Hey guys! This week we’re going to be talking about French food! And to start off with, we’re going to cover French restaurants. First, we’ll cover French etiquette since this is huge in France! Then I’ll talk about my experience at a French-inspired restaurant here in San Diego. Sorry, for anyone who thought I might talk about the French restaurants I went to in France. I was fifteen at the time, and it was ten years ago so my memory isn’t the greatest.
I’ve mentioned this multiple times but I’ll say it again, the French care about etiquette! They don’t eat a lot of snacks so every meal is a family-style sit down meal. According to French culture, it’s not okay to:
- Order just an appetizer
- Split a meal with someone else (that’s an insult to the chef who proportioned it for one person)
- Ask for a substitution/replacement (unless you have a food allergy, the chef will feel insulted)
- Ask for something that’s not on the table (if there’s no butter/salt/pepper/etc. then it’s because the dish, in the eyes of the chef, is so tasty that it doesn’t need it… you want to tell the chef otherwise?)
- Don’t expect bread to be served as an appetizer (often bread is served to absorb sauces served with your meal)
- Don’t ask the waiter to run separate tabs (French waiters aren’t like American waiters, from the U.S., they don’t have the saying “the customer is always right” and lean more towards the customer is always wrong)
- Don’t leave a tip (the tip is always included in the bill so if you leave more money, you just look like a snob)
- Don’t ask for leftovers (the French look down on “doggie bags”)
- Don’t place hands or elbows on the table
- Don’t Instagram your food
Things to do:
- Feel free to ask for tap water in a carafe (they’ll try to push bottle on you but don’t feel obliged to drink bottled water)
- Have wine with your meal (but don’t feel obliged to)
- To order coffee whenever you want (the French drink it with breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Use your utensils more than your hands (there’s very few finger food)
- Dress up a bit (in general the French dress up more than us here in the U.S. – especially us here in CA)
- Pay attention to the time you eat (most French people believe lunch should be between 12-2pm and dinner is 8-10pm)
- If you’re a non-French speaker in France: don’t assume your waiter speaks English/Spanish/etc. (always ask)
- Accept the aperitif (pre-dinner drink) even if you want it to be non-alcoholic
- Feel free to make reservations (recommended for small or fancy establishments)
First of all, my husband and I are pescatarians so anything that we buy/eat are going to be vegetarian (or fish). However, if there is anything that I convert from a meat dish to a vegetarian dish, I’ll include both recipes. We went to this place in Mission Valley called Mimi’s Café which is a really cute French-inspired restaurant.
For lunch, I had coffee and split a shrimp pasta dish with my husband. It was AMAZING! And then we each had our own bowl of tomato basil soup. Once again, so good!!! And we got a basket of bread for the table (DELICIOUS!). I loved everything about that meal!
But then we had the birthday crêpe cake… and it was just wrong. Everything about it was wrong. It tasted like sugary toothpaste on sponge cake. And probably was more American (U.S.) than French but the dish we ordered wasn’t available so they brought us that instead. DO GO HERE, but for dessert, stick to the muffins. I didn’t have one cause this month’s is pineapple and I’m allergic to pineapple but they smelled good.
We loved Mimi’s so much that we went back for breakfast! This time my husband had the coffee while I sipped on a mimosa. Yummmmmmmm! And we both had the egg, spinach and cheese crêpes with potatoes. Two thumbs up!
Here are some recipes close to what we ate:
French bread: http://steamykitchen.com/75-baking-the-perfect-loaf-of-french-bread.html
Tomato basil soup: http://mimiscafeathome.blogspot.com/2013/03/tomato-basil-soup.html
Shrimp Pasta (for this recipe: replace the last three ingredients with fresh basil, broccoli and tomatoes): http://damndelicious.net/2015/03/13/garlic-butter-shrimp-pasta/
Birthday crêpe cake (for those of you who think you can do better): http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2017/01/birthday-crepe-cake.html
Egg, Spinach and cheese crêpes: http://mimiscafeathome.blogspot.com/2016/02/crepes-florentine.html
Mango mimosa: http://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/recipes/a3640/mango-mimosa-recipe-clv0511/
Bon appétit!
P.S. This might be weird but I’m really impressed whenever a restaurant has a decent bathroom, and the bathrooms at Mimi’s Café are really cool!
Hello i am kavin, its my first time to commenting anywhere, when i read this piece of writing i
thought i could also make comment due to this brilliant article.
For newest news you have to go to see world wide web and on internet
I found this site as a finest web site for latest updates.
Hello to all, how is everything, I think every one is getting more from
this website, and your views are nice designed for new visitors.
