Going to the supermarket in France, I am tickled whenever I see a food product explicitly labeled “AMERICAN” because prior to coming here, I had seen it as ordinary and absolutely normal. But for the French, of course, it is something particular to America.
What American food products make it over to France? Let’s see, there are sweet potatoes and peanuts from the South, grapefruit from Florida, and cheddar cheese from Wisconsin.
Chocolate fudge brownie and cake mixes, too. But if you want the real deal, that is, imported Betty Crocker, you have to be prepared to pay dearly for it.
Price tag: 7 euros (over 9 US dollars) per box!
But I discovered what I think to be the most iconic American food item during the last French class I had before Christmas vacation.
We had a little potluck holiday party, where everyone brought a dish. Indeed, as the people in my class come from all over the world, it turned out to be a multicultural affair. Everyone brought something from their country of origin: cookies, bread, pastries, crackers, and cakes from Russia, Spain, Germany, Romania, Poland, and Brazil…and plus the most amazing coffee from Costa Rica.
What did I bring? Well, I wasn’t even aiming to bring something particularly American. I was just thinking they were quick and easy to make, and hoping that they would be enjoyed by all.
When I unveiled the aluminum foil cover from the plate, my teacher let out a big gasp. “Biscuits americains!” she proclaimed excitedly. What were they? Homemade chocolate chip cookies.
I was surprised that they were such a novelty for everyone, but perhaps I should have guessed it when I had to fabricate the chocolate chunks myself, breaking up little pieces from a candy bar, because I couldn’t find a bag of chocolate chips anywhere.
Upon reflection, it is suitable that I made them, given that I hail from their place of place of birth. Good old Toll House cookies. It makes me proud to be from Massachusetts!
….I love how I am learning more about the culture and cuisine of my country being apart from it than I did when I was living in it!
What American food products make it over to France? Let’s see, there are sweet potatoes and peanuts from the South, grapefruit from Florida, and cheddar cheese from Wisconsin.
Chocolate fudge brownie and cake mixes, too. But if you want the real deal, that is, imported Betty Crocker, you have to be prepared to pay dearly for it.
Price tag: 7 euros (over 9 US dollars) per box!
But I discovered what I think to be the most iconic American food item during the last French class I had before Christmas vacation.
We had a little potluck holiday party, where everyone brought a dish. Indeed, as the people in my class come from all over the world, it turned out to be a multicultural affair. Everyone brought something from their country of origin: cookies, bread, pastries, crackers, and cakes from Russia, Spain, Germany, Romania, Poland, and Brazil…and plus the most amazing coffee from Costa Rica.
What did I bring? Well, I wasn’t even aiming to bring something particularly American. I was just thinking they were quick and easy to make, and hoping that they would be enjoyed by all.
When I unveiled the aluminum foil cover from the plate, my teacher let out a big gasp. “Biscuits americains!” she proclaimed excitedly. What were they? Homemade chocolate chip cookies.
I was surprised that they were such a novelty for everyone, but perhaps I should have guessed it when I had to fabricate the chocolate chunks myself, breaking up little pieces from a candy bar, because I couldn’t find a bag of chocolate chips anywhere.
Upon reflection, it is suitable that I made them, given that I hail from their place of place of birth. Good old Toll House cookies. It makes me proud to be from Massachusetts!
….I love how I am learning more about the culture and cuisine of my country being apart from it than I did when I was living in it!
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