The importance of lunch

Having lived in France for quite a time now, I'm always interested to observe the main differences of eating habits here and from our previous lives in the UK.

The Where to Eat importance was highlighted on a 'nature/wine tasting' walk in a village near us recently. The nature was appreciated by all, but the wine-tasting, jam-tasting, snail-tasting, etc, along the way, probably more so; frequent signs giving a footstep countdown to the place where LUNCH was to be provided by caterers under shady trees. As in any French publicity for an event, the menu was printed out in the brochure before any other information - a proper full three courses with wine. In the UK there probably would have been sandwiches available and/or a picnic space.

                             

However . . . this importance to food seems to get lost in other areas where the English excel: the tea shop, for example; places be counted on year-round for a cup of tea, comforting cake or plate of sandwiches.

At any tourist place, or even any non-tourist place; the smallest bus station, a swimming pool, a layby, there will always be tea, coffee and cakes available in some form. Tiny villages marooned in the countryside will have a pub, or even two; here . . . virtually nothing. Most villages have lost their old cafés, and therefore meeting points of gossip, chat and just somewhere to go without having to get in a car.

A good, and frustrating, example of this lack of 'getting together and sharing a nice cup of something' space is Mark's work place; a shining new arts college mega-building with architect-designed everything and landscaped grounds full of olive and cypress trees. Although 1500 students pass through its doors every week, there is NO restaurant or canteen or coffee shop: nothing, not even a lurking pizza van in the parking area with a couple of plastic chairs. Well, there are two vending machines and a couple of high tables with stools, but it's hardly anywhere that you would head for, rubbing your hands and saying 'how about a nice cup of tea and a slice of fruit cake'.

The vast grounds would lend themselves so well to a smart 'salon du thè' or a little bistro 'la Bolero' or 'Le coin de Mozart' anything, just somewhere to sit and enjoy a spot of lunch between lessons or rehearsals. There's also nothing nearby so I suppose everyone gets in their cars and drives off into town for the statutory two hour lunch break . . .  I wonder if they'd go for a fish and chip van in the grounds . . . Mmm.