This is a piece started at the beginning of 2022 when we were in France and Frank commented that I was drinking wine and coffee, which I rarely did in the US, so I created an informal list:
22 Things I do or did in France in 2022
- Have a small breakfast, big lunch and a small dinner
- Drink coffee—un grand crème for breakfast only
- Drink hot chocolate (because I don’t love pain au chocolat) but hot chocolate and a croissant…
- Keep eggs on the counter
- Drink wine at lunch. Mostly rosé because it’s really good here, but so are the reds and whites and sparkling
- Have a 2-hour lunch and a tiny dinner
- Walk (off that 2-hour lunch)
- Buy bread (every day). It goes stale quickly and you can always get a demi (half)
- Buy lots of cheese (it’s better here and you need something to go with the bread)
- Discover that almost anything that comes from Corsica is delicious. Especially the cheese and charcuterie.
- Learn that anything recommended by the owner of the bakery is really good. Thank you, Christophe, for introducing me to talmières and some great restaurants.
- Buy pastries, they don’t have to be chocolate but…
- Drink water with bubbles and have your choice of fine, regular or strong bubbles.
- Eat at restaurants—inside for the first time in ages
- Remember that the French smoke and seem to have been practicing a lot during Covid (which is why #17)
- Speak French or attempt to. Who knew the word for cloves was clous de girofle?
- Shop at the marchés
- Enjoy galettes (savory) and crêpes (sweet)
- As they’re being consumed, admire perfectly cut (in 1 cm cubes) fried potatoes at Restaurant Victor Hugo
- Always be up for the best fettuccine with clams (and damn good pizza) at Le Safari
- Eat steak au poivre when it’s a special at Victor Hugo
- MOVED HERE!!!!
Yes, it’s all about me, but you might see yourself in a few of these, or have a few comments for the comment section below. Happy New Year!
Good for you! VH is a one of a kind.
You’re in a pretty nice place yourself!
What an amazing view! I prefer water with bubbles too… and walking.
I live in the US (for now) and actually do a lot of these. 1,2,4,7,9,12,13,14,17. Unfortunately no Victor Hugo here.