The research can be very interesting. When you need to know situs slot gacor, I like
to recommend playing on dependable bandar slot websites online.
Because you can obtain big benefits and obtain certain affiliate payouts.
If you would like to experience, you could right away take
a peek through here. The link may be a video slot web site which may be
often used amongst Indonesia players.
Heya fantastic blog! Does running a blog similar to this require a
massive amount work? I’ve very little expertise in programming however I was hoping to start my own blog in the near future.
Anyway, if you have any suggestions or tips for new blog owners please
share. I understand this is off topic nevertheless I just had to ask.
Appreciate it!
This is the right webpage for anyone who really wants to find out about this topic.
You understand so much its almost hard to argue with you
(not that I actually will need to…HaHa). You certainly put a brand new spin on a topic which has been discussed for many years.
Excellent stuff, just wonderful!
You could definitely see your skills in the work you write.
The arena hopes for even more passionate writers like you who aren’t afraid
to mention how they believe. All the time go after your heart.
I’m extremely impressed with your writing skills and also with
the layout on your blog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize
it yourself? Anyway keep up the nice quality writing,
it’s rare to see a nice blog like this one nowadays.
Hello, this weekend is good designed for me, as this point in time i am reading this fantastic informative paragraph here at my home.
Good day! I know this is kinda off topic but I’d figured I’d
ask. Would you be interested in exchanging links or maybe guest writing a blog article or vice-versa?
My blog addresses a lot of the same topics as yours and I
believe we could greatly benefit from each other. If you might be interested
feel free to shoot me an email. I look forward to hearing from you!
Wonderful blog by the way!
It’s really a great and useful piece of info. I’m happy that you shared this helpful information with us.
Please keep us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
Fantastic beat ! I wish to apprentice whilst you amend your web site,
how could i subscribe for a weblog site? The account helped
me a applicable deal. I had been tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast
offered brilliant clear concept
The evaluation is very interesting. If you need to see slot resmi, I propose starting in trustworthy slot terpercaya niche websites.
Since you can obtain big profits and get hold of specific affiliate payouts.
If you need to understand, you can immediately have a look through
here. The hyperlink could possibly be a slot machine
game page that may be frequently used amidst Indonesia the gamers.
Good blog you have here.. It’s hard to find
good quality writing like yours these days. I honestly appreciate people like you!
Take care!!
The diagnosis is quite interesting. If you need to experience agen slot online,
I propose participating in in reliable agen slot online
websites online. As you can gain big wins and get specific internet
marketer pay-out odds. If you wish to enjoy, you could right the
actual website link below. The link may be a slot machine video
game site that is certainly commonly used among Indonesian the members.
Everything is very open with a precise description of the issues.
It was definitely informative. Your website is extremely
helpful. Many thanks for sharing!
It’s remarkable to pay a visit this site and reading the views of all mates regarding this post, while I am
also zealous of getting experience.
you are in reality a just right webmaster. The website loading pace is incredible.
It sort of feels that you are doing any distinctive trick.
In addition, The contents are masterpiece. you have done a fantastic process on this topic!
Hello, its pleasant piece of writing on the topic of media print,
we all be aware of media is a impressive source of data.
I’m extremely impressed with your writing skills as well as with the layout on your weblog.
Is this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself? Either way keep up the excellent quality writing,
it is rare to see a nice blog like this one today.
Hello There. I discovered your blog the usage of msn. This is
a really well written article. I’ll be sure to bookmark it and
return to learn more of your helpful information. Thanks
for the post. I will certainly comeback.
The assessment is really interesting. If you want to experiment
with bandar slot, I love to advise participating in upon dependable slot deposit pulsa websites on-line.
As you can obtain big results each of the incentives and acquire assured online marketer affiliate
payouts. If you wish that may be enjoyed, you are able to right the
actual website link listed below. The web link is truly a slot machine game game web page this is
frequently used among Indonesia the gamers.
Hello my loved one! I wish to say that this article is awesome, nice written and include approximately all significant
infos. I would like to see extra posts like this
.
Thanks for sharing your info. I really appreciate your efforts and I am
waiting for your next write ups thanks once again.
An interesting discussion is worth comment.
I do believe that you need to write more about
this subject, it may not be a taboo subject but typically folks don’t
speak about such topics. To the next! Kind regards!!
My partner and I stumbled over here different website and thought
I may as well check things out. I like what I see so i am
just following you. Look forward to checking out your web page yet again.
Yesterday, while I was at work, my sister stole my apple ipad and tested
to see if it can survive a forty foot drop, just so she can be a
youtube sensation. My iPad is now broken and she has 83 views.
