France is known around the world for its food culture. The classic French dining experience involves many courses spanning several hours spent around the table. The French value high quality food which means knowing where your food is coming from. At supermarkets in France, it is required by law to list the country of origin for all produce. Better yet, buying from an open-air market (think farmer’s market) you are guaranteed to find locally sourced produce, meats, cheeses and breads. Where we live in Albertville, which has a population of less than 20,000, there are three open-air markets each week which operate year-round. To give you a little peak into the French view of food, I wanted to share a picture of the monthly menu for Mia’s school.
You’ll notice a lot of different colors on the menu. Here is what they signify:
- Red – These products come from Savoie which is the department Albertville is located in. These are the products sourced closest to home.
- Blue – These products come from the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region where Albertville is located. This is a much larger area than the department of Savoie.
- Green – These are organic products.
- Yellow Highlights – These signify an AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) product. This label identifies an agricultural product whose production and processing are carried out in a defined geographical area, the terroir, and which use recognized and traditional know-how. For example, if you buy a Dijon mustard with an AOC sticker, this means it was produced in the town of Dijon in Burgandy, France. These stickers are very important here in France, especially when it comes to wine and cheese which are specially produced in different regions of France.
Lunch at Mia’s school is even served in courses, usually with the main course served first, followed by a cheese and then a dessert. What a difference from the cafeteria food and experience that I grew up with!
Bon appétit!
-Adam