What's for breakfast in France?
Dec 7th, 2012, 10:06 AM
#21
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"Another recent addition to the traditional French breakfast is yoghurt."
My first experience of yogurt was in France 50 years ago almost to the day. At breakfast - in a working class house in a remote village in the days when Intervilles was the most exotic thing most people had seen since the Boche ran away.
My first experience of yogurt was in France 50 years ago almost to the day. At breakfast - in a working class house in a remote village in the days when Intervilles was the most exotic thing most people had seen since the Boche ran away.
Dec 7th, 2012, 10:08 AM
#22
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Is it not strange that we say we travel to experience the differences between countries, but then expect to find the same foods that we like at home. Eventually we tire of thde fact that abroad is the same as home, and start looking for somewhere more exotic.
And so the cycle repeats.
And so the cycle repeats.
Dec 7th, 2012, 10:10 AM
#23
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<StCirq>
Thanks. You are exactly reflecting my conclusions on this.
Obviously I would prefer moderately priced "hôtel de charme". It would be more convenient for me if they had a mini-fridge in the room but I doubt that will be the case. Perhaps you could confirm this for me?
Are there Monoprix, alimentaire or supermarkets well distributed throughout Paris? If there are some close enough to "hôtel de charme" I could always pick up the next mornings breakfast the evening before on the way "home". After my "in room breakfast" head out for that croissant, coffee and people watch!
Thanks. You are exactly reflecting my conclusions on this.
Obviously I would prefer moderately priced "hôtel de charme". It would be more convenient for me if they had a mini-fridge in the room but I doubt that will be the case. Perhaps you could confirm this for me?
Are there Monoprix, alimentaire or supermarkets well distributed throughout Paris? If there are some close enough to "hôtel de charme" I could always pick up the next mornings breakfast the evening before on the way "home". After my "in room breakfast" head out for that croissant, coffee and people watch!
Dec 7th, 2012, 10:14 AM
#24
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chartley, I think that is overstating it a bit. Wanting to have some protein with your breakfast so as to not be famished within an hour is not the same as wanting to go to malls or McDonalds, or whatever. The foods are there--cheese, yogurt, etc.--they are just not commonly served at breakfast. I cannot go for very long on a piece of bread and a coffee, but that does not indicate a lack of culinary curiosity.
Dec 7th, 2012, 10:16 AM
#25
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Every hotel I've stayed at in Paris had a mini-fridge, and if I were to stay in one that didn't, I'd ask if the desk could keep things cold for me overnight. And I don't stay at high-end places; most of them would fall into the "hôtel de charme" category.
You can't swing a cat in Paris without finding someplace to pick up food. Seriously.
You can't swing a cat in Paris without finding someplace to pick up food. Seriously.
Dec 7th, 2012, 10:19 AM
#26
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I guess it's what you're used to.
A traditional NY breakfast is coffee and a bagel with a schmear.
And that's plenty for us (as long as some juice is added). We can't eat a lot of heavy food in the am - esp heavy and greasy food. We eat the "traditional breakfast" only as a brunch - at noon or 1 pm - followed by a LONG walk to use up all the calories.
A traditional NY breakfast is coffee and a bagel with a schmear.
And that's plenty for us (as long as some juice is added). We can't eat a lot of heavy food in the am - esp heavy and greasy food. We eat the "traditional breakfast" only as a brunch - at noon or 1 pm - followed by a LONG walk to use up all the calories.
Dec 7th, 2012, 10:26 AM
#27
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ime, the small hotels often serve cheese, yoghurt and ham slices.
The Clément, du Panthéon, Hotel St Louis en l'isle and Dauphine come to mind, but the Dauphine is no longer moderately priced.
Don't get too excited, the cheese is often Laughing Cow or similar.
The Clément, du Panthéon, Hotel St Louis en l'isle and Dauphine come to mind, but the Dauphine is no longer moderately priced.
Don't get too excited, the cheese is often Laughing Cow or similar.
Dec 7th, 2012, 10:30 AM
#29
Every hotel I've stayed at in Paris had a mini-fridge, and if I were to stay in one that didn't, I'd ask if the desk could keep things cold for me overnight. >>
my one complaint about the last hotel we stayed at in Paris was that they forbad guests from using the mini-bar to store their own food - and this trend seems to be catching on.
another reason why IMO an apartment if preferable, but i agree that when you are a sole traveller, that may not be so desirable.
my one complaint about the last hotel we stayed at in Paris was that they forbad guests from using the mini-bar to store their own food - and this trend seems to be catching on.
another reason why IMO an apartment if preferable, but i agree that when you are a sole traveller, that may not be so desirable.
