10 FRENCH EATING HABITS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Dec 5, 2017
- 3 min read
France is really well-known worldwide for its cuisine but also for its eating habits. If you plan to come to live to France, knowing French eating habits may avoid you to be surprised once you are here, having a meal with French people.
1. FRENCH PEOPLE TAKE THEIR TIME TO EAT
A meal lasts around 1 hour. If it's with the all family (grand-parents, cousins) it lasts longer, around 3hours.
2. FRENCH PEOPLE LIKE TO SPEAK DURING A MEAL
Having a meal is not only about eating, it's also a moment of break when you take the time to exchange with others, family, friends, colleagues.
3. THE TREE-COURSE MEAL
French people do not take a three-course meal on a daily basis. We mostly do it during weekend at home with family
- The starter: a salad most of the time
- The main course: fish or meat with vegetables or rice/pasta
- Cheese: not considered as a dish in itself but it's always a no-forget step of a French meal.
- Desert: yogurt, cookies, cakes or fruits. The sweet touch all French need to have a complete meal
- coffee
4. ALL THE FAMILY EAT TOGETHER
During the week for dinner and on Sunday for lunch, all the family gather and eat together around the table with a homemade meal.
For Sunday it's usually the time when the family visit the grand parents, cousins, uncles...
5. EATING HOURS - EARLY EATERS
In general it's around 12pm-1pm for lunch and 7pm-8pm for dinner
6. RULES OF TABLE ETIQUETTE
Taught at a early age.
Do not put your elbows on the table
Do not place your hands on your knees but on the table
Do not talk while eating
Always serve others before yourself, including water.
Do not take the last piece without asking others first (it’s very impolite to take it without asking)
Say 'Bon appétit'
Start eating once everyone is served
Always say please/thank you when someone serve you
When finished eating, put your cutlery in your plate and not on the table/napkin
Don’t eat with your fingers
Eat slowly
Eat all your veggies if you want a desert (it’s not really a rule but all French kids are going through this pression and sadness ^^)
7. USE THE RIGHT CUTLERY FOR THE RIGHT DISH
There can be several sets of cutleries sometimes on the table. Even if it's reserved for big dinner and not daily life, French people have to know how to use them. It's also a part of Table Etiquette.
Always begin with the cutlery the farest from your plate.
There are different knifes: one for fish, one for meat, one for butter.
The cutlery in front of your plate are for the desert.
There are several glasses: one for water, one for red wine, one for white one, one for champagn
8. WINE DRINKING ETIQUETTE
Drinking wine also have its etiquette
- Do not put iced cubes in your wine glass
- Do not drink one shot
- If you want more wine, finish your glass, if you don’t want anymore, leave some wine in your glass If you are interested in French wine, go and read those articles 1 & 2
9. END OF A STEREOTYPE ABOUT FRENCH PEOPLE
End of a stereotype! All French people are not good cook but YES they are good eater.
10. FRENCH CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT BREAD, WINE AND CHEESE
It's not a stereotype..
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