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03/04/2008, 17:53 sweet 17 Joined on 05/08/2006 charente maritime Posts 2,048 Re: menu suggestions inkflo, I await your suggestions with bated breadth and belly rumblings!  Good Luck with the house move.    Report

04/04/2008, 6:04 Limousin Lass Joined on 23/01/2007 87 Near Chalus Posts 108 Re: menu suggestions All my life I have had my main meal in the evening I find the standard 3/4 course French lunchtime menu too much and tend to seek out the places that have the lighter alternatives.  Does your friend only intend doing his set menu or does he have alternatives?    Report

06/04/2008, 9:46 Wilko Joined on 23/08/2004 84 Vaucluse Posts 207 Re: menu suggestions Thank everyone for their replies, keep them coming. LLass. He has a set 3 course menu 12 euros with 2 choices for each, also a v. small a la carte. Rgds Wilko    Report

14/04/2008, 0:33 Jill Joined on 23/08/2004 Posts 554 Re: menu suggestions  Limousin Lass wrote: All my life I have had my main meal in the evening I find the standard 3/4 course French lunchtime menu too much and tend to seek out the places that have the lighter alternatives.  Does your friend only intend doing his set menu or does he have alternatives?   I think I understand what you are saying here.  I have quite a lot of French friends in various regions of France and they always say that they eat their main meal in the middle of the day and a lighter meal in the evening - yet I have never experienced this in their homes, even living there for 1-3 weeks.  I have always had the impression that they eat copious meals both at midday and in the evening.  Also, whilst I seem to be able to eat any meal of any size at any time, my husband finds it very difficult to function after a full meal in the middle of the day.  Only a few weeks ago, we went to a creperie and had a galette, followed by a crepe and I had to take over the wheel because it had made him so tired that he was unfit to drive.  So, perhaps eating well (although I would still only regard a galette and a crepe as a snack) in the middle of the day may not be a healthy idea.  It is usually easier to find a menu offering a full meal during the day than it is during the evening.  Yet as far as I am concerned, the day is too valuable and I need it for other things, whereas the evening is the time to relax and enjoy a meal.  A French chef friend of mind who had his own restaurant only opened at lunchtime as he didn't wish to receive evening clientele.   But this is just an example of the difference in that the French stop in the middle of the day to eat and the British would rather get lunch out of the way quickly, get the job done and then have the evening for leisure - which to my mind actually involves enjoying a meal. At least if you eat your main meal in the evening, you can have a glass or two of wine and not worry about what you have to do afterwards. Jill (99)    Report

14/04/2008, 6:42 Clair Joined on 23/08/2004 ------- Forum Moderator ------- Lot Posts 6,276 Re: menu suggestions  Jill wrote: the British would rather get lunch out of the way quickly, get the job done ... and that is a perfect illustartion of the differences betwenne the two cultures! Yet, you ask about how to integrate into the French community another thread (http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/1204613/ShowPost.aspx) Clair, a Real Virtual French Person La vérité est si obscurcie en ce temps et le mensonge si établi, qu'à moins d'aimer la vérité, on ne saurait la reconnaître. (Blaise Pascal)    Report

14/04/2008, 12:39 NormanH Joined on 10/04/2008 Posts 179 Re: menu suggestions 1)I think that some good salads are always welcome at lunchtime: a 'salad du pecheur' with a few prawns, mussels, an anchovy or two with the tomato and lettuce 2)Simple, local well-done things go well too: in the winter a good fish soup or "soupe de potiron", and chou farçi or a daube de boeuf  . A favorite of mine is poulet basquaise but that might not be right for where you are. A gigot or blanquette is a popular option too. 3)On a low price menu you can't expect expensive ingredients, but some classics which are easier come by in France than in parts of the UK can give a touch of luxury : 6 oysters for example. 4)  A non-meat option,  for each course even if it only various omelettes,  a piperade, crudités to start etc. If you are in the south a popular 'formule' might  be: a basket of fresh vegetables/hard boiled eggs/cooked potatoes  to cut at yourself with an aioli sauce for dipping Some charcuterie and gherkins A simple main course (steak frites for example) cheese or dessert ( or both with a supplement)    Report

14/04/2008, 14:17 osie Joined on 17/12/2007 South West France Posts 55 Re: menu suggestions My menu ideas would be... All fresh: herbs, meat, fish etc Seasonal: Asparagus at the moment Produce that is easy to get hold of but not the norm : passe pierre, fennel, carraway seeds, sweet potato etc Nice and easy decoration: some shells with a fish dish, some fruit puree to meat sauces, dates, walnuts p.s. personally, for the few euros its worth, opening 6 oysters and walking around with holes in your hands in not worth it "> www.le-murier.com    Report

19/04/2008, 0:43 Jill Joined on 23/08/2004 Posts 554 Re: menu suggestions  Clair wrote:  Jill wrote: the British would rather get lunch out of the way quickly, get the job done ... and that is a perfect illustartion of the differences betwenne the two cultures! Yet, you ask about how to integrate into the French community another thread (http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/1204613/ShowPost.aspx) I don't understand the connection you are making here.  Eating in a French way is not the same as integrating.  I've eaten in many French households and always prepare the same types of meals when I'm in France - even when camping.  What I was trying to get at in the question about integrating was to do with how you get to meet people.  Most people make friends through work or through their children's friends, unless they belong to some sort of sports club or something.  What I was meaning in the other thread was how did those of you who have integrated get to make friends with the French people in the area where you are living or where you own holiday homes.  Having people to talk to is important to me.  Perhaps you were suggesting that it could be done by going to a restaurant.  But restaurants are not like pubs in England where some locals might go on a regular basis. Perhaps you could let me know what the connection was that you were making?  Thanks. Jill (99)    Report

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France Forum » French Culture » French Food and... » Re: menu suggestions

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