The French people have delicate emotions and romantic ideas. As a result, French food and drink are very elaborate.
French food culture is very long, from Louis XIV, France's food diplomacy will be world-famous, in the heyday of the French banquet, the table can be on 200 dishes at a time. The French people's favorite dishes are snails and frogs' legs, the favorite food is cheese, the most expensive dish is foie gras, home cooking is fried steak plus shredded potatoes, in addition, the French people are still the world's champion of drinking, especially drinking wine.
France is one of the world's three major culinary kingdoms. The French people are very particular about what they eat, and they spend a lot of money on it. The French do not love scaly fish or spicy dishes. They generally like to eat slightly raw mouth, fresh and delicious dishes. The French are generally happy to drink raw water (tap water) and are not used to drinking boiled water.
The world-famous French cuisine, with exquisite and luxurious taste, popular with global diners stomach, the French will "eat" as a great pleasure in life, they believe: food is not only a kind of enjoyment, but also a kind of art. 16th century when the French court has a set of food culture is quite sophisticated, the French Revolution, with the palace chef fell into the city, the court began to take root in the folk cuisine.
French cuisine attaches great importance to the use of "ingredients", substandard materials, do not make good food is the maxim of French cuisine, and French cuisine, the characteristics of local ingredients, so that the North and South around the different tastes, so "to what place to eat what dishes, what season to eat what dishes" is very important!
The essence of French cuisine is in the sauce (SAUCE), because of the careful attention to the ingredients, the French people use sauce as a condiment, in order not to destroy the original flavor of the ingredients as a prerequisite for a good sauce can enhance the flavor of the food itself, texture, so how to mix the best sauce, all depends on the chef's skills! In addition, French cuisine is also known as the most expressive chef connotation of the cuisine, each dish for the chef, is an artistic creation.
French dietary characteristics
The dinner is more important. Love to drink wine, milk, black tea and so on. Go to the restaurant to drink coffee and eat fruit to eat ice cream. Love to eat beef, lamb, chicken, fish, shrimp, eggs, all kinds of roasted intestines and so on. Love to eat all kinds of vegetables. Love to drink clear soup and eat fruits (especially love spinach).
Eating formal French restaurants to eat and drink, tableware, wine with the use of meticulous. Eat what kind of dishes with what kind of knife and fork, is very well studied, so each person in front of two or three sets of selected. The same goes for the wine glass, because matching food and drink is an art here. Customarily, before the meal to drink an aperitif; dining process, if you eat meat with dry red wine; eat fish and shrimp a class of seafood, to drink dry white wine; after the meal, some people also like to drink a little brandy ground a class of strong alcohol. Each kind of wine used in different glasses. Look at the tall, short, fat and thin several glasses placed in front of the heel, but also really evidence of incompetence? But the good thing is that this place does not pay attention to the depth of feeling, a mouthful of boredom. Asked everyone to eat while chatting, wine just play a role in cheering and regulating the atmosphere, but frequently raised his glass, but are shallow to the point. Maintain a pleasant atmosphere at the table, but not too noisy.
The French have the following characteristics in food hobbies:
1, pay attention to cooking fire, pay attention to the freshness of the dishes, emphasizing the quality of the dishes.
2, taste: generally like fat, thick, fresh, tender, prefer sour, sweet, salty.
3, food: staple food for rice or flour, love to eat snacks; side dishes love to eat fat pork, mutton, beef, fish, shrimp, chicken, eggs and a variety of intestines and fresh vegetables, and occasionally would like to taste some novelty food, such as snails, earthworms, marrows, and so on; like to use the cloves, peppercorns, cilantro, garlic, tomato juice, etc. for seasoning.
4, method: to fry, deep frying, burning, grilling, stir-frying and other cooking methods to make the dishes favored.
5, recipes: appreciate the braised Mandarin fish, Kung Pao Pork Dumplings, crispy fried chicken, fried shrimp balls, shredded chicken with silver sprouts, pineapple turkey, plucked apples and other flavorful dishes.
6, water and alcohol: alcohol addiction, especially love to drink wine, rose wine, champagne, etc., generally can not drink or will not drink people often drink some beer; usually their usual beverages and mineral water, soda water, orange juice and black tea or coffee, and so on.
7, fruit: the French people love to eat fruit, especially on the pineapple extra favor, apples, grapes, kiwi and so on is also their favorite varieties: dried fruit like raisins, fried chestnuts and so on.
"The French spend an hour before a meal sipping an aperitif over some olives and small crackers, and when they actually sit down to eat, they don't have that intense hunger." And with countless pauses between each bite of food, the relaxed and pleasant atmosphere of eating, and the savoring and praising of the food, helps them stay in shape with ease.
