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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2010 10:53:13 GMT
I began to reread M.F.K. Fisher's The Art of Eating this weekend,and am so glad I did! I simply revere this woman and her writing/treatment of food!
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Post by Jazz on Jun 19, 2012 2:29:57 GMT
This may seem an odd choice for me (since I’ve never been a mother), but the book was absorbing. It’s now on my gift list for my younger friends. French Kids Eat Everthing: (and Yours CanToo), Karen le Billon.
I’m now a bit tired of most books written by ‘ex-pats’, or Anglos in France for a year or so. (a year, 2years? 5years?) Most often, there is a boring similarity, an echo, whatever the subject. Not intriguing, just… repetitive. I think they all read the same blogs and socialize with each other, a rather closed and limited circle. Unfortunately, with little in common with daily French culture. There are a few outstanding exceptions.
I took the book out of the library one bored day with minimal hopes. The author had married a Frenchman and later moved to Brittany for one year, with their two children, 3 and 6. The year was difficult, yet beautiful for them. The author was extremely resistent to much of what she found. But, she wanted to grow and give her daughters the gift of their other, French, culture. She was most concerned with the well being of her family. Her journal of the year is honest and engrossing.
It's a great read if you are seriously love food and understand its’ special place in life. At first, I ‘girded my loins’ for yet more gushing descriptions of macarons and Fleur du Sel caramels. No, not at all. There is much content but these caught my attention:
Essentially, education about food is respected and is an integral part of the French child’s upbringing. This is signiificant for education on many levels important for the future…the food itself, socialization, and discipline.
The canteen/cafeteria of the school: (the eldest was to go to school). The meal provided is of 3 courses and time was allowed to appreciate this…about an hour, hour and a half. (here in Canada, much less time, often crap from vending machines)
Snacks: NO snacks:: Only one about 4PM, after school (at home) to help the kids last until dinner at 7:30 or 8PM.
Tastes and variety: Children are children and in France (as well as in North America), the ‘terrible two’s signal the beginning of the NO! stage. It seems then, that French parents actively give their children much more variety and far earlier, than we do. As much as possible, as soon as possible, before the kids come to the NO! stage. In delicious soups etc.
There seem to be basic ‘Rules’, which we do not share. #1. The one glaring difference is that French parents are 'the boss' and decide what the child will eat. NOT the reverse, as we often have here.
I think that it is well worth a read and I’m slowly applying some of the ‘rules’ to my own life.
These ‘rules’, I think, slowly and at a very young age, become a ‘given’ and this will effect the child for the rest of his/her life.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2012 7:12:01 GMT
I remember reading a review of that book and it did get the two main points right -- that the parents are the boss and that schools make a major effort to 'educate' children about food. One of the best initiatives is 'Taste Week' every year in which numerous professional chefs participate, in which they give master classes about the importance of quality ingredients and little tips like 'not everything should be fried!' They also get a chance to present unusual items to eat, taking full advantage of the thrill of a dare to children ('bet you can't eat this!'). Naturally, a lot of the kids find some of the items icky, but if just 25% say they have discovered a new item that they will want to eat again in the future, it is already a major success.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2012 10:30:24 GMT
Interesting that this topic pops up now. Just last week there was a piece in the New York Times or maybe it was The New Yorker, about French food trends and the recent campaign to fight the rise of obesity in that country. Although, not nearly as staggering as the U.S. by any means it does appear to be a growing concern. The piece also touched on the introduction of Jenny Craig's weight loss program in France.(millions of dollars or euros being spent on PR ) It depicted French women in particular, eating pre-prepared meals of traditional French type dishes such as Beef Bourguignon. There was a strong and stern warning against snacking.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2012 11:41:30 GMT
Every single ad for food in France now has to carry a health warning notice, such as "Avoid eating between meals," "Do not use too much sugar or salt," "Eat at least 5 fruits or vegetables every day," or "Practice a physical activity regularly," etc. And every advertisement also have to mention the government nutrition website.
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Post by lagatta on Sept 28, 2014 15:39:24 GMT
Not strictly about one book (though mostly the "Book of Jewish Food" and also her many other books on cuisines of the Middle East and Mediterranean) but a wide-ranging interview with Claudia Roden, in the New Yorker, back in 2007. I confess I'm copying this fascinating article from Chowhound's "Home Cooking" board, which will be reading the "Book of Jewish Food" for October. www.newyorker.com/magazine/2007/09/03/spice-routes
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 30, 2016 16:49:42 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2016 17:30:53 GMT
My goodness, 93!!!!
She looks fabulous and I am ever so grateful for you turning me onto her.
You know my love of MFK Fisher, and although you may dispute the comparison, they do indeed, along with Julia Child remind me so much of one another in their own special way. Women pioneers of cuisine.
I so look forward to this.
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 30, 2016 22:23:32 GMT
Good point, Casimira! Checking my email after posting the link, I found that a lovely anyporter had also sent it to me -- so thoughtful. Not only was I pleased to find an article giving Diana Kennedy her due, but it was an impetus to read back in this thread, which is full of treasure -- some of which I'd forgotten and some that I'd never seen, such as the great interview with Claudia Roden in #35.
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Post by chexbres on Dec 31, 2016 7:41:24 GMT
I started reading MFK Fisher in the mid-1960's, when I discovered an essay written by her in "Gourmet" magazine. I own every book she has ever written, and she is the reason I live in France. She was one of the writers I would have most like to have met.
If you haven't read "Consider the Oyster" or "A Cordial Water", you might try them, though they are difficult to find.
I can't stand the hangers-on who try to wring every bit of profit from Ms Fisher's life, though.
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