What are some of your Favorite French dishes, delicacies, snacks or desserts?
Any duck is really delicious. In meats, different stews, specific beans, and in duck confit, duck is such a comfort food and it’s so versatile; cooking it for many hours can make it melt into your mouth.
Raclette is another comfort food favorite amongst the Francophone diaspora, in which melted cheese is poured over a variety of foods. From potatoes, cold meat, prosciutto and salami to grilled veggies, figs and onion; the served-around-the-table nature is a unique way to share all kinds of food in a social gathering.
Favorite French traditions or celebrations?
A favorite celebration amongst French culture is Mardi Gras: a less-scary and more silly counterpart to Halloween filled with costumes and parades, marking the return of spring. Although Christian in origin, Mardi Gras is celebrated by people of all different religious backgrounds with big celebrations for the return of spring. Another cherished tradition is La Fête des Rois, when families share the galette des rois and crown; also, whoever finds the hidden charm is the ‘king for the day’. The slicing of the cake is a big part of this celebration in which the youngest kid goes under the table and randomly names the first person to get a slice. Holiday-time celebrations like these are important in getting people together around the table and have been incredibly important to building that community around that French culture of the specialness of every meal.
Lent: a lot of parades and people build a lot of boats. In Leon, in Nice, really big celebrations. As a child, that was always my favorite. King’s cake that you share. In my town bugnes lyonnaise, something that is very family oriented and centered, something you share with the greater community.
Fete de Rois, Epiphanie: gallete de roise with almond paste, crown over the cake. The little ceramic figure in it used to be baby Jesus. Make collectibles out of food. Careful to eat it. Someone slices it, the youngest kid goes under the table and names the first person to get the first slice. Fete de rois feve. Petit Prince related. Whoever gets it becomes king for a day. Originally religious but became another celebration entirely. Anything that gets people together around the table is really popular, be ready to be around the table for three hours. Passing traditions to kids, important to me.
If you could describe French culture or the French-speaking diaspora in one sentence or phrase, how would you describe it?
French is not just the Eiffel Tower and croissants. There’s a lot of different flavors throughout the world, different accents, different cultures – they just happen to have French in common.
Favorite French film?
“Jean Pierre Jeannot” – dark, humor, similar to Tim Burton – not for everyone, quirky, quirky actors, recognize the style, very iconic
“Agnes Varda” – growing up in Lyon used to go to Lumiere museum for screenings or talks or just to enjoy that tradition so I was introduced early on to the cinema and the people who made it what it is – my education in film. I love this itty-bitty woman who even in her 80s kept her sense of humor and collaborated with younger people. I like the humor and the creativity. She is young in her mind, always going to enjoy. I like documentaries alot. Movies that stay with you, whether or not you enjoy them are different things. Learn to like something (brussel sprouts and pizza) not like it and appreciate her value.