For the people of Paris, no meal or occasion is complete without the presence of bread and pastries. These two things you will find in every restaurant and on every street corner of Paris.
In learning about how the food is made and experiencing how it is enjoyed, I was able to learn a lot about the Parisian culture. Unlike the United States, all of the breads and pastries made in Paris are preservative free. This means that there is no added chemicals that cause foods to last longer than they should. Every morning in Paris you can step out onto the streets and immediately enjoy the warm and delicious scents coming from bakeries and shops. There is nothing quite like enjoying a pastry fresh that is hot off the press in the morning. It is not uncommon to see Parisians walking the streets of Paris in the mornings with a large baguette in hand such as the one pictured on the left. The people of Paris truly pride themselves on coming together to make and enjoy the best breads and pastries around. Another custom seen throughout Paris when it comes to food is how it is enjoyed. What I mean by this is that a traditional sit down meal in Paris lasts between 2 and 3 hours. There is no sense of hurrying to get your check and leave. In fact, the servers come quickly to take your order but after he or she brings your food to you, it is possible that you will not see them again for at least an hour unless you flag them down. Although this took some getting used to, I really appreciated this Parisian tradition which allowed me to truly slow down, soak in the culture, and enjoy meals with my classmates. This also showed me how in this specific culture, food brings the people of Paris together. |
Pain au chocolatA traditional pastry in Paris that has a literal meaning of "bread with chocolate," this pastry is a croissant with a chocolate filled center. Pain au chocolat is one of many pastry options for breakfast and they are made fresh every morning. This freshness also assures it will still be warm when you purchase it. There's nothing better than feeling like you're eating dessert for breakfast! Yum!
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Fête du painThis picture is a prime example of just how important bread is in the Parisian culture. Each year they have a 10 day bread festival. Luckily enough for our class, the bread festival was happening during our time in Paris and celebrating its 20 year anniversary. The festival was directly in front of the Notre-Dame cathedral which offered a beautiful view while waiting in the line that was roughly 20-30 minutes long. Once inside the expo it was so cool to get to watch the bakers in every step of the process from kneading the dough to baking it. Of course, what would a bread festival be without actually trying the bread?! As a class, we were able to partake in eating some of the delicious finished products.
Below is a short clip that gives a good look inside the Paris bread festival! (Note: this is not my personal video) |
Crêpe au nutella et la banane
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