Dining in a French home: etiquette
#122
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<i>And in a "real" restaurant, a huge(for example) "mushroom burger with roquefort sauce" is eaten with a knife and fork even in the U.S. unless you want juice running down to your elbows.</i>
The key to eating a messy burger or sandwich is to not put it down. I would never eat a burger with a knife and fork. It misses the point, which is to get the proper balance of meat and cheese and bun and toppings. When you use a knife and fork the proportions get screwed up. If it is impossible to eat it with your hands, then it fails as a burger.
<i>in France you are supposed to have your arms on the table but could be reverse.</i>
How are French people supposed to speak if their hands are under the table?
<i>Most European pizza will droop if you pick it up, due to its thin crust.</i>
Which is why you fold the slice in half.
<i>Is it acceptable to ask your guests for a tour of their apartment in the US ??</i>
In Denmark, they will ask for a tour and will ask you how much you pay for it. This is even if they don't know you well.
The key to eating a messy burger or sandwich is to not put it down. I would never eat a burger with a knife and fork. It misses the point, which is to get the proper balance of meat and cheese and bun and toppings. When you use a knife and fork the proportions get screwed up. If it is impossible to eat it with your hands, then it fails as a burger.
<i>in France you are supposed to have your arms on the table but could be reverse.</i>
How are French people supposed to speak if their hands are under the table?
<i>Most European pizza will droop if you pick it up, due to its thin crust.</i>
Which is why you fold the slice in half.
<i>Is it acceptable to ask your guests for a tour of their apartment in the US ??</i>
In Denmark, they will ask for a tour and will ask you how much you pay for it. This is even if they don't know you well.
#126
Join Date: Nov 2006
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Underhill wrote: "It's the Italians who need their hands to talk ..."
At the risk of derailing this important discussion of French culture, I commend people to observe Italians using mobile phones. They seem to use their hands as much as in face-to-face encounters.
At the risk of derailing this important discussion of French culture, I commend people to observe Italians using mobile phones. They seem to use their hands as much as in face-to-face encounters.
#127
Join Date: Dec 2005
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"Polly Platt obituary | Film | The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/...tt-obituaryAug 7, 2011 – Versatile production designer, screenwriter and producer of Hollywood films."
Hard to believe that two American women would have a name like Polly Platt, but in fact it's true. The Hollywood producer died in 2011. Polly Platt the Francophile and author of French or Foe, died in 2008.
In fact the difficulty I had with Polly Platt was that her advice was for a different society than I live in here in the south-west of France. We dont often have to worry abut going in to dinner with an ambassador. What mystified me was her mention that when your host brings out the orange juice, it's time to go. Never in 17 years has my host offered orange juice - lots of eau de vie, no juice. But Canadian friends who frequent embassies in Ottawa tell me that it's done there.
We have however offered home grown corn on the cob to our neighbours here in the Dordogne. My husband has never quite forgiven me for advising that he not pick more cobs, as 'they'll never eat more than one.' They did, we didn't, and we have photos to prove it.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/...tt-obituaryAug 7, 2011 – Versatile production designer, screenwriter and producer of Hollywood films."
Hard to believe that two American women would have a name like Polly Platt, but in fact it's true. The Hollywood producer died in 2011. Polly Platt the Francophile and author of French or Foe, died in 2008.
In fact the difficulty I had with Polly Platt was that her advice was for a different society than I live in here in the south-west of France. We dont often have to worry abut going in to dinner with an ambassador. What mystified me was her mention that when your host brings out the orange juice, it's time to go. Never in 17 years has my host offered orange juice - lots of eau de vie, no juice. But Canadian friends who frequent embassies in Ottawa tell me that it's done there.
We have however offered home grown corn on the cob to our neighbours here in the Dordogne. My husband has never quite forgiven me for advising that he not pick more cobs, as 'they'll never eat more than one.' They did, we didn't, and we have photos to prove it.
#128
Join Date: Nov 2004
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In support of Padraig's observation about Italians on cell phones/mobiles/telefonini, I vividly remember our taxi driver in Sicily driving fast down the freeway while on his cell phone. He used one hand for the phone, the other hand to gesture -- leaving no hands for the steering wheel.
#130
I want to know how Italian teens get by. French teens are texting all the time even in the middle of a conversation so they could not use their hands for anything else.
French parents are astounded at how their teen children can text under the dinner table without even looking at the screen.
French parents are astounded at how their teen children can text under the dinner table without even looking at the screen.
#133
Join Date: Mar 2003
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But I did when I grew up. And of course, keeping knife in the right hand and fork in the left is not natural, it is taught--difficult to keep the hand under the table with an implement in it.
Things have changed. Nonetheless, in 1995 we went to a hunter's meal in the hamlet where we have our house. My wife's cousin, who met our neighbor briefly upon our arrival, wore his hat at this <i>plein air repas</i> and the neighbor went to him (he speaks no French and she no English) to let him know that it was improper to wear a hat at the table. I was taken aback that she did not try to be more discreet about it. He redeemed himself by offering and modeling his bright red wide suspenders for the subsequent fund-raising auction.
Things have changed. Nonetheless, in 1995 we went to a hunter's meal in the hamlet where we have our house. My wife's cousin, who met our neighbor briefly upon our arrival, wore his hat at this <i>plein air repas</i> and the neighbor went to him (he speaks no French and she no English) to let him know that it was improper to wear a hat at the table. I was taken aback that she did not try to be more discreet about it. He redeemed himself by offering and modeling his bright red wide suspenders for the subsequent fund-raising auction.
#134
Join Date: Oct 2007
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NEVER wear your hat at the table in France!
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...n-IMG_0066.jpg
Sometimes I think of compiling a book of all the misinformation I've received over the years about the French.
My favorite: Years ago, I was on my way to Paris, and a friend told me I should stop shaving my legs because in France only the prostitutes did so.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...n-IMG_0066.jpg
Sometimes I think of compiling a book of all the misinformation I've received over the years about the French.
My favorite: Years ago, I was on my way to Paris, and a friend told me I should stop shaving my legs because in France only the prostitutes did so.
#137
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My French "parents" taught me it was fine to rest your hands in your lap when not using your utensils or to rest your arms just below the wrists on the edge of the table (not your elbows on the table, obviously) Of course, this was the day and age when even best social friends still used the "vous" form when speaking to each other even at home.
In Germany, I've been told it's considered very impolite to have your hands in your lap during a meal...something having to do with long ago to show you don't have weapons hidden and mean the host harm.
In Germany, I've been told it's considered very impolite to have your hands in your lap during a meal...something having to do with long ago to show you don't have weapons hidden and mean the host harm.
#138
Join Date: Sep 2011
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Hi
If you want to dine at someone's place in France, there's an option in Paris area, in Versailles.
http://www.lacuisinedebertrand.com
There you'll learn about "real" french étiquette (this expression always made me laugh, because there is no much french people caring about this).
If you want to dine at someone's place in France, there's an option in Paris area, in Versailles.
http://www.lacuisinedebertrand.com
There you'll learn about "real" french étiquette (this expression always made me laugh, because there is no much french people caring about this).
#140
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For a less formal setting than the <i>déjeuner de canotiers</i>:
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=carti...:0&tx=76&ty=64
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=carti...:0&tx=76&ty=64