Thank you for all your replies. I can tell that Christina and I are kindred souls by her insightful comments. I roared with laughter when I read Clair's reply. If Clair lives in Paris and can't solve this dilemma, then we'll all have to wait for a real French person to chime in. Thanks! <BR>Jeannette

Topping. <BR>Although my trip to France (4th time) September 2002, please help us find a solution to this dilemma. I'm stressed and can't sleep over this!

Salut Jeannette - <BR> <BR>Look out for the petit déjeuner complet on menus posted outside bars. See if people are munching tartines . . . <BR> <BR>Rick Steves is totally wrong on this one. Most bars open in the morning offer a fresh-pressed juice (usually orange), your choice of a hot drink, and either a croissant or tartine. <BR> <BR>And: please tear your croissant - don't attempt to cut it into a croissandwich, don't shove the whole thing into your mouth! <BR> <BR>If French people do have a pastry for breakfast, they have just one. Not the 4 in a row I once saw a fellow North American scarfing down - hey, save yourself for a huge lunch! <BR> <BR>BTW my fave place for Parisian "petit déj" is the Bonaparte, right across from St-Germain des Près . . . they even have petit déjeuner anglaise, with runny fried eggs. <BR> <BR>HTH, no stress, and have fun!

I really don't get these posts from people who travel and want it to be just like home. Why travel? Isn't it to experience another culture? That means not just what you eat, but how, where and when. Two last words (cliches): When in Rome and Vive La France.

I do not understand you AMERICANS, you always have to have it your way. If you want things to be as in the US, or you want to pretend you are at home, why do not stay there, why travel to other countries that have others costumes to ask if you can have breakfast the way you have it at home. <BR>It is not common for people here to have huge amounts of pastries in the morning, deal with it! <BR>Do not go to a bar or cafe and bring pastries from other places, that denotes that if you do not have it your way you are willing to force people and restaurants owners to change the way they do business just for you. <BR>Always have to be number one, always have to AMERICANIZED everything!

Guess what? It's not common for people in the US to have huge amounts of pastries in the morning, either. Where do you get your ideas? The poor poster just wanted a cup of coffee and one lousy pastry. She wasn't trying to invade the world or anything.

This is what makes a great thread - a heated discussion over coffe and pastry. <BR>Hey Euro, the last post is questioning your politicization of having BOTH coffee and pastries. Any thoughts or counter-accusation? <BR>Topping this anyway - for more tips on how to achieve the utopian harmony of coffee and pastry. <BR>I love this thread (and Jeannette for starting it).

Oh, you guys make me fall down laughing. I have visions of folks sneaking bags into cafes, turning their faces to the wall, surreptitiously pulling out some divine pastry and shoving the whole thing in their mouths, then wide-eyed trying to mumble to the owner, "no, we didn't bring any pastries in" all the while the crumbs on their faces and shirt fronts tell the true tale. The bread in Paris is so good, who really needs pastries? But, we did one morning want both and I sent Michael to the bakery for a couple really good pastries then we ordered coffee at a counter. No one looked at us twice. In fact, no one looked at us. Europeans, please don't be mad at us; we try very hard not to offend, but we can't possibly know the customs for every place we visit. Hey, here in the States, the South is different from New England. What's with those grits, anyway? This is a funny thead - keep it going.

The political angst in response to Jeannette’s post seems like sour grapes. First, though, nothing is more important than a great pastry with your café crème in the morning. Surely, the French are bringing those pastries home or to work where I bet they have espresso machines to complete the perfection. I can only guess why it is so hard (impossible?) to bridge this gap overseas. I bet it has to do with European provincialism. <BR> <BR>When I traveled to Europe on business in the early 80’s I was introduced to espresso and cappuccino. I couldn’t believe the numbers of bars on every block selling the stuff. So sophisticated, I thought. Viva la Europeans. I fell in love with espresso and came home and bought a pump-driven machine and never had café Americain again. Soon after, the founder of Starbucks (originally from Peet’s, I think) discovered the same thing and the rest is history. <BR> <BR>Well, not all of the history was made that day. Adaptable Americans love delicious French pastries and brought them right into Starbucks--no need to ask the owner. At first coffee stores only sold pitiful bagels and muffins. But American business learns. Now go into any Starbucks, Peets, or Coffee Bean and you can buy your chocolate croissant right there. <BR> <BR>But Europeans can learn when it suits them. In Laguna Beach a transplanted Frenchman, Jean Paul, runs the most famous coffee shop there. What delicious apricot tarts and other wonders. Guess what else he serves? Delicious European style coffees. French though he is--don’t order the coffees wrong or you’ll get a dirty look--Jean Paul knows what side his croissant is buttered on. <BR>

Anybody remember the French restaurant scene from "European Vacation"? That will happen to you if you bring pastries into a bar.

Shanna, I was born and raised in the South (Virginia), and never once did I carry grits into a coffee shop :-)