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I'm reluctant to start a "What do I like least about France" thread but an unwelcome change has been taking place in French restaurants over the last decade or two. It's the creeping blight of serving pre-prepared meals that's eating away at one of France's greatest cultural offerings.
Yes, there are still affordable gems that exist - family run restaurants and hotels - that somehow have managed to survive, but sadly these places are slowly disappearing as the realities of modern life catch up with rural France. If they haven't yet disappeared, then la carte has shrunk with each passing year. Yes, the big names are still "out there" - but I'm talking about places that are routinely affordable - not the temples to gastronomy that you might go to to celebrate a major anniversary.
It costs (in ‘social’ charges) about 2000€ a month* to employ someone here on a modest wage – and that’s before you start paying them the wage..
* This figure was given to me recently - but please correct me if I'm wrong.
So the restaurateur has two choices: either put the prices up – or invest in a large microwave oven. Or perhaps both. Into the oven goes pre-prepared food provided by Brakes (an English company!). Here are their offerings for SW France.. They have similar products tailored for the rest of France. (Look under les catalogues)
I’m not suggesting that their products are poor quality – but what they're doing is leveling the playing field. It's the "blandification" of cooking as George Dubya might have said.. It’s destroying the art of cooking – all you need to employ now are “ding” chefs* – who need far less training and knowledge, therefore they are cheaper. If you go into a restaurant, and they have a huge menu, you can guarantee you’re about to enjoy a Brakes meal.. (From Wiki: Brake France emploie près de 1900 personnes, livre 43 000 restaurateurs dans toute la France)
How about starting a thread where we list those places that still provide food to the old standards?
* the sound the microwave makes when it’s finished!
Yes, there are still affordable gems that exist - family run restaurants and hotels - that somehow have managed to survive, but sadly these places are slowly disappearing as the realities of modern life catch up with rural France. If they haven't yet disappeared, then la carte has shrunk with each passing year. Yes, the big names are still "out there" - but I'm talking about places that are routinely affordable - not the temples to gastronomy that you might go to to celebrate a major anniversary.
It costs (in ‘social’ charges) about 2000€ a month* to employ someone here on a modest wage – and that’s before you start paying them the wage..
* This figure was given to me recently - but please correct me if I'm wrong.
So the restaurateur has two choices: either put the prices up – or invest in a large microwave oven. Or perhaps both. Into the oven goes pre-prepared food provided by Brakes (an English company!). Here are their offerings for SW France.. They have similar products tailored for the rest of France. (Look under les catalogues)
I’m not suggesting that their products are poor quality – but what they're doing is leveling the playing field. It's the "blandification" of cooking as George Dubya might have said.. It’s destroying the art of cooking – all you need to employ now are “ding” chefs* – who need far less training and knowledge, therefore they are cheaper. If you go into a restaurant, and they have a huge menu, you can guarantee you’re about to enjoy a Brakes meal.. (From Wiki: Brake France emploie près de 1900 personnes, livre 43 000 restaurateurs dans toute la France)
How about starting a thread where we list those places that still provide food to the old standards?
* the sound the microwave makes when it’s finished!