Any traveler, in any French city (town, village...) cannot escape one of the universal French institions: the café.
The French have embraced this caffeine-filled liquid with such fervor that one is unable to throw a stick without hitting at least 17. The actual establishments ressemble their silverscreen imitators fairly well. A handful to a couple dozen little tables, cigarette smoke, a few people in the corners working on the next great novel and des serveurs ready to take your order before you've barely planted your butt in the whicker chair.
For anyone who would like to know, here are some of the possible cafés to be ordered:
1) Un café = the straight-up classic with almost no frills. Either drink up the shot of espresso black or with some of the sugar provided on the side (never, ever worry about being without sugar).
Just remember that even though it is only about the size of a shot, people can take up to an hour nursing this baby, whether over a lively discussion about how the strike is still going on or by their lonesome and thinking about how the strike is still going on.
2) Un café crème= for those who would like to cut down the full strength of a café, order this baby. You get the creme on the side, so that you can add as much, or as little, as you want.
Something to note: if they say crème, they mean crème. Only order one or two daily, if you want to still be able to get into your own pants (Because that's the only French gastronomic indulgence, hah!)
3) Une noisette= a café with a splash of cream. Not a bad choice at all, plus you really sound as if you've been haunting cafés all your life.
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Those are the main caffeinated beverages to order from, though there are plenty of others depending on how much cream/milk you'd like or the quantity (Scrire, café viennoise...).
Another note: For those used to the 16 + oz coffees, à la Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts, you're in for a shock. Those "normal-sized" coffees are on streroids compared to the tiny tasse of café that you're served here.
Also, there is barely any coffee-to-go done here. I haven't seen one person on the métro sipping on a travel mug since I got here, almost 4 months ago. It just isn't done.
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So, to conclude, here is the formula for the perfect afternoon in a Frence café:
Drink order ready to give + Saying "bonjour" to the serveur(serveuse) + 2 and 1/2 hours to kill + (thoughts about the on/off again strike x blank journal to contain your chef d'oeuvre) = an authentic, truely enjoyable experience
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And, in case the underlying theme was missed, the students are striking again.
Ciao et bises!
2 comments:
do you get a refill on the house?
Not in this country. But just keep in mind who much time another café would require. There are only so many hours in a day.
:)
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