French girls eat small portions of food. Typical French baked croissants weigh a little over 30 grams, while such breads made in the United States have almost 60 gram portions; in other words, French girls' stomachs are used to consuming small amounts of food.
French women are very enthusiastic about their meals, typically consuming 60 percent of their day's total calories by 2 p.m., followed by a simple dinner. In China, on the other hand, people often starve themselves throughout the day, but at dinner, they are well-fed and full. Because the French eat a satisfying lunch, they don't need to snack at all times, which helps them keep their weight in check.
The French are no less conscientious about what they eat than the Chinese. They often talk about how good the food is in which restaurant, and what new restaurant has opened in which street, and how they must go to eat there once, and so on. In the acceptance of food culture they are very open, as long as it is delicious, whether it is Italian, Spanish, or North African or Chinese, all accepted. But when it comes to French food, it's definitely "not for me". Only with the Chinese together, they will show a little bit of humility, said "we French Chinese food is the world's most famous two major diet. You see, they actually want to be equal to Chinese food.
The French not only pay attention to the content of the food, but also pay attention to the environment and the interest of eating.
In addition to cats and dogs do not take into account, meat can also be described as a wide variety of familiar snails, frogs legs, horsemeat, plus the traditional meat; seafood is not to mention: oysters, lobsters, crayfish, spider crabs and a variety of sea shells; fish are mainly sea fish, the most popular sea bream, wolverine, sole, turbot, and some of the translation of the name of the fish, and to eat smoked salmon is one of the Christmas traditions. The eating of smoked salmon is one of the Christmas traditions. Those who hunt also eat sandpipers, a small bird that is full of meat and very tasty.
Much of the meat is stewed, roasted and fried. In general, they don't have the concept of "stir-frying", but rather a prelude to cooking. So French food can be made in advance, unlike Chinese food in order to maintain the tenderness, always have to be the last minute in the kitchen to manipulate the spoon. The condiments they use are basically "herbs", commonly used are scallions, thyme, parsley, bay and so on. Just as Chinese food has more than just soy sauce and vinegar, French food also has a wide variety of seasonings, such as butter, milk, cream, eggs, etc., which can be combined to create a wide variety of flavors, depending on how they are selected and handled. The most representative way to eat for the fried steak, divided into three states, the first for half-cooked, only a few seconds to fry on the table, after cutting is still bloody, some people for this feast, the Chinese will be afraid; the second with blood, more than the former fried for more than 10 seconds; the third for the basic cooked. Eat completely depending on the taste of each person to choose the state of their needs.
The French people eat the variety of green vegetables is by no means as many as in China, and most of them are eaten raw, and the rest is the model of Western cuisine: big and tasteless, but also just to adapt to the French way of cooking. People gradually also use some foreign spices, such as curry and ginger. The French believe that ginger has an aphrodisiac effect, so it is very easy to accept. In addition, cabbage, bean sprouts also slowly began to popularize. Their approach to vegetables is the opposite of Chinese food, with no in-between state: they are either eaten raw or cooked to perfection. Raw vegetables include lettuce, sweet carrots, tomatoes and cucumbers. Cooked to a crisp, there's spinach puree or smothered vegetables, even lentils, which are cooked to a soft consistency.
Sweets are even more varied, you can see your mouth watering not to say that you have to buy a taste. The ingredients for sweets are butter, cream, milk, flour, eggs and sugar, but with fruit, chocolate, vanilla and so on, you can make different kinds of pastries. In most cases, homemade treats made at home by enthusiasts are as good as, if not better than, those bought from outside.
The atmosphere and decoration of the living room during dinner is to be careful, the host must be carefully arranged beforehand in the living room, insert flowers, the evening is played on the soft light, the large dining table on the hot tablecloth and cloth napkins, and then set up a fine porcelain tableware. The best is the porcelain of Rimozh, white fine porcelain decorated with delicate patterns, the color is also a good match, the sophisticated family to set the silver knife and fork and crystal cups. Wine glasses vary from one to three depending on the family. Generally two, including wine glasses and water cups, there are three on the consideration of red and white wine. In the event of a major occasion, after dinner to open the champagne, and another glass. By the way, the French champagne is a white wine with vapor produced in the Champagne region, which is not comparable to the small champagne in China. When invited by the French, do not think that "just a little champagne" on the line, because this wine is really not a casual drink.
