vetamens" as they pronounced Vitamins, and that McDonalds served beer...miss France!
Vetamens so good for zee bebe!
I'm pretty omnivorous -- even though my parents weren't French, I wasn't allowed to get up from the table until I finished everything on my plate -- but I don't think I could cope with andouillettes. Good on you for giving it a go, and also for finding a real prince.
I had finish your plate parents, too, but it was about frugality and not wasting food, rather than the French “eat for pleasure” ethos.
Yup, ditto. Mine literally starved in the last days of WWII and never forgot it. And never let me forget it, lol.
Thank you for the giggles!
Now THAT is a good story!! Love it!😂😂. How wonderful is your husband?! Thanks for sharing Beth!
Thanks for laughing along!
Je suis là... à Dijon... try everything and respect it... even the strong mustard? I mean the people? :D
Mustard, like people, is better spicy! 🌶️
I forgot to add, another unspoken rule is never order soda (Coca-Cola etc.) at a sit down nice meal. It is very frowned upon and in a couple of Michelin starred restaurants we went to not even available! Another odd thing....tried to order frites in Cassis at a regular restaurant and they said I wasn't a child!!! It was one of our last meals in France and I do love the way they make fries but it was not possible to have then because they were on the children"s menu.
You’re right about soda; it’s a no-no at a nice dinner.
This made me laugh a lot. As a devout francophile and foodie, my favorite thing to order in France is cuisses de grenouilles. The préparation with parsley, garlic and butter is fantastic to me and I often joke I could eat the phone book if prepared in that way. However, I agree completely about andouilettes. I have tried blood sausage...beurk! Can't handle it. Ordered trout once and server mistakenly thought I had ordered tripe but as it was crunchy and fried so I was able to eat it. But rognons.....can't get pass the odor of urine. And please no brains!!!
Parsley, garlic and butter: the Holy Trinity of Yum!
My parents were French and I grew up eating almost anything. But I remember sitting in front of a fish for what felt like hours (probably just 15 minutes) for refusing to taste it. I was told to keep my hands on the table, don’t fill your glass to the top, the baguette sits flat side down because we don’t earn our bread on our back (unless you’re a prostitute I said because I had a smart mouth). But after declaring tripe was gross, as was andouillette (such a cute name don’t you think? It should be delicious) and I’d tasted tongue I wouldn’t taste it again, and oysters ( I have family that raises them so I keep trying but nope still can’t swallow them raw) I didn’t have to try it again.
That is such a sassy, brilliant reply!
OMG I'm laughing so hard at this! Just absolutely hilarious! Married to a Frenchman myself, I have had my own run-in with Andouillette, and it is everything you described LOL!
Quand tu sais, tu sais!
And/or ignorance is bliss
😂🙌exactement!
My husband and his family on the other hand drive me crazy because most are extremely picky eaters. Some won’t try anything, things that are universally inoffensive.
They are missing out if they never try.