Editor's Pick
MAY 4, 2009 4:38PM
Rate: 31
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development conducted a survey of leisure activity of member countries and determined that the French excell at eating and sleeping. They really didn't need a survey to determine this. I could have told them so without all that pesky number crunching.
I am not French, but for the entire time I spent living in France, most of it was occupied with eating and sleeping. And walking - which is why the French are not terribly overweight. Although if they don't start banning those McDoos that won't last.
I lost more weight in France than at anytime in my life, even on strict diets. I figured out the trick. Don't get a car. We ate and ate. And we slept. But in between, in order to get to either of those activities, we had to propel ourselves somewhere, and a car is useless in Paris. We walked for miles, but of course those miles were chopped up with a stop at a cafe or two or three.
Meals were a big deal.
About the raw burger. It is a favorite. Here I was, amused that I could order a burger and fries in Paris in some really fine establishments. Wasn't I surprised when a giant blob of raw burger arrived surrounded by lovely golden fries with fantastic aioli. And wasn't I still surprised when Monsieur asked if I wished condiments for my pile of raw burger. I digress.
Dinner was an affair no matter where you ventured. One very special evening we dined at La Table Joel Robuchon, and spent nearly 6 hours there. Now that was meal that I can recall with startling clarity because it took up half of our waking hours. That much time allows you to memorize and appreciate the details. Think of it this way. It takes 6 hours to fly from Dulles to Paris. How pleasant would that trip be if you were able to eat a wonderful meal that lasted the entire flight?
The average dinner lasted 3 hours. That was just the two of us. If we had a larger party, it would last longer. The wine would flow, the food would arrive just at the moment you thought you might be hungry and no one was rushing you out the door. In fact, if you ate and ran, they would smirk and say something in French about Americans.
I love sleeping. I think sleep is terribly underrated in this country. I like going to bed late, sometimes early, but I enjoy naps more than anything. I can sleep 9 hours at night and take a nap too. No problem there. I used to worry about that, but no more. Not after France. Everyone sleeps in. No one arrives for work before 9AM, which is like an 8AM start to the workday here. Most people show up around 10AM. Stores are empty when they open, except on Soldes days which are only 2x a year. Then watch out. Those sale shoppers will run you over. But every other day of the year, the morning is sleepy.
I've tested this theory. Croissants are still just as good at noon as they are at 8AM, that is if you can find someplace open at 8AM. I am guessing that the 30 members of the OECD, based in Paris know this too.
Comments
are we homesick?
the girls look absolutely lovely posing there by the tower and I completely agree about our lack of sleep as a country ... perhaps we'd all get on much better if we were more rested and started each day with a nice fresh croissant ... I know I would.
xoxo
the girls look absolutely lovely posing there by the tower and I completely agree about our lack of sleep as a country ... perhaps we'd all get on much better if we were more rested and started each day with a nice fresh croissant ... I know I would.
xoxo
the girls look so l'air si métropolitaine pose de la tour! --rated--
Je suis completement d'accord..... J'adore bien mon siesta. Il y a (presque) rien qui ne me manque pas en France....Je vais au lit
I used to think I was Mexican in another life...now I'm sure I was French! I love naps. Our sleep habits are similar, when I'm not stressing. Glorious food and celebration and wine and friends. Love the photo of the girls. Shall we walk a spell and coffee and croissant a spell, and walk a spell, and nap a spell?
I keep telling all of my friends who want to lose weight/inches that they need to sleep more, not just exercise more. Lack of sleep causes all of that cortisol to curse through your veins otherwise... a real weight-gainer.
That does it... time to move to Paris! America would benefit through learning to slow down, and get more sleep. And of course, take a four week vacation every year.
Maybe flying gourmet restaurants would be a good business twist. Save airlines AND the restaurant business at the same time. You'd have to secure the wine bottles and glasses at takeoff and landing, but that's a small sacrifice. Instead of packing passengers in tight little rows until they feel like factory farm chickens, the plane cabin could be more like the dining car in a train. (I know, "what's a train?") Passengers are having such a wonderful time eating delicious food and drinking superb wine, they don't have time to be obnoxious or frightened of hijacking.
Oh wait... An airline this pleasant might induce people to try hijacking who wouldn't ordinarily consider it. "Once around the world slowly, and keep your eyes on your instruments, pilot..."