The knife and fork cutlery to pay attention to have seen the movie "Titanic (TITANIC)" people must have learned, the first look can be really shocked: plate on both sides of the left and right around three to four sets of knives and forks, cups have a large, medium and small number three. That is the most elaborate one, the general situation on one or two pairs of knives and forks will be enough. Such as eating seafood is even more lively, there are all kinds of tools, if you do not do a big job all feel sorry for them. The general rule is that every dish first from the outside of the knife and fork with the beginning, with the withdrawal, to later on, it is good. Large glasses are used for water, others for red and white wine. Large spoons are used only for soup or communal use; small spoons are used for sweets and coffee, the latter being smaller than the former. If you eat at home, so a meal down pots and pans, cups and spoons can be enough to wash a pass, fortunately, someone invented the dishwasher.
The program of the meal is: first drink an aperitif, to the higher alcohol concentration of wine, and eat a little saltine crackers, so that the stomach to get used to it. Then the whole group is seated, the first dish is usually a cold platter, hot cakes or seafood, with a medium-light plate; if the first course is soup, you have to use a deep plate with a large spoon. No matter what is eaten, this first plate is always removed. The ensuing main course is eaten on a large shallow plate and consists of at least two hot dishes, one meat and one vegetable, sometimes with rice or noodles, which are side dishes. The main course was always French bread. After all the people have placed their food on their plates, the hostess picks up her knife and fork and says "bon appétit" before the guests can begin. Sometimes the guests start without knowing the rules, and then the hostess immediately picks up the knife and fork without moving, so as not to appear to be disrespectful. The hot dishes are followed by cheese or mixed lettuce, a small shallow plate, and then a sweet after-dinner snack with coffee or tea. Finally, sometimes the host suggests a digestif, which is a little more alcoholic than an aperitif. Often foreigners who do not understand the French preoccupation with wine will pour an aperitif to their guests during the meal; or someone will pour a full glass of wine as they do in China, and then raise the glass and drink it all; or even the host and the guest do not distinguish between them, and get up and pour the wine themselves. In such cases, the French are generally more tolerant. Those who have been to China know a little bit about the Chinese way of doing things, and they will joke: "When we were in China, we all did according to their habits; in France, we still have to go along with them." But there's no blame at all.
Most French people are very good at cooking, especially when they have guests at home, and couples are very good at it. Generally speaking, when the guests arrive, the wife is responsible for greeting, the husband is in charge of the drinks, and when needed, they both cook at the same time. In such an atmosphere, whatever you eat will give you a cozy feeling. Not to mention the master carefully cooked out of the delicious. If you eat in the restaurant, then all kinds of dishes not only taste delicious, the chef can also use all kinds of food colors to spell out a variety of patterns and styles, the degree of care is not the average family can do.
The Chinese who traveled to France to eat French food is the most unacceptable alternating hot and cold, sweet and salty: the first, cold dishes (salty); the second, hot dishes (salty); the third, sweets (cold); finally, coffee or tea (hot and sweetened), not only that, but also to drink alcohol and cold water during the meal. After eating the meal how the stomach to bear only know in their hearts. But the French have never been uncomfortable, and it is inconvenient to complain loudly.
French food is not like Chinese food has several major cuisine, but there are traditional representative dishes, such as duck and foie gras in oil in Dordogne, Alsace pickled cabbage intestines, Brittany's black stew and pancakes, Normandy's beef and sheep water, Provence fish soup and so on and so forth. Modern new French food more emphasis on the delicate flavor and display style, so that people's taste and vision are beautiful to enjoy.
In summary, the two kinds of Chinese and French food have their own unique characteristics. Eating in France not only let you get the satisfaction of food, which the interest is also a unique flavor. Generally speaking, the French people are very easy to accept Chinese food, on the contrary, the Chinese people to accept the French meal on some conditions; and Chinese food can make the French people do not like the things than the French meal in the Chinese people do not like less
American character
Where with the U.S. into the contact with the United States, the majority of the people will think that the Americans to treat into the warmth of the generous and open, easy to get close to. When you make friends with an American for the first time, he will talk to you eloquently, and even gush, so that you have no constraints; when you walk on the street, to strangers unintentionally more than a few eyes, he may smile at you and nodded his head in greeting, or greeted with a "hello"; if your car broke down on the road, there are enthusiastic to come to you to help you repair; If you get lost on the street, there will be someone to point you in the right direction.
The second feature of the American character is independence. They don't like to depend on others, and they don't like others to depend on them; Americans are brought up to struggle independently and not to depend on their parents.
The third characteristic of the American character is practicality. They don't like the French like boundless fantasies, and they don't like the British like to talk about style and face. The early history of the United States has made them good at not being discouraged in the face of adversity, to see the goal, the character of diligent pursuit.
