When I arrived in Ireland, and more precisely when I went shopping for the first time, I realised how much I would miss French food. I really didn't think that so many stuffs I need would be impossible to find here. Where are the pistachio ice cream, the fromage frais, the Quaker cruesli (delicious crispy muesli)? And above all, where is REAL bread? I'm sorry but when I see what retailers are calling "baguette" here, it makes me shiver. That's why the very first thing I did when my plane landed in France during the Christmas holidays was buying bread. In the first bakery I saw. In the airport. I couldn't wait any longer. Great moment of happiness. Seriously, if the only bread you have ever eaten is Irish, you don't know what bread is. Then, once back at home, the first thing I did (the 2nd in fact, I kissed my mother before, I'm not so rude though) was going shopping to buy all the food I missed, and also groceries that I could bring back to Cork.
So on my way back to Ireland, I had to register another luggage, which was full of food. As a French, I love cheese and I wanted to bring back some here, but I didn't dare, I was too scared for the smell in my suitcase. Because this is not a stereotype to say that French cheeses stink. This is almost a criteria for choice! But I brought back Côte d'Or milk chocolate, chesnut spread, Speculoos spread (Speculoos are cinnamon flavoured biscuits. Sorry if you already knew it, but since I've never been able to find them here, I guess it is not that common. Anyway this spread is AMAZING), salted butter caramel (product of Brittany, we call it "salidou"), Lanvin chocolate snails filled with praline, [...] and... foie gras.
I don't know if it is very well-known in Ireland, but this is a luxury product that most of French people love. This is made of duck or goose liver, and people eat it during the Christmas period, most of the time with round little toasts and sometimes with some fig confit or caramelised onion. I don't include myself in these people because I'm not so fond of it (I brought some here to make it taste to non-French friends who were curious about it). According to me there is nothing transcendent about the taste of foie gras itself. I have a feeling that a lot of people love it "on principle", because it's a luxury good. Let's say it's a sort of unconscious snobism. That's my opinion, I know that a lot of people would contradict me. Anyway, here is what it looks like :
So on my way back to Ireland, I had to register another luggage, which was full of food. As a French, I love cheese and I wanted to bring back some here, but I didn't dare, I was too scared for the smell in my suitcase. Because this is not a stereotype to say that French cheeses stink. This is almost a criteria for choice! But I brought back Côte d'Or milk chocolate, chesnut spread, Speculoos spread (Speculoos are cinnamon flavoured biscuits. Sorry if you already knew it, but since I've never been able to find them here, I guess it is not that common. Anyway this spread is AMAZING), salted butter caramel (product of Brittany, we call it "salidou"), Lanvin chocolate snails filled with praline, [...] and... foie gras.
I don't know if it is very well-known in Ireland, but this is a luxury product that most of French people love. This is made of duck or goose liver, and people eat it during the Christmas period, most of the time with round little toasts and sometimes with some fig confit or caramelised onion. I don't include myself in these people because I'm not so fond of it (I brought some here to make it taste to non-French friends who were curious about it). According to me there is nothing transcendent about the taste of foie gras itself. I have a feeling that a lot of people love it "on principle", because it's a luxury good. Let's say it's a sort of unconscious snobism. That's my opinion, I know that a lot of people would contradict me. Anyway, here is what it looks like :
You'd better not know how it is made. Or maybe you should know.
The catchphrase means that there is something tragic about foie gras. This is a satire of an ad saying that there is something magic about foie gras.
I'm not judging anyone, since I bought some foie gras myself. It's just to let you know that i's a controversial product, because the ducks used to produce foie gras are overfed, which is considered as cruel.
But let's come back to what we were talking about. I complain a lot but in fact, I don't really care. It's just that moaning about everything is part of the French identity. And I didn't choose to go on an Erasmus exchange to feel as if I were at home. So maybe I won't miss Irish food and weather conditions once back to France for good. But I'm afraid I will miss all the rest.
P.S. : If someone knows where to find one of the products I mentioned, please tell me!
P.S. : If someone knows where to find one of the products I mentioned, please tell me!
No comments:
Post a Comment