Lesson #3: Not everyone has a George or a Mr. Grumbles.First, perhaps a little story about George. (Ask my sister about the creation of Mr. Grumbles.)
Once upon a time, in the summer of 2005, I was traveling through the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Spain with three friends. We visited sight after sight, opening our eyes to as much as we could absorb in the few days we were in each city. The four of us flew, took trains, took metros, took buses, and walked. And I must say, there were lots and lots of walking.
Each day we’d get up, get ready, and review our route for the day. Museums, cathedrals, landmarks, street markets, food. We’d have a small breakfast depending on the city we were in, but ultimately it was some bread or a sandwich and coffee or tea. Then we’d go out, explore something or another, and then we’d somehow find ourselves finding food. Then there’d be lunch and we’d eat a wonderful meal. Carry on with touring around on a hot summer day. Perhaps even have a siesta here and there. Find another place for a snack. Continue our day. And find a place to eat dinner. Enjoy the evening, then finally retire to our home away from home (yay hostels!)
After a while, Howard decides to question my requests. “Jane Ann, we just ate _breakfast/lunch/dinner_! Why are you hungry again??”
“I don’t know I just am?”
So we stop and we get something to appease my hunger.
Only, two or three hours later I’d be hungry again. And after several occasions as such, Hannah decides there must be something wrong with me.
“Dude Jane Ann, do you have a tapeworm in you or something? You keep eating!”
“She must, seeing how much she eats!”
And so after a while, my stomach, or rather the tapeworm that must explain my voracious appetite, was given a name: George.
Thus, the creation of George.
Now I knew before coming here that the French are known for smaller but richer portions at the table, and many of my friends joked that I’ll need two portions to satisfy George, but at a proper meal, you’ll have several courses.
First, the
apértif. This is usually where we wait for people to arrive. There’ll be wine, drinks, and little snacks to curb your appetite and make everyone friendlier (haha) until the last guest arrives. In most cases, the less formal ones, it’s just a drink at a bar or at home before the meal.
We move to the dining room and then comes the
entrée. Not to be confused with the American
entrée. The French
entrée is the appetizer. Similarly, it’s a small portion of food to get you started. To date, the best one was the
fois gras entrée I had in Bordeaux. Wonderfully flavored, and silky smooth. And went well with the white wine that the server presented us.
Afterwards comes the
plat or the main dish. Occasionally there’ll be two or three main dishes for you, but not necessarily. (Surely this already seems to be quite a bit, but again, their portions are small.)
Then there’ll be dessert or cheese. Sometimes a salad comes before this, but I haven’t seen this very often. A platter or a basket of cheese, and dining continues encore.
After cheese and dessert, will be coffee or tea to top off the French two-hour meals.
C’est très gentil non?But meals with people my age often never follow this pattern. Instead, when cooking with my friends, we’ll usually start munching on the baguettes that we’ve bought in attempts to curb our hunger as we start cooking. The butter and cheese come out and some how we’ve managed to consume half a baguette per person. Eek.
Once dinner is finally finished, we move to the dining table and we eat, and eat, and well.. eat some more. Usually there’ll be seconds, and on the occasion, thirds.
Très American
non?
Dessert hardly comes, but the rest of the baguette is consumed with the cheese all throughout the meal. By the end, we usually look back at all we eat and realize it could have fed maybe five or six people, but alas, we’re only three. Funny thing is, I’m not the last to stop eating. Though I'm definitely not the first. Some people who eat with us will ultimately point out how we (my californian friend here who can out-eat me and myself) can still eat after everyone else has stopped. We'll look at each other and shrug. "We're still hungry though..." Though with a big group I'll stop eating when everyone else has stopped, but I'll still munch on baguettes or other stuff until two hours later when I'm back in the safety of my own home and I'll eat just a bit more. ;)
And so now I think back at all I’ve eaten here and my growing George and I definitely think I should watch what I eat from now on. Well till I get home. Then there’ll be a few weeks dedicated to catching up on all I’ve missed by being in France. And THEN I’ll start up again.
:) Cheers!
the donjon (keep) of Vincennes
at Tours. the Tours Cathedral. 
Château de Chenonceau, Tours
this hall is above a river. isn't that cool? :)
the exterior
the tour bus sans driver!
Clois-lucé, Amboise.
Château d'Amboise, Amboise
not sure, but another castle along the loire river
Château de Chambord, Chambord.
Château de Cheverny