Dec 7th, 2012, 10:59 AM
#30
I grew up in the US with a "continental breakfast" with no problem, and to this day, the thought of bacon and/or eggs for breakfast nauseates me. I could easily eat those for "brunch" but since I am normally up before 7am even on the weekend, there's no way I'm going to wait from "brunch time"!
And yet, when I go to Asia and stay in totally non-Western accomodations, I have no problem at all having shrimp soup or curry for breakfast, as long as it is served with coffee or tee. I think the whole subject is more psychological than nutritional.
And yet, when I go to Asia and stay in totally non-Western accomodations, I have no problem at all having shrimp soup or curry for breakfast, as long as it is served with coffee or tee. I think the whole subject is more psychological than nutritional.
Dec 7th, 2012, 11:14 AM
#33
kerouac - partly I think that it is what we are brought up with/are used to, but also, i do feel that some of us simply have different metabolisms.
I know that if I am working I function better if I have some protein in the morning - an egg or even yogurt with some fruit. at the weekend it doesn't seem so important and then i am very happy to have a croissant or baguette with jam.
i did try the curry for breakfast in Sri Lanka but somehow it didn't appeal as much as the bacon and eggs!
I know that if I am working I function better if I have some protein in the morning - an egg or even yogurt with some fruit. at the weekend it doesn't seem so important and then i am very happy to have a croissant or baguette with jam.
i did try the curry for breakfast in Sri Lanka but somehow it didn't appeal as much as the bacon and eggs!
Dec 7th, 2012, 11:34 AM
#34
Obviously the body adjusts to what is available -- otherwise there would have been even more deaths in POW camps around the world.
Of course most tourists do not have time to adjust, nor should they, since the missing products are available everywhere. But visitors must also realize that the hotels are providing the breakfasts that the majority of visitors want -- and the majority of visitors are not the ones who eat American/British breakfasts; they are other Europeans. That's why you will find some sliced cold cuts and cheese in most buffets but not eggs and bacon unless you are going for the $20 breakfast. It will be much more likely in the future to find items that appeal to the new flood of Chinese tourists, because they will soon be the majority. Already the hotels are providing thermos bottles of hot water in the rooms of the Chinese visitors so that they can have tea at all hours.
Of course most tourists do not have time to adjust, nor should they, since the missing products are available everywhere. But visitors must also realize that the hotels are providing the breakfasts that the majority of visitors want -- and the majority of visitors are not the ones who eat American/British breakfasts; they are other Europeans. That's why you will find some sliced cold cuts and cheese in most buffets but not eggs and bacon unless you are going for the $20 breakfast. It will be much more likely in the future to find items that appeal to the new flood of Chinese tourists, because they will soon be the majority. Already the hotels are providing thermos bottles of hot water in the rooms of the Chinese visitors so that they can have tea at all hours.
Dec 7th, 2012, 11:39 AM
#35
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A sandwich of ham and cheese on a baguette DOES have "carbs", but it is not the unrefined sugar rush and crash you get with eating a donut for example. It would NOT cause a problem. You have gotten more than enough ideas to stave off your problematic low--buy some things at the Franprix that don't require refrigeration.
Dec 7th, 2012, 11:59 AM
#36
Already the hotels are providing thermos bottles of hot water in the rooms of the Chinese visitors so that they can have tea at all hours.>>
I haven't seen that, kerouac. but I have seen kettles with tea and coffee.
I haven't seen that, kerouac. but I have seen kettles with tea and coffee.
Dec 7th, 2012, 12:32 PM
#38
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Nonconformist - It is the Bonaparte, not I, who characterized the ham, egg and salad breakfast as an English breakfast. I, of course, know that is not entirely accurate. There are no baked beans included.
Dec 7th, 2012, 01:04 PM
#40
They don't leave such items out for non-Chinese guests. Risk of theft and all...>>
???? - do you mean that they put kettles in the brits' rooms, vacuum flasks in the chinese ones, etc. etc? seems a bit far-fetched to me.
anyway, assuming that you too aren't chinese, kerouac, how would YOU know about this?
???? - do you mean that they put kettles in the brits' rooms, vacuum flasks in the chinese ones, etc. etc? seems a bit far-fetched to me.
anyway, assuming that you too aren't chinese, kerouac, how would YOU know about this?
