Four important things not mentioned in this section when welcoming French visitors to your home:

1: Regardless of arrangements, if it is a meal time, french people will (quite rightly) expect to be included in the meal regardless of when they arrive and whether they are expected or not. Great offence can be taken if you do not include them. If you do not have enough of the actual meal then provide cheese, biscuits or some other snack foods although something substantial is usually preferred. Bread is acceptable as a bare minimum

2: ALWAYS offer drinks, ideally apéritif such as Pastis (Ricard et al), Martini (Rosso is popular), any fruit liquor etc but failing that, soft drinks, water or coffee. Postmen particularly enjoy a Pastis when delivering large parcels and indeed here in the north, are well known for generally finishing their rounds drunk as a church friar!

3: The French, particularly in Rural areas but also in towns, tend to live on day to day shopping as opposed to the British tendency to have large food reserves. This may or may not be practical for you but please bear in mind that the French will ALWAYS appreciate a FRESH meal from FRESH ingredients regardless of how basic the meal is. Mayonnaise from a jar or tub is a surefire way to tell your french visitor that you are a culinary numbskull and British style (hellman’s) mayonnaise should NEVER be served to french people at ANY meal.

4: When serving wine with meals or even without the meal please bear in mind that most french people are not concerned with vintages. Cheap vin-de-table is more than sufficient for get togethers especially when topped up with apéritifs. A good size block of two or three cheeses (preferably local with perhaps one english as a talking point) and bread will finish a get-together nicely. Remember, don’t overcomplicate things, often the simplest way is the best way. In choosing cheeses, if three is enough then stick to it but select three very different regional cheeses, a goats cheese (to me, beurck but to the french, divine!), a normal cheese and a fromage de brébis (Sheep’s cheese: much nice than it sounds) is often a good way to go.

On a final note, French meals are almost always relaxed and carefree EVEN in the most formal settings. Please remember that the English dinner party atmosphere will alienate most french visitors who would much rather have a plate and a glass and a few trays of food to help themselves to. There is so much more that I could say here but please feel free to email me at mat62870@yahoo.fr if you want advice on planning a dinner party for french friends. I am an experienced chef and confirmed francophile.

I’m french, living in Poitou-Charentes, and I like british food. I can confirm that many supermarkets, here, have a little place where they sell british products as baked beans, marmite and so and so. You also can find these products in little english shops.

Bon appétit !

At least it is something to do with all the pots of marmite that our friends/family bring out to us! There is only so much marmite that you can get through – one pot lasts us months and months!!!!

On a different point, one major difference we find between school lunches here versus at home in the UK – our girls only get chips once a month (in Primaire) and once a fortnight (at college). Back in the UK I seem to remember them on the menu every day? Hopefully this has now changed I think.

That is just evil, funny as hell, but evil!

I’m in deepest Essex…
The wandering about town is definitely off the menu for the primary children, I think it all goes to pot once they get to the local comprehensive though.

Thanks for the good wishes.

There is very, very little processed food on the menu for the children to choose from.
Sad to say, but the school dinner is quite possibly the best meal most of the kids get all day.