Langres, Reblochon and Brie Cheeses in France
Channel: slobomotion
Date: 04/02/2012

I am no cheese expert but am married to a Parisian, born in Montreuil, which was considered in the 75 département at that time (it is now part of our region in the 93 -- we live in Seine-Saint-Denis).  I have to fuss with my spouse in order to be allowed to clean up his space on that table.  He likes the crumbs and clutter and I just go through it periodically and wash the tablecloth while he grumbles.  He calls that little space his "layers" and is very particular about it.  Most men need their own areas of mess, so fine.  A lot of you ladies will understand me in this!

I wish I could export cheeses of France to you but it would be darn difficult.  I do export herbs, spices, wine, lace, tapestry, art, antiques and other stuff which is legal and does not have export problems.  The cheese is too fragile to ship and there are health issues at play.  Ditto with the meat here.  Many people come to France to enjoy the food and I recommend it, but you might find it hard to control yourself once here (I know I did).  The wines, chocolates, bread and cheeses are really fine and very varied.  The mustards are superb.  Meaux mustard is something divine and is red and sweet.  It has nothing to do with Dijon mustard.

At home, a cheese platter is offered for dessert.  The cheeses are set out and go to room temperature.  People just have a taste of this or that, and most people have fruit bowls here and some fruit goes with the cheese.  One of the reasons the French are generally not obese is they hold the dairy until the end of the meal and they keep quantities small.  There are never second helpings and meals are usually served in courses, even when at home.  Despite what you might think, French food is fairly plain.  They don't like fancy sauces except for in Lyon, and there are some regional dishes which are the exception, but they like meat, bread, wine and cheese so much, they don't mix things up.  Your ideas about French cooking may be wrong, or based on old styles no longer extant.  A meal in France takes about an hour, even a humble one at work or at home.  Sunday lunches are booze and food fests with pastry but the rest of the week, things are very plain.  They don't like the combination of sweet and savory here except for certain regions, such as Alsace.  The French will run out the door if you show most of them bbq!

I show some Brie, Langres and Reblochon cheeses here.

The little book is available from CNIEL/CNAOL, 42, rue de Châteaudun, 75314 Paris cedex 09 France, and their phone is 33 1 49 70 70 00.  www.fromages-aop.com

Sorry to burst your bubble, but you are not likely to find onion soup with melted cheese here in France!  That is just not French cuisine.  I think these things may have been from the past and are just not done today.  In the Savoie region and to the East, you will surely find fondue, known in Paris as raclette and only found in tourist dives generally, but you will have to look hard to find a snail and certainly a frog leg.  If you are eating "typical French food" in a restaurant here, you are likely in a tourist trap which serves quiche, another rather non-existent thing here.  One thing which is totally sleazy but which I recommend is to ask for a "Croque Madame" sandwich in a brasserie, which is grilled ham and cheese with a loose egg on top.  The best places add Béchamel sauce.  You'll be thirsty all day and it's not a healthy meal but if you want to try it, it's fun!  The barman is likely to cook it for you in rather unsanitary conditions, which adds to the excitement (getting sick is part of the visiting France experience).  Lunch is only from noon until 3 pm here but if you miss that time, the brasserie is there.  Just avoid those French fries, which are nearly all frozen now and nasty as can be.  Try to get invited to a home and bribe someone to make you the real deal, including a grated carrot salad.  If you can get to an Arab home, you will never forget the experience.  A lot of the true food of this country is just not served in any restaurant.

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