Food!

I promised you a blog dedicated to food, and here it is!

The food has been incredible. The french eat similar foods, but their view of food is completely different. They truly enjoy the natural flavors of the food. I have seen very little usage of seasoning while I've been here. They take their time while they eat, enjoying the food and company. They prefer quality over quantity. I think that is the biggest thing I have learned during this week and a half. The kids that I watch know the best cheese shop, butcher, market vendor, and bakery in town. How many 10 yr olds do you know that pay that close attention to the quality of food?

Growing up, I remember hearing the phrase, "It's okay to feel hungry." There is some truth to that, but that is not how the french live. If they are hungry, they eat until they are satisfied, but never full. I have only felt full once since I've been here. Their portion sizes are much smaller than those in America. If they get hungry throughout the day, they'll eat a tomato, cheese, or pull off a piece of their fresh baguette. When the hunger pain is gone, they stop. I know this all sounds like common sense, but for the first time in my life, I am living this way. A typical dinner in the home consists of meat, fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, and some type of carb (bread, pasta a lot of times w/ no sauce).

Now I have to talk about two of my favorite things about living in France: the boulangeries (bakery) and the enormous selection of cheese (that is pretty cheap). If you have never been to France, you don't know the difference b/t a croissant made in America, and the flaky, buttery goodness of the croissant in France. It is truly heaven each time I eat one. Also, it is very typical for people to get a fresh baguette almost everyday. Because they are so high in demand, you can get them for under a euro!

Cheese! I have decided to try different cheeses every week. When I went to the market this week, they had a bin of assorted cheese wedges for 1.25 euro/ each. I bought three. I loved all three! The first was Tomme. Tomme is soft, light in flavor, and low in fat. The second was Ossau Iraty. This cheese is harder than the Tomme and has a slight stronger flavor. It is made from sheep's milk. The last was Comté. This was my favorite! I think I am going to get this one often! It is the hardest of the three, with a creamy, buttery, sweet flavor. It is the highest cheese in production in France with 40,000 tons produced a yr! There is also a standard for Comté. The cheese is tested and rated. If it is good Comté, there is a special symbol printed on the label. If it doesn't meet the mark, it is not allowed to be called Comté! See... quality is the key!