As I have certainly mentioned before, I absolutely love the food here. Before arriving, I was worried about being a vegetarian in a country that is definitely less veg-friendly than the US, but I haven’t had any big issues with it. There might be fewer vegetarian options in restaurants, but I can always find something. My host mom is happy to make meatless food, or leave the meat out of my portion. She keeps telling me to let her know if I don’t like the food she cooks but I have honestly liked everything! It’s great living with a host family so I can try French foods every day and see what meals at home are like. My host mom is definitely more casual than some of the other families; our meals don’t consist of many courses and sometimes we eat dinner in front of the TV. It’s nice to not feel like dinner is always a formal event.
I have been just as happy eating outside of the house. During the week, I make my own lunch at IES or get a sandwich at the boulangerie. There are many students who take advantage of the Restaurant Universitaire on campus for its cheap lunch options. I also eat out with my friends a couple times a week. We have become regulars at a restaurant that specializes in tartines—large pieces of bread with cheese and other toppings cooked in the oven.
If there is one thing I miss about American food, it’s breakfast. Breakfast is my favorite meal and it’s just not a big deal in France. A common French breakfast is a hot drink and some bread with jam. I will definitely be enjoying a very large breakfast when I return to the US!
A few weeks ago I participated in a cooking class at IES. They have held a bunch of them so we can try French specialties and learn to make them ourselves. We made orange soufflés. They were delicious! And not as difficult to make as I was anticipating. Voilà the results…
We coated the ramekins in butter and sugar
Carefully measuring out the ingredients
Chopping candied orange and chocolate to put in the soufflés
Mixing it all together…
In the oven!
The end result!
Enjoying the soufflés
This is what happens if you don’t eat them immediately…
