The morning meal is unloved here. An association of chefs and hotel operators hope its annual breakfast competition will get people to wake up to its potential.
As much as I enjoyed breakfast in the US, I was sort of haphazard about it. So, when I moved to France I got more used to things here and only very very rarely make anything approaching an American breakfast (bacon and eggs). I find that asking the local traiteur or boucherie to give you however many slices of lardon fumé is the same as bacon (it looks like it as well). Depending upon my mood I ask for thick or thin slices. It is delicious, and tastes like the bacon I had at my grandparents' places as a kid, not chemical-laden. One thing for breakfast I had often in the US was oatmeal. That has been difficult to get here that doesn't turn almost into paste when you cook it. For one thing, the flakes are often very tiny, but even when you find the large ones, cooking them they all stick together. Not sure why that is, but it is nowhere near as enjoyable as what I had back home.
I've never tried a "bagel" here in France, from your description it'd be about as horrible an experience as having "Mexican" food here. I liken it to something someone tries to make that they've never eaten, and had only seen in photos, using the wrong ingredients. Fortunately, I don't get cravings for it, or I'd have to learn how to make it (if I could even find the right cheeses and spices). And I 100% agree with you on coffee here. Such a disappointment! I haven't been able to figure out why, but I have my own espresso machine at home, and it churns out the good stuff. That's one thing the UK does better for sure, is morning coffee. I actually liked theirs more than what I got in the US. Again, not sure why, though I suspect part of it is the milk (I do put that in my coffee, but can't stand sugar in it or in tea).
All that said, I'm satisfied walking to one of the boulangeries here in my very small town of around 3000 kind people here in Normandie, where I have the luxury of 4 different boulangeries to choose from. Each has their specialties so I patronise them all. About the only other things that are difficult/impossible to find here is Sherry, Marsala, and natural peanut butter. But, those are small tradeoffs for the enormously better choices in most everything else one could want to eat (with the possible exception of steak, which I only very rarely had in the US). And I can easily get my favourite, duck, for relatively affordable prices. It's 1/3rd to 1/5th the price I used to find it for in the US.
Anyway, interesting article, I'd not heard about this push to aggrandir our breakfasts!
Agreed that in the larger context, the food is great here throughout the other meals, both in terms of quality and experience.
As for coffee, at one point I was having Starbucks beans delivered by mail order. But I don't drink as much coffee any more so stopped. It's amazing that in Italy, I can go to a rest stop and get a €1 espresso and it's outstanding.
Finally, yeah: Mexican would be the 2nd on the list of things we miss. We get our fix when we visit California.
As much as I enjoyed breakfast in the US, I was sort of haphazard about it. So, when I moved to France I got more used to things here and only very very rarely make anything approaching an American breakfast (bacon and eggs). I find that asking the local traiteur or boucherie to give you however many slices of lardon fumé is the same as bacon (it looks like it as well). Depending upon my mood I ask for thick or thin slices. It is delicious, and tastes like the bacon I had at my grandparents' places as a kid, not chemical-laden. One thing for breakfast I had often in the US was oatmeal. That has been difficult to get here that doesn't turn almost into paste when you cook it. For one thing, the flakes are often very tiny, but even when you find the large ones, cooking them they all stick together. Not sure why that is, but it is nowhere near as enjoyable as what I had back home.
I've never tried a "bagel" here in France, from your description it'd be about as horrible an experience as having "Mexican" food here. I liken it to something someone tries to make that they've never eaten, and had only seen in photos, using the wrong ingredients. Fortunately, I don't get cravings for it, or I'd have to learn how to make it (if I could even find the right cheeses and spices). And I 100% agree with you on coffee here. Such a disappointment! I haven't been able to figure out why, but I have my own espresso machine at home, and it churns out the good stuff. That's one thing the UK does better for sure, is morning coffee. I actually liked theirs more than what I got in the US. Again, not sure why, though I suspect part of it is the milk (I do put that in my coffee, but can't stand sugar in it or in tea).
All that said, I'm satisfied walking to one of the boulangeries here in my very small town of around 3000 kind people here in Normandie, where I have the luxury of 4 different boulangeries to choose from. Each has their specialties so I patronise them all. About the only other things that are difficult/impossible to find here is Sherry, Marsala, and natural peanut butter. But, those are small tradeoffs for the enormously better choices in most everything else one could want to eat (with the possible exception of steak, which I only very rarely had in the US). And I can easily get my favourite, duck, for relatively affordable prices. It's 1/3rd to 1/5th the price I used to find it for in the US.
Anyway, interesting article, I'd not heard about this push to aggrandir our breakfasts!
Agreed that in the larger context, the food is great here throughout the other meals, both in terms of quality and experience.
As for coffee, at one point I was having Starbucks beans delivered by mail order. But I don't drink as much coffee any more so stopped. It's amazing that in Italy, I can go to a rest stop and get a €1 espresso and it's outstanding.
Finally, yeah: Mexican would be the 2nd on the list of things we miss. We get our fix when we visit California.
Thanks for reading!