Americans are also very pragmatic about money. It is only natural for Americans to get paid for their labor, and to ask for help in return for favors.
The fourth feature of the American character is the value of success. In the eyes of Americans, the important thing is not a person's family background, but his own talent and ability. Even a small child has to try his best to excel in school in order to please his parents. They also seem to understand that being loved by their parents is not a birthright, but a trophy earned through their own efforts.
American food culture
The American character has shaped the American food culture.
The eating habits of Americans are three meals a day. They pay attention to whether the food is scientific and nutritious, and emphasize on efficiency and convenience, and generally do not make efforts on the food exquisite and detailed.
Breakfast time, generally at 8 o'clock. The content is relatively simple, toast, cereal and coffee, or there is milk, pancakes. Some families don't even make breakfast, and each family member goes to a small restaurant or a snack counter to have some breakfast and then goes his or her own way, some going to work and some going to school.
Lunch is usually served between 12:00 and 1:00, sometimes later. Lunch is usually simple. As the pace of life in society continues to accelerate, the American lunch (lunch) more and more less attention: many workplaces far from home and work time is more centralized staff, due to short breaks at noon, only in the company to eat a working meal, and the so-called working meal is often close to the fast-food restaurants to provide boxed lunches. Others prepare their own lunch, a few "sandwiches" (sandwich), a fruit, plus a cup of coffee (coffee) is enough. Some Chinese Americans (American Chinese) like to go to work with two dumplings or roasted yams, also do a full lunch.
American dinner is usually in the evening 5-7 p.m. to enjoy, is the more focused on the main meal of the day. Usually families have to do a few dishes (dishes), and snacks (light refreshments), fruit (fruit) and so on. They often eat meat is steak (beefsteak) and pork chops (pork chop), the weight of a steak is generally more than 150 grams, often looks half-cooked, difficult to chew, but Americans regard this as a delicacy (dainty).
Americans who live at home buy simple food. A bag of bread, a can of drink, a bag of carrots, a few onions, and occasionally a plate of beef. Condiments are rarely used, and salad oil is used most often.
American restaurants are generally small, clean, and not a lot of food. Some people summarize the characteristics of the U.S. meal, one is raw, steak with blood, the second is cold, all drinks with ice, three is sweet, which of course is the Chinese according to their own tastes to make the judgment, but also hit the nail on the head. In fact, Americans eat focus on nutrition, not taste, and generally Americans do not know how to cook.
The direction of the American diet is toward fast food. Most of their vegetables are eaten raw, with no loss of nutrients, and more importantly, to save time. Now they also strongly advocate squeezing vegetables into vegetable juice to drink, they want to eat vegetables this little work also squeezed out for other purposes.
Changes in social lifestyles have had a major impact on the eating habits of Americans. Today, in American cities, towns, large and small hotels and restaurants can be found everywhere, and it is very convenient for people to eat. In a fast food restaurant or coffee shop (coffee house), customers generally spend 4 to 5 U.S. dollars to eat a meal. In fast-food restaurants, hamburgers (hamburger), hot dogs (hot dog), pie (pie) and fried bagels are generally popular.
In the United States in urban and rural areas, coffee shops (also operates ice Dian Dian), McDonald's fast-food restaurants abound, the former is similar to China's Sichuan teahouse, the latter is very similar to China's Henan noodle shop. To the coffee shop, a cup of coffee for more than a dollar, eat a dish of ice cream for two or three dollars, while eating and chatting, very cozy. Ice cream in the United States is excellent, there are all kinds of ice cream, the top is also full of crunchy nuts, very delicious. McDonald's store is even more unique: as far as the eye can see, no matter when and where the "McDonald's" store has three flags flying in a conspicuous place, one is the U.S. flag, one is the state flag, one is the store flag. Wherever the McDonald's store Department of business is booming, a sandwich or hot dog, a bag of potato chips or popcorn, a drink, adding up to only 3.99 U.S. dollars (U.S. commodities prices are so, to zero point nine nine end, never make up the whole number, which shows that the U.S. businessman's shrewdness), not to mention the drink and then add to the drink can not be paid for the preserves.
More interesting is that during the summer vacation, the store is to employ a group of twelve, three-year-old schoolgirls, that full of childish serious work demeanor, it is favorite. If encountered on holidays, more customers, these girls dressed in uniform, head with a sports cap, but also with a headset plus a small microphone, from time to time with the operation of the liaison, the seriousness of the intensity of the Gulf War as if the Commander-in-Chief of the multinational forces in command of a battle.
Americans simple, convenient, nutritional way of eating, it is very worthwhile to learn people on the road.