I know this is entirely off topic but I had to share it with someone!
Your document can be extremely great. When you really need info on lotto, much more my own site.
Between internet gambling the players in Indonesia this computer game is definitely termed bandar
togel online. We have a number of advice about
the agen judi togel.
The examination is very interesting. If you wish to
play situs slot terpercaya, I would advise starting about
reliable slot online pulsa sites. Because you can gain big positive aspects and get selected affiliate
marketer payouts. If you would like to see, you may vertical follow the
link listed below. The web link can be a slot machine site which may
be frequently employed among Indonesia online players.
Your evaluation is quite interesting. If you want to see agen slot, I recommend
participating in upon relied on slot terpercaya niche sites.
As you can obtain big increases all of the benefits and obtain certain affiliate marketer pay-out odds.
If you want which can be performed, you are able to immediately take
a look through down below. The hyperlink is known as a slot machine
game blog website that is certainly frequently employed among Indonesia the members.
Awesome blog you have here but I was wanting to know if you knew of any user discussion forums that
cover the same topics talked about here? I’d really love
to be a part of community where I can get suggestions from other knowledgeable
people that share the same interest. If you have any recommendations, please let me
know. Bless you!
I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but your blogs really
nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your website
to come back later. Cheers
I’ve been exploring for a little for any high-quality articles or weblog posts in this
sort of space . Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this website.
Reading this info So i’m glad to exhibit that I’ve a very excellent uncanny feeling I found
out exactly what I needed. I such a lot indisputably will make certain to do not overlook this site and
give it a look on a relentless basis.
It’s really very difficult in this full of activity life
to listen news on Television, so I only use internet for that reason,
and take the most up-to-date information.
Greetings! Very helpful advice within this post!
It’s the little changes which will make the biggest changes.
Thanks for sharing!
Valuable information. Fortunate me I found your site by
chance, and I am surprised why this accident did not came about in advance!
I bookmarked it.
This is my first time visit at here and i am truly impressed to read everthing at one place.
Thanks for some other informative web site. Where else may I get that kind of info written in such a perfect way?
I have a undertaking that I am simply now running on, and
I’ve been on the look out for such information.
You could certainly see your skills in the article you write.
The world hopes for even more passionate writers such as you who are not
afraid to mention how they believe. Always go after your heart.
Howdy! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are you using for this site?
I’m getting sick and tired of WordPress because I’ve had issues with hackers and I’m
looking at alternatives for another platform. I would be fantastic if you
could point me in the direction of a good platform.
I appreciate, cause I found exactly what I used to be taking a look for.
You have ended my 4 day lengthy hunt! God Bless you man. Have
a great day. Bye
The review can be very interesting. If you wish to know situs
slot terpercaya, Least expensive playing
in reliable bandar slot sites. As you can obtain big wins and acquire guaranteed pay-out chances.
If you wish to learn, you possibly can directly just click here in this article.
The web link can be described as position web-site which may be often used amongst Indonesia
online players.
Hello, I read your blog regularly. Your story-telling style
is witty, keep doing what you’re doing!
The review can be extremely interesting. If you would like to
understand slot deposit pulsa, I would advise starting in trustworthy bandar slot sites.
Since you can gain big increases all of the incentives and receive assured
pay-out chances. If you wish to experiment with, you can quickly follow the link
the following. The link is known as a slot machine web page that is certainly frequently employed among
Indonesian the members.
Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the video to make your point.
You clearly know what youre talking about, why waste your
intelligence on just posting videos to your weblog
when you could be giving us something enlightening to read?
I’ve been exploring for a little for any high-quality articles or blog posts in this sort of space .
Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this site.
Studying this info So i am glad to express that I’ve an incredibly excellent uncanny feeling I came upon just
what I needed. I such a lot unquestionably will make
sure to don?t omit this site and give it a look regularly.
I don’t know if it’s just me or if everybody else experiencing problems with your site.
It appears as though some of the text in your content are running off the screen.
Can someone else please comment and let me know if this is happening to them too?
This may be a problem with my browser because I’ve had this happen previously.
Thank you
Simply want to say your article is as astounding.
The clarity in your post is just nice and i could assume you’re an expert on this subject.
Fine with your permission allow me to grab your RSS feed to keep
updated with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please continue the enjoyable
work.
Its such as you learn my mind! You seem to grasp a lot about this, such as you wrote the
e-book in it or something. I feel that you just could do with a few percent to force the message
house a bit, but other than that, this is fantastic blog.
A fantastic read. I’ll certainly be back.
It’s very effortless to find out any matter on web as compared to books,
as I found this piece of writing at this web site.