Maybe flying gourmet restaurants would be a good business twist. Save airlines AND the restaurant business at the same time. You'd have to secure the wine bottles and glasses at takeoff and landing, but that's a small sacrifice. Instead of packing passengers in tight little rows until they feel like factory farm chickens, the plane cabin could be more like the dining car in a train. (I know, "what's a train?") Passengers are having such a wonderful time eating delicious food and drinking superb wine, they don't have time to be obnoxious or frightened of hijacking.
Oh wait... An airline this pleasant might induce people to try hijacking who wouldn't ordinarily consider it. "Once around the world slowly, and keep your eyes on your instruments, pilot..."
You know, I almost posted something when I heard that on the radio this morning. ... I am French and I can guarantee you that boulangeries - patisseries (places where you buy your croissants) open at 6:30am. The baker is at work at 3:00am and the French people wake up early and yes, walk to the local baker to get their croissants and baguettes for their morning coffee. The "rush hour" at theses places is 7:30am to 8:30am which is the hour during which students go to sschool, from pre-K to 12, accompanied by their mothers for the younger crowds, so they stop by often to get a croissant. Ditto on the way back fronm school, second rush hour of the day, from 4:00 to 6:00pm. The reason whty the croissants are stillfresh is because of the constant baking ("fournee"): starting at 3;00am for the earliest one and ending at 7:00pm for the latest one. Now the baker is the one person in France going to bed early.
School offices open at 7:30am, regular offices at 9:00am and only shops open at 10:00am. Offices and shops tend to close at 7;00pm because most of them do allow for a 2hour lunch break.
Family Sunday lunches can last 5 hours. It's nice but it can be boring too, believe me!
School offices open at 7:30am, regular offices at 9:00am and only shops open at 10:00am. Offices and shops tend to close at 7;00pm because most of them do allow for a 2hour lunch break.
Family Sunday lunches can last 5 hours. It's nice but it can be boring too, believe me!
Two things I demanded when negotiating with my husband a return from a self-imposed exile: 1) a housecleaner twice a month 2) naps on weekends. And it's made a world of difference.
I took French all the way through freshman year of college and am now blanking out. Un peu.
I took French all the way through freshman year of college and am now blanking out. Un peu.
I dream of living in France.... I am totally cut out for it.... I prefer mornings slow, nights very late, dinners long, and most food relatively simple. Walking and sleeping, eating and talking? Me.
God, I love eating and sleeping!
Cute post and cute pic of the girls.
Cute post and cute pic of the girls.
I lived in France for two years and was thin and so happy. I ate whatever I wished, walked six miles a day, slept like a baby. . . They know how to live and dress and eat, for sure. And we persist in making fun of them.
Wow, I must have been French in a former life! Sounds like heaven on earth to me!
Alas, last time I hear in Paris last year hundreds of bistros closed because people are eating a quick sandwich for lunch. The atrocity is drinking coffee on the go. First it's in a paper cup and the whole idea of a coffee is to stop for a bit and just enjoy it. Do nothing while having it.
I also think that restaurants here push you out faster to get more seatings. Europeans average fewer seating during lunch and dinner. My favorite is when a waiter//waitress/person comes and asks
" Are you still working on that" My answer, no I am eating, I am not working.
I also think that restaurants here push you out faster to get more seatings. Europeans average fewer seating during lunch and dinner. My favorite is when a waiter//waitress/person comes and asks
" Are you still working on that" My answer, no I am eating, I am not working.
Living in France was the best thing I have ever done in my life. And I lived in the Cevenne, where they practice Siesta! I learned how to only eat food that tasted good, and to slow down and enjoy just being. Re-entry to the US was a rude awakening. We live crazy lives.
Oh, and the French like no one else. Butter, cream, white bread, fatty meat, buttered veggies. I am CONVINCED that Americans are overweight due to our stress levels. The French eat thousands of "bad calories" a day, and they are (mostly) not obese. And yes, their portions are smaller than ours, but they eat more of them over a longer period of time.
Oh, and the French like no one else. Butter, cream, white bread, fatty meat, buttered veggies. I am CONVINCED that Americans are overweight due to our stress levels. The French eat thousands of "bad calories" a day, and they are (mostly) not obese. And yes, their portions are smaller than ours, but they eat more of them over a longer period of time.
sorry, Cevennes.
