Monday 15 August 2016

Strawberries and Champagne



Here, in Australia, it is winter. Strawberries like these are not available. Correction, strawberries that taste like these, are not available.

On his recent trip, my husband had one of those it-makes-complete-sense-in-France experiences. He was shopping, not in a market, a supermarket. Quietly going about his own business, he stopped to admire the fruit. He made no eye contact with anyone else. He did not venture an out-loud comment or exclamation, he just stopped to look. The lady beside him, French of course, wanted to help. She had sensed a moment of indecision and wanted to be sure to support him through it. So, addressing my husband, she gave her approval to the quality, of course the price was irrelevant, and then stopped as she was about to continue on her way, registering that my husband had not responded. She interpreted this as a sure sign that he was not French and, changing to English, continued in her self-appointed mission to ensure that he had the best gastronomic strawberry experience possible.

She advised him on how to eat said strawberries.

No, not with a recipe, not by suggesting a large dob of Chantilly or a perfect dessert wine. Just, how to eat the strawberry.

My husband stopped at this point in his story telling and I looked at him quizzically, still not sure if this was some sort of flirtation, French style, or really was a tale of two strawberries. Not sure about you, but I've always used the green bit to hold onto and chomped into the pointy end first. No! No! No! The pointy bit, apparently, is the sweetest bit and so you need, indeed must, start with the flat bit first and work your way up, saving the best for last.

Still musing over the exact nature of eating à la francaise, he was invited out for dinner that night to eat with our most charming of neighbours at the recently re-furbished restaurant across the road from our house. She insisted that they both start with a champagne aperitif and browsed the wine list to make her selection. Decision made, she called across the sommelier ... who refused to take the order. It was, he explained, not masculine enough for my husband and suggested another champagne that would fit the bill.

By this stage, I was rolling around with laughter. Strawberry etiquette and not-masculine-enough champagne. Only in France. How I love her so.

View from the terrace of the Beau Site restaurant in Talloires on the Annecy Lake

14 comments:

  1. Mmmmm...strawberries like that are in my fridge, but not for long, as you've reminded me.
    The French often are happy to share unsolicited advice about how to eat and drink. Often it's good advice.

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. I love the passion that surrounds food in France. Hard to ever take offence when a suggestion is proffered. Enjoy your strawberries and all the other wonderful fruits that are in season.

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    3. Whoops. Nothing more sinister in my removed comment than a few of my own spelling mistakes...

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    4. Oh I have had that too! Why do they have to say "this comment has been removed by the author" it sounds like you might have said something freaky. I removed something on my page because I couldn't correct the mistake, only to be left with the unnerving evidence that something that had been there was now gone.... laugh out loud.

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    5. Yes. Now that I know what happens I'll have to be more careful in the future !

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  2. These anecdotes seem so funny when viewed from the point of view of American or Australian culture, yet if I really think about it, they seem to make perfect sense! Who would not want to know how to best savor a strawberry, if they could only be taught "comme il faut"? And Piper Heidsieck is much more masculine than Perrier Jouet!

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    1. HI Ellen, you are quite right. Who would not want to know? I know I love the little titbits of advice. And I love the laughter that often comes with it ! Looking forward to seeing the next stages of your renovation.

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  3. That is a cute story. We have all learned how to eat a strawberry!!

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    1. Thanks Darlene. I am asked sometimes why I am so drawn to France and how, in reality, things are different from elsewhere. These simple stories help with both explanations. Hope that you are enjoying your summer and that your book release is on track with your lovely new cover.

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  4. It really is quite hilarious how seriously food and drink are taken. Of course, it is fascinating, and those simple pleasures are why we long to return.

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    1. Hi Cheryl, Yes, it is a serious business, learning about these simple pleasures. Look forward to your next story in Provence, Bourgogne or wherever you are inspired next by a gorgeous cobblestone, vineyard or shutter!

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  5. I love the confidence the French have about the right way to eat or drink anything. Thanks for the story and the laugh.

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    1. You're welcome. No doubt just one of the many reasons that we are so drawn to France. Thanks for reading and commenting.

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