Rather than write about politics and the UK Election results today I thought I’d share a recent gastronomical experience with you.
My French family in law are quite the gastronomes and my Belle-Mere is such a good cook it’s a really daunting experience whenever I have to cook for them. I’m sure everyone knows someone like her; the type of person who can throw together a feast from nothing and who can easily follow a recipe and have the food come out looking like it’s supposed to.
Anyway, last Sunday I was brave enough to face the supermarket after everything in France closed on the Saturday for the Fete de Travail national holiday. It was a nice change to visit a different supermarket in a different area of France and I leisurely strolled around admiring all the produce which I could buy (but didn’t as I had to take back a sofa suite to Lyon – see yesterdays Jardinage Jeudi). At lunch I was commenting on how my beaux parents (BP) were lucky to have such a wonderful choice of interesting produce in their local supermarket.
You can buy all types of things that I’ve never seen in Lyon, such as delicate little cheeses filled with fig or honey for the aperitif, fig bread or olive sticks for dipping. Our conversation continued as we each recalled different produce that we purchase and enjoy.
Then the conversation turned to things that we couldn’t find anymore and my Beau-Pere mentioned that they couldn’t buy buns anymore. I immediately thought he was referring to a sweet delicacy that I was obviously missing out on given how highly he was speaking of them. I was then really confused when everyone started talking about the pros and cons of Bolognese and Leek fillings.
I’m proud to say that I didn’t cotton on, as ready-made frozen food isn’t really my thing (except for Picard, but that’s another story) so I eventually asked. As it turns out they were talking about frozen fast food, no less than McCain’s Buns!
Now who would have thought that you would hear such a conversation at a French dinner table? Not me for sure and it’s not exactly what I thought I would be hearing from my In-laws!
A really missed delicacy - My French BP's cannot find these in their local supermarket!
It is indeed strange. With all this glorious food and produce they have a yankering for frozen fast food? Too crazy!
My neighbours used to beg me to bring back christmas puddings from the UK. I was once searched going through customs and nearly relieved of my stash! Just watched your vampire taxman vid and made myself sick laughing. I’m still trying to extricate myself from the clutches of URSAF having left France two years ago! (I’m in Italy now). Love the blog! Vivent les surcongeles!
Tanya: I know, its crazy isn’t it? They’re coming here this Friday so I’m on a mission to find some and that’ll be their dinner
It’s an easy option for me!
Hello Statusviatoris: horror of horrors! Imagine if they’d confiscated it! I wonder what the customs guys thought of a Christmas Pudding! Were they French or UK customs?
Is Italy much better than France in terms of bureaucracy – don’t answer that, I’ve just clicked on your blog 
Thank you for your kind words, I love that vampire vid, I often sing it, quite sad really LOL
Good grief, that’s exactly the kind of frozen meal I avoid like the plague.
Still, there’s no reason the French should dislike ready meals, and when you compare the size of the frozen food selection now to when I first came in 1989, it’s obvious they are very keen on not cooking.
Personally I’d rather eat scrambled eggs on toast to a McVitie’s Bun if it’s got to be quick.
Hi Sarah, I edited the message for you! I don’t know why it wouldn’t let you do it, but then again I’m not a wordpress pro, still so many things to learn!
The selection of frozen food wasn’t great when I arrived in ’97 either, I only knew how to cook Weight Watchers ready meals in the microwave so when I saw the price and what was available I learned to cook, pronto!
I like the Picard Thai ready meals, I think they’re nice and its something that I know would take me hours and hours to cook and I absolutely love Thai food. My in-laws though came as a shock as they always eat so well, so to hear them yearning for buns came as a shock to me. Oh well, at least I know a sure-fire way to please them next them I see them
LOL. I think that is a riot!
Yes, I suppose it is a bit of an irony that frozen buns are such a beloved and missed food by the BPs, but I think it is pretty cute.
And YES — now you have an “in” with them if you can find them the buns and fix them when they visit! Very cool.
Suppose it is cute, I was so shocked that I didn’t know what to think! Nothing wrong in them liking junk food, just wasn’t expecting it