What Cartouche said.
Seriously. Are those the damn cutest dogs in world? Those French sailor sweaters are enough to make me cry. Oh, I am so glad that I didn't miss this post.
Vive la'France.
Vive la'France.
1IM - yep, homesick for sure.
MM - Merci. By then they knew we were headed to the Eiffel for ice cream. The love ice cream.
Cart - Oui. I think. My French is limited to menus. It is always about the food.
annimal - absolutely. walked a spell. ate some a spell. yep.
ktm - I must sleep more!
Shiral - flying restaurants or spas would be fine with me. Even a flying library.
Sarah - Oui. I have seen such. But also have seen the other. And yes, bakers are always up early. Some shops open early, but many not so much. I love the French.
Deborah, I would like to sign up for the housecleaner, but I am embarrassed because I only have a small apt which seems larger when I have to clean. Oooo. Time for a nap.
Renee - go. you won't regret it.
gracielou - thanks and really nice to see you!
Lisa - ditto. I forgot about the dressing. High heels everywhere. Not a sneaker to be seen in the workday.
singpretty - all of France!
Stellaa - yes! when we were there that was starting to happen big time. most of the brasseries were owned by a single company and it was terrible. people were just starting to get coffee to go and that was sad. McDoos is making inroads for sure.
voicegal - for me too. coming back to the US was really difficult. I was so depressed. I spoke French everywhere (my limited menu French) and people here just stared at me like I was an alien. And no one heard of "light" anything.
M - thanks! they loved France. I am whispering here (they also have berets that go with the sailor shirts....)
MM - Merci. By then they knew we were headed to the Eiffel for ice cream. The love ice cream.
Cart - Oui. I think. My French is limited to menus. It is always about the food.
annimal - absolutely. walked a spell. ate some a spell. yep.
ktm - I must sleep more!
Shiral - flying restaurants or spas would be fine with me. Even a flying library.
Sarah - Oui. I have seen such. But also have seen the other. And yes, bakers are always up early. Some shops open early, but many not so much. I love the French.
Deborah, I would like to sign up for the housecleaner, but I am embarrassed because I only have a small apt which seems larger when I have to clean. Oooo. Time for a nap.
Renee - go. you won't regret it.
gracielou - thanks and really nice to see you!
Lisa - ditto. I forgot about the dressing. High heels everywhere. Not a sneaker to be seen in the workday.
singpretty - all of France!
Stellaa - yes! when we were there that was starting to happen big time. most of the brasseries were owned by a single company and it was terrible. people were just starting to get coffee to go and that was sad. McDoos is making inroads for sure.
voicegal - for me too. coming back to the US was really difficult. I was so depressed. I spoke French everywhere (my limited menu French) and people here just stared at me like I was an alien. And no one heard of "light" anything.
M - thanks! they loved France. I am whispering here (they also have berets that go with the sailor shirts....)
Oh, this was a fabulous post. I ate at Joel Robuchon's restaurant at the Four Season's in NY a couple of years ago. I'm pretty sure our meal took four hours, and would have taken longer if my husband had not been ill. (It was our anniversary so he insisted we go anyway.)
Your girls are adorable...great photo! Thanks for a delectable post!
Your girls are adorable...great photo! Thanks for a delectable post!
I was born in the wrong country; I knew it.
Either that, or my life's mission is to make the US more like France.
;)
Rated.
Either that, or my life's mission is to make the US more like France.
;)
Rated.
@Stellaa -
"My favorite is when a waiter//waitress/person comes and asks
" Are you still working on that" My answer, no I am eating, I am not working."
I love this. :D I'm one to linger for a very, very long time in a restaurant. With friends. And multiple - multiple - rounds of beer or wine. And multi-course meals... preferably a little bit at a time, to encourage us to linger longer, and drink, and talk, and be human...
So much of that is missing in our lives nowadays. Or at least, in many peoples lives. I try to avoid the syndrome, myself.
"My favorite is when a waiter//waitress/person comes and asks
" Are you still working on that" My answer, no I am eating, I am not working."
I love this. :D I'm one to linger for a very, very long time in a restaurant. With friends. And multiple - multiple - rounds of beer or wine. And multi-course meals... preferably a little bit at a time, to encourage us to linger longer, and drink, and talk, and be human...
