4 ms·

This is anecdotal but I was just in France recently and the portion sizes were comparable to most urban areas in the US that I have eaten at (obviously it is no

by agentgt 10y ago

This is anecdotal but I was just in France recently and the portion sizes were comparable to most urban areas in the US that I have eaten at (obviously it is not comparable to the rural areas engorging Golden Corral). The big difference is Europe seems to eat a lot less meat. The meat portions were much smaller but replaced with carbs and alcohol. As an American I felt embarrassed that I could not finish half the Michelin star meals because they were so rich (albeit incredibly good). IMO when it comes to food waste meat is the real culprit.

cgh 10y ago
My experience of French food is exactly the opposite. Meat is central, with some vegetables on the side. There is a lot of fat in the form of oil and cheese. Carbs, such as bread, are side dishes at best. In fact, I struggle to think of a French meal that isn't animal product-centred (I'm including fish, eggs, snails etc.) The biggest difference is they have smaller portions and way fewer carbs. You won't go out for breakfast in France and be faced with a huge stack of pancakes with hash browns and toast.
- Joky 10y ago
  As a French in the US for a few years now, I second with some nuance. First there would never be meat at breakfast in France for instance, forget the bacon strips and the eggs... Also, diner in my family was often "bread and vegetable soup", or "pasta and tomato sauce". So while the main "traditional" dishes have meat, we don't always eat meat. Also, while traditional dishes have meat inside, what makes the French Cuisine is not tied to it: you can get most of the taste from some nice sauces, often based of wine. Other than a salad, I'm not sure I really see "non animal-based" meal in the US either (unless going to an Indian restaurant, or a vegetarian one).
- agentgt 10y ago
  Well I'm not French and I was just vacationing but this is what I saw: * French eating/dining is extremely bakery heavy. * Every meal bread is served and lots of it (most Americans think white bread is the worse thing you can eat) * In the morning I witnessed both in Paris and Nice consumption of pastries and not meat for breakfast * At lunch I saw most eating sandwiches. Sandwiches with tomato and cheeses. If there was meat it was sparingly and not the subway of america 2 pounds of meat style. * I ate predominately in French bistros and taverns. Steak Frites in France is more like Frites with an elbow size piece of steak (compare this to any # of the steak houses in) America) * There are many new renowned chefs that are pushing a more vegetable dining experience (France is still cutting edge for food) over the traditional French Cuisine. * Going back to bread I saw many of the locals walking home eating baguettes that they just bought. I remember this vividly as my wife commented how you never see people walking home eating white bread in America (this was jovial observation not a jab at the culture).
  - microcolonel 10y ago
    I feel validated by the fact that somewhere in the world people walk home eating bread. The other night (at 03h30) I went into a 24-hour grocery and bought a ciabatta, ate it on the way home. It crossed my mind that I had never once seen anyone do this, and by local standards it probably looked ridiculous.
  - maxerickson 10y ago
    Subway uses meat pretty sparingly compared to a local sandwich place here.
  - gbin 10y ago
    I am French living in SF and oh damned I miss eating a fresh, still hot out of the oven Parisian baguette.
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- akiselev 10y ago
  You are both right. French culinary traditions can vary wildly from region to region, town to town, even if they are a few miles apart. If you take a journey through the non-touristy areas you will see a dozen different macro diets (meat vs vegetable vs carb vs sauce heavy styles) and a million variations on the small details like spices. Claiming that France has one way of proportioning meals is like saying that a Southern American potluck bbq is the same as a posh Michelin star restaurant in Manhattan.

by agentgt 10y ago

cgh 10y ago

My experience of French food is exactly the opposite. Meat is central, with some vegetables on the side. There is a lot of fat in the form of oil and cheese. Carbs, such as bread, are side dishes at best. In fact, I struggle to think of a French meal that isn't animal product-centred (I'm including fish, eggs, snails etc.) The biggest difference is they have smaller portions and way fewer carbs. You won't go out for breakfast in France and be faced with a huge stack of pancakes with hash browns and toast.

Joky 10y ago
As a French in the US for a few years now, I second with some nuance. First there would never be meat at breakfast in France for instance, forget the bacon strips and the eggs... Also, diner in my family was often "bread and vegetable soup", or "pasta and tomato sauce". So while the main "traditional" dishes have meat, we don't always eat meat. Also, while traditional dishes have meat inside, what makes the French Cuisine is not tied to it: you can get most of the taste from some nice sauces, often based of wine. Other than a salad, I'm not sure I really see "non animal-based" meal in the US either (unless going to an Indian restaurant, or a vegetarian one).
agentgt 10y ago
Well I'm not French and I was just vacationing but this is what I saw: * French eating/dining is extremely bakery heavy. * Every meal bread is served and lots of it (most Americans think white bread is the worse thing you can eat) * In the morning I witnessed both in Paris and Nice consumption of pastries and not meat for breakfast * At lunch I saw most eating sandwiches. Sandwiches with tomato and cheeses. If there was meat it was sparingly and not the subway of america 2 pounds of meat style. * I ate predominately in French bistros and taverns. Steak Frites in France is more like Frites with an elbow size piece of steak (compare this to any # of the steak houses in) America) * There are many new renowned chefs that are pushing a more vegetable dining experience (France is still cutting edge for food) over the traditional French Cuisine. * Going back to bread I saw many of the locals walking home eating baguettes that they just bought. I remember this vividly as my wife commented how you never see people walking home eating white bread in America (this was jovial observation not a jab at the culture).
- microcolonel 10y ago
  I feel validated by the fact that somewhere in the world people walk home eating bread. The other night (at 03h30) I went into a 24-hour grocery and bought a ciabatta, ate it on the way home. It crossed my mind that I had never once seen anyone do this, and by local standards it probably looked ridiculous.
- maxerickson 10y ago
  Subway uses meat pretty sparingly compared to a local sandwich place here.
- gbin 10y ago
  I am French living in SF and oh damned I miss eating a fresh, still hot out of the oven Parisian baguette.
deleted 10y ago
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deleted 10y ago
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akiselev 10y ago
You are both right. French culinary traditions can vary wildly from region to region, town to town, even if they are a few miles apart. If you take a journey through the non-touristy areas you will see a dozen different macro diets (meat vs vegetable vs carb vs sauce heavy styles) and a million variations on the small details like spices. Claiming that France has one way of proportioning meals is like saying that a Southern American potluck bbq is the same as a posh Michelin star restaurant in Manhattan.