Far be it from me to deprive you of these gems. I'm a sharer. It's what I do.
I went to my local boulangerie this morning because I had a craving for my favorite pastry. They sometimes have it and they sometimes don't so that makes it even more special.
In France they've a saying for a weakness, a soft spot, a craving that always beats you; it's called a pêche-mignon. Mine is a croissant aux amandes and it's a butter croissant filled with almond paste and covered with flakes of toasted almonds and a generous dusting of powdered sugar on top. It is delicious. And one of those treats you allow yourself every once in a while. We call these 'sometimes foods' around here.
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| {I only ate half} |
As I ordered there was an older man there in his jogging gear ordering a baguette or some such thing of the healthier baked goods variety. My excitement at finding the rare and extraordinary croissant aux amandes must have been obvious because he took notice and felt it necessary to comment saying, 'You will get fat. Vous allez grossir.' My favorite boulangerie lady was there and stepped up in my defense saying, 'She runs so she will be okay'.
To which he excitedly continued to me, 'Oh, you run like me? It's good. It's necessary to keep your figure.' His figure could have used some more running.
I like it that she took up for me. I like it that she knows it's my favorite pastry and that I only rarely ever get it. I like it that she smiles and waves when she sees me jogging by on a Saturday morning.
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| {yummy almonds} |
As for Monsieur Courrir, don't you think it's funny to tell a complete stranger they're going to get fat from eating a pastry? Does this help to explain the 'French women don't get fat' legend?
What do you think?
My daughter had one of those yesterday - it was nearly as big as her head! My boulangerie lady likes to correct my French when I go in! As for rude guy - either time to learn some withering French put downs or smile and pretend you have no idea what he's talking about ;) Btw, typing this while eating a three day old pain aux raisins. It's still good!
ReplyDeleteIf you'd been a French woman you would have said "De quoi je me mêle?!" (mind your own business) Cheeky sod.
ReplyDeleteWas he being rude? Or was he joking, like 'haha, you better not eat that! You're gonna get fat." Or was he assy, like the only thing standing between you and morbid obesity was that croissant?
ReplyDeleteI wondered this.
Deletehe was more of the flirty, chatty variety with a twinkle in his Gallic eye. plus he fit into my age group...the 20+ years older than me who tend to think I'm the cat's pjs. i am beginning to worry about this. :)
Deleteaidan xo
I think he was just flirting with you Aidan and did not know how else to get your attention. PS: I agree with Sarah though. I am a French woman and I would have replied something along those lines. Rude is rude in any language ;-) Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)
ReplyDeleteVeronique - could one say 'Ça me regarde' also? Or is that a bit impolite?
DeleteThe only thing I like better than the criossant aux amandes is the pain de chocolat aux amandes....
ReplyDeleteSome people just have to say something(good or bad) in any situation...why? I don't know, but they seriously could use some tape. I am *une trouillarde*, so I would probably just give a nasty look.
ReplyDeleteI like everything in the boulangerie, or patisserie!
Oh this made me laugh. But I have to agree with Vero, in his way he was trying to have a little contact with the Americaine hottie! ;) But please continue this series, just don't ask me to contribute or I will get in trouble with my honey (the things that come out of HIS mouth sometimes, even after ten years are a little mind-boggling).
ReplyDeleteNow, I have a question for you--why is it that, even though I live right across from the bakery that makes the BEST almond croissants in town, I never go and get one? I need a psy for that one!
It's because you've been tormented for eating them Heather. Just kidding. I always forget too and then it hits me and I have to have one. I can only ever eat half though so next time we can share and save our girlish figures! ;)
Deleteaidan xo
I think that he was trying to be funny, tease you given your obvious love of the pastry but it came out in a very rude way...but maybe I am giving him the benefit of the doubt.
ReplyDeleteNo, you're definitely right. He just wanted something to say and this time I could actually understand. I'll bet I've been smiling and nodding at all kinds of things to keep from being rude or looking like I don't understand. Too funny, this life in another language.
Deleteaidan xo
This made me laugh. The rules are so different in France :) Glad you enjoyed it - I love my croissant aux amandes!
ReplyDeleteKate,
DeleteThanks so much for commenting and for laughing with me!
They are so delish aren't they?
I didn't know so many people had a softness for them until now.
aidan xo
Funny! I got schooled once in Paris, eating a banana-nutella crepe on a bench (my special last treat before returning to the US even), when a Frenchman walking by, who didn't even stop, by the way, he just continued his embarrassing tirade at me as he kept walking, telling me how I would get fat and how I should just get the sugar/lemon crepe next time. Geez! Did I ask for his opinion? I adore almond croissants too! Luckily my grocery here makes fresh ones but I only get them about twice a year (but who's counting?).
ReplyDeleteLiza,
DeleteAt least you were sitting down while you ate your crepe. Imagine the horror if you'd been walking and eating!
I won't tell about your grocery store croissants and I would never judge. Sometimes we just need a little sweetie.
aidan xo
Hee hee, good to see Australian men don't have the market in insensitive comments. Obviously this fellow just didn't want to see a beautiful figure ruined! x
ReplyDeleteNow that I like! Thanks Kirsty, I've gotta guard this 40 yold figure like the hope diamond let me tell ya!
Deleteaidan xo
Very insensitive and impolite! Swiss French men might also say something like that...
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Rosa
who knows what i've missed up to now. is it better to understand or not? I'm not sure but i just keep smiling.
Deleteaidan xo
Aidan, I had French in-laws and the conversation was always circling around the fact that if I ate the delicious food they put in front of me I was going to end up potelée or rondelette.. it's an obsession. It's only recently however that I have actually started to see obese people in France - it used to be quite rare but is becoming much more common. No doubt down to the end of the wonderful 2 hour lunch hour and the pervasive infiltration of le Big Mac! By the way, your spelling of 'pêche-mignon' means cute peach whereas it should be 'péché-mignon' which means cute [i.e. forgivable] sin ;-) @SirenCall
ReplyDeleteThanks for the correction. I need a program with French accents for my computer bc I have to go back and forth copy and pasting symbols and sometimes I get it all wrong. I like a cute sin but a cute peach is fun too. Have you ever been to Georgia?
Deleteaidan xo
Wow- M. Courrir was sure special, wasn't he! I can't ever imagine telling a total stranger that!
ReplyDeleteI guess the French just don't have inhibitions (or a need for personal space which happens to be a pet-peeve of mine). Thumbs up for your lady of defense. That was super sweet of her. BTW- the almond pastry that is your favorite is also mine! I LOVE them and could eat one every day.
Ashley (backyardprovence)
they are soooo good aren't they?
Deleteshe is my sweet bakery lady and