So much of that is missing in our lives nowadays. Or at least, in many peoples lives. I try to avoid the syndrome, myself.
I like that Parisian diet--eat, sleep, walk. Plus wine and sex. Hmmm.
Thomas Morton put it well in 'A Roland for an Oliver':
'I eat well, and I drink well, and I sleep well - but that's all'
...c'est ça la belle vie.
'I eat well, and I drink well, and I sleep well - but that's all'
...c'est ça la belle vie.
I think that you have just hit on the answer to the "French Paradox." Slow meals with friends, sleep, moderate exercise. Some of my favorite memories are of the 4 hour dinner parties I used to give with my sister, who spent a couple of years living in Paris.
@Stellaa, please, say it ain't true that such civilized traditions are disappearing!
@Stellaa, please, say it ain't true that such civilized traditions are disappearing!
A friend of mine who stayed in France and other points European feels that the Europs are more dedicated to experiencing a quality life, whereas Americans are here to be worked, off the clock if possible. I like this vignette and would like to see more--and the picture of the adorable dogs is priceless~
scoubidou, your comments made me recall a blog post by a European journalist (Vive l'Europe, I believe, was its title):
It was one of those spring days embedded with latent energy back in Warsaw in 2005 when our professor, Bronislaw Geremek, facing his students from the podium of his chair in European civilization stretched his eyes and said: “And when you are in Brussels, and it is late in the day, and you are dealing with some technical detail of a regulation or a decision, never forget that Europe, elle est quand même, merveilleuse!”
Couldn't agree more...
Anyway, all this talk of France compelled me to post a picture I took one fair spring evening 3 weeks ago in Paris... :-)
(Probs should be fixed, stella!)
It was one of those spring days embedded with latent energy back in Warsaw in 2005 when our professor, Bronislaw Geremek, facing his students from the podium of his chair in European civilization stretched his eyes and said: “And when you are in Brussels, and it is late in the day, and you are dealing with some technical detail of a regulation or a decision, never forget that Europe, elle est quand même, merveilleuse!”
Couldn't agree more...
Anyway, all this talk of France compelled me to post a picture I took one fair spring evening 3 weeks ago in Paris... :-)
(Probs should be fixed, stella!)
I, too, love Paris, naps and food and self propulsion.
Incandescent, re making the U.S. more like France, a most noble goal. You want help with it? =o)
I'm all for it, especially if it will chap GWB's hide. =o)
And I forgot to mention, Lulu and Phoebe DO look adorable in their sailor sweaters. Tres Parisienne!
I'm all for it, especially if it will chap GWB's hide. =o)
And I forgot to mention, Lulu and Phoebe DO look adorable in their sailor sweaters. Tres Parisienne!
Hi.
France sounds like my kind of place. Leisure is my thing-- particularly the napping thing, but so is the drinking wine thing and eating and walking things. Your dogs are pretty darned cute.
And I think cartouche said that she completely agrees with everything you said. She loves her naps. And hardly a day would go by that she wouldn't go for a leisurely walk in France. She was there with your writing.
And *that's* from my knowledge of Spanish so it's probably totally inaccurate, but I thought someone had to give it a shot!
denese
France sounds like my kind of place. Leisure is my thing-- particularly the napping thing, but so is the drinking wine thing and eating and walking things. Your dogs are pretty darned cute.
And I think cartouche said that she completely agrees with everything you said. She loves her naps. And hardly a day would go by that she wouldn't go for a leisurely walk in France. She was there with your writing.
And *that's* from my knowledge of Spanish so it's probably totally inaccurate, but I thought someone had to give it a shot!
denese
Sounds like a nice lifestyle.
I'm happy to read anything about Paris! The babies are adorable in their little striped shirts.
@stellaa: I want to spend a week with you being smart assed, mean and ornery telling the truth wherever we go. I think there's a movie in there.
Sigh. The French way of life is so lovely.
Ah, being French means also being a stickler for precision.
For one thing, a lunch is a dejeuner not a dejeune.
And a "raw burger" is a "steack tartare" and well to describe it as a pile of raw burger is anathema... it is one of the best meal ever, very healthy and very tasty. (don't even get me started on the use of the term "blob"...)
