The traditional French breakfast
you can find in most French hotels is rather
similar to what the average Frenchman (français moyen) eats :
French bread (baguette or farmhouse bread) with jam and/or butter,
sometimes croissants.
A cup of black coffee is the most usual drink it can also be tea
or hot
chocolate.
Our French breakfast is therefore quite light, that is why it
is "petit" (small) !
However, the situation is changing : Most children eat cereals
and an
increasing number of adults is now doing the same. The influence
of dietetics
that says the traditional French breakfast is too light and not
well balanced
is also influencing our habits. That is why fruits and yoghurt
are now more
popular but there is still no chance that you'll find sausages,
eggs or bacon
in a French breakfast.
Les Croissants
Although croissant was invented in Austria at the end of the 17th
century,
it was introduced in France soon after and is part of the French
culture.
French bakers are preparing 2 types of croissants :
croissant nature and croissant au beurre (butter croissant).
You can distinguish them as croissant nature is more round (croissant
means
crescent) and croissant au beurre slightly bigger.
Croissants are eaten for breakfast and sometimes for afternoon
snack
(but child often prefer chocolat roll). Croissant is not a daily
breakfast in
a typical French family and is usually only purchased on week
ends.
The usual number of croissants per person is 2, as you have to
keep in mind
that a croissant is not diet at all. (125 to 150 calories). We
usually eat
croissants with jam or dipped in a coffee bowl or plain (please
do not add
butter !).
What about making your own croissants ? Of course, you can easily
find
a croissant recipe (based on puff pastry) but I personally think
this is quite
difficult, takes a lot of time and requires a specific technique.
In France people rather go to the baker on the corner, where you
can find
at 7 o'clock in the morning fresh made croissants hot from the
oven.
The perfect French husband goes to the baker on Sunday morning
to buy
croissants !
