| So you're planning a trip to France and you've | | | | extreme pride in their cooking and in your |
| heard about all the restaurants there and you | | | | enjoyment of it. Furthermore you will be |
| want to make sure that you get the most out of | | | | expected to eat all of your food or you will be |
| the experience. As a fluent French speaker who | | | | viewed as rude and if you do not enjoy your |
| has spent quite a bit of time in France including | | | | food you will have wasted time and money along |
| several visits to restaurants in France, here are | | | | with leaving a bad impression. |
| some tips about how you can make the most of | | | | 4. Study up on your French manners. The French |
| your restaurant visit: | | | | eat their meals differently than Americans and it |
| 1. Plan ahead for your trip. Have a good idea of | | | | is important to be aware of the differences. For |
| how much you are planning to spend and how | | | | example, coffee is served only with dessert and |
| long you plan to stay there. French restaurants | | | | they will not serve it to you before. Also you are |
| can be quite pricey so it helps to know the price | | | | expected to eat cheese with your dessert. The |
| range of the restaurant before going there. You | | | | French also use their bread to clean their plate |
| can find information about most restaurants either | | | | and they put their elbows on the table. These |
| online or from a guidebook. The French also spend | | | | actions are completely normal and are not |
| quite a bit more time eating than Americans and | | | | considered rude. |
| so you need to be sure to allow for enough time. | | | | 5. Learn enough French to understand the menu |
| It is not uncommon for a typical French three | | | | as well as some basic expressions. Although many |
| course meal to take three hours. | | | | waiters and chefs speak at least a little bit of |
| 2. Be aware that if you are taking children at | | | | English, they will greatly appreciate your efforts to |
| most restaurants the other patrons will have less | | | | learn their language and it will make it much easier |
| tolerance for noise from them than you would | | | | for you to understand what you are ordering |
| find in America so it is crucial to train your children | | | | before it arrives at your table and you are |
| in advance of your restaurant visit. Dogs however | | | | surprised. |
| are very much loved by the French and are | | | | 6. If you have never eaten in a restaurant in |
| welcome in most restaurants. | | | | France before, you may want to consider making |
| 3. Before choosing a restaurant, if you are not | | | | your first visit a trip to a cafe or a less formal |
| familiar with French food you should look at the | | | | restaurant rather than a formal one and work |
| menu in advance. This is important because | | | | your way up. |
| certain items of French food are quite different | | | | Follow these tips and you will enjoy your French |
| from American food and all French chefs take | | | | restaurant experience. Bon Appetite! |