March 9, 2018 – French Women Don’t Get Fat

         A friend put me onto the Habitat for Humanity Non-Profit Re-sale store that has a ‘book-lover’ in residence.  The book-lover sorts and displays the latest arrivals and she does a wonderful job.

         I have always thought tossing out a perfectly good book is sacrilege, so strolling through the book section I am delighted that other’s feel the same way and they toss their good reads to this entity and the entity sells them.  It is a win-win for everyone.  The next time I am cleaning out my bookcase, I will drop them off to this entity.

         It is now my once a month treat to slip over to this little book re-selling place and browse.  Few days ago, I spent $4.50 and came home with two hardcover books, one soft cover book, and a collection of 10 classical musical CDs.  The box of CDs had been there three months and every month I thought about buying them and this month I bought them before they “got-gone” as they say here in the South.

         But, this blog is to suggest a good book entitled, French Women Don’t Get Fat by Mireille Guiliano, published in 2005 by Alfred A. Knopf, and it can still be found on Amazon – many new and used copies available.

         It is a delightful read filled with discussions about good food, wine, and meal time daily rituals.  She shares her common sense, sage advice, and charming stories about the French people and their love of food and wine.  Just reading it, I didn’t realize how French I think and act at times.  I guess I absorbed that all from my French grandmother who raised my Dad, her first born child, in a French way and I got it from him.

         When Dad wasn’t working hard supporting our family of five, he loved to eat good food, sit back, and relax with company.  Later, when I was married and traveling home for the occasional visit, we always went out to dine at a fabulous restaurant. 

Dad was partial to one particular French restaurant they went to for special occasions, and it was a treat for all of us.  After much discussion of what we were going to order, Dad and I always shared the carefully selected bottle of wine, as my Mom preferred a cocktail.  Dad and I also managed to save room for a wicked dessert.  It was always a relaxing experience, something you don’t get very often these days in restaurants. Now, they want to push you along and get a second and third seating.

The book has an ample amount of quality recipes. But, I find the last chapter one of the best with a three page bullet list of her overall theories.  They are insightful and delightful at the same time.   I’ll share a few with you that sort of ring true for me:

      French women eat and serve what’s in season, for maximum flavor and value, and know availability does not equal quality.

      French women get a kick from Champagne, as an aperitif or with food, and don’t need a special occasion to open a bottle.

      French women enjoy going to market.

      French women think dining in is a sexy as dining out.

      French women will dress to take out the garbage (you never know).

      French women avoid anything that demands too much effort for too little pleasure.

      French women love to sit at a café and do nothing but enjoy the moment.

I think I will try to be more French this year, by stealing a phrase from Guiliano’s book, and making it my summer’s mantra:

In life, we believe the journey is the destination.