Yes, I know, it is very hard to like the French (and I definitely include myself) but we do have an "art de vivre" and as for any other art, the right terms should be used.
On the rest, well you do describe our lives pretty well. I was always surprised at the way an american dinner consists in inhaling food - liquid and solid alike - in the quickest possible way.
The rest of your article is to the point, I cannot agree more.
For one thing, a lunch is a dejeuner not a dejeune.
And a "raw burger" is a "steack tartare" and well to describe it as a pile of raw burger is anathema... it is one of the best meal ever, very healthy and very tasty. (don't even get me started on the use of the term "blob"...)
Yes, I know, it is very hard to like the French (and I definitely include myself) but we do have an "art de vivre" and as for any other art, the right terms should be used.
On the rest, well you do describe our lives pretty well. I was always surprised at the way an american dinner consists in inhaling food - liquid and solid alike - in the quickest possible way.
The rest of your article is to the point, I cannot agree more.
Please, oh please,
Send me a few pounds of Societe' roquefort.
ahhhhhhhhh, mmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Send me a few pounds of Societe' roquefort.
ahhhhhhhhh, mmmmmmmmmmmmmm
What's especially interesting is that the French have the greatest longevity. (They've surpassed the Japanese). There's a lesson here.
Merci!
BuffyW - great restaurant!
incandescent - my goal too.
Lea - no doubt that too.
Rene - yes and I will go look for your photo.
Shivaun - yes, it is true. Stellaa always says it like it is, and she is absolutely correct on this. Sad to say though. It is hard to have dinner anywhere here for that length. It is so civilized there.
scoubidou - thank you from the pups. if you look on the side bar, Lulu & Phoebe's adventures in Paris are in a collection on a blog. However, I've done more here on OS about our time there that is not on that blog. I have to say they were the best behaved little pups on that adventure.
Marcelleqb - oui
Shiral -sign me up too.
Denese - naps are underrated for sure.
Denise - thank you!
SuznMaree - thank you - their cuteness really helped over there, great icebreaker.
Cart - yeah, me too. Stellaa needs to teach this stuff.
O - oui!
Agenda_sir - indeed! I get by, but my French is terrible. It does get better when I am there and have to use it. However, on the raw "burger'? Sticking with it, sorry. Although I did learn to love French cheeses, wine (oh the wine!) and lots of assorted treats that I had not experienced.
JK - indeed.
XJS- now, that is something I learned to love there too.
Steve - I think so too.
BuffyW - great restaurant!
incandescent - my goal too.
Lea - no doubt that too.
Rene - yes and I will go look for your photo.
Shivaun - yes, it is true. Stellaa always says it like it is, and she is absolutely correct on this. Sad to say though. It is hard to have dinner anywhere here for that length. It is so civilized there.
scoubidou - thank you from the pups. if you look on the side bar, Lulu & Phoebe's adventures in Paris are in a collection on a blog. However, I've done more here on OS about our time there that is not on that blog. I have to say they were the best behaved little pups on that adventure.
Marcelleqb - oui
Shiral -sign me up too.
Denese - naps are underrated for sure.
Denise - thank you!
SuznMaree - thank you - their cuteness really helped over there, great icebreaker.
Cart - yeah, me too. Stellaa needs to teach this stuff.
O - oui!
Agenda_sir - indeed! I get by, but my French is terrible. It does get better when I am there and have to use it. However, on the raw "burger'? Sticking with it, sorry. Although I did learn to love French cheeses, wine (oh the wine!) and lots of assorted treats that I had not experienced.
JK - indeed.
XJS- now, that is something I learned to love there too.
Steve - I think so too.
I couldn't stop laughing. When I lived in Paris I ate, I drank excellent wine, I socialized, I walked, I went to movies, I climbed five flights of stairs several times a day, yes I slept too, and yes I stayed thin. But more than that, I loved it. There are things about the French that are truly objectionable, but the quality of life, the pleasure that comes from walking down the street still make me smile many years later. And every time I go back I just slide right back into the rhythm of French life, always making me wonder why I decided to return to New York city.
Fabulous! The fine art of napping is underrated in our country.....
I loved this story, too. What I found surprising is that we Americans are supposedly sleeping just half an hour less- I wonder if that lost half hour is occupied with eating in our cars?
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