Bon Appétit

Parisian eating differs drastically from our American way of eating…for example, their love for bacon can never be as strong as ours. In the U.S. we tend to go big or go home, with big appetizers, main dished and even dessert. Paris’ starters are lighter than in other destinations and usually consist of fresh salads, and soups. The main dish, known as "plat principal" or “plat de résistance,” is based on meat or fish and is usually sided with rice, pasta, or vegetables.
As dessert, “pain et confiture” is pretty popular, which is made with baguettes or loafs of bread cut in half and spread with jam and butter, although they are more consumed for breakfast. This widely differs from the usual desserts we enjoy, which are usually very sweet and rich such as cake, pie, and brownies. However, for those of us that are 21 and up, the drinks sided with our dishes is something we have in common with the Parisians. It is common to drink coffee, armagnac, cognac, or fruit brandy as traditional Parisian digestives, although beer is also very popular. Although beer and wine are a very common drinks of choice, especially when dining out, many adults are known to sip some of these at home after a nice meal.  It is wonderful exploring the differences as well as the similarities shared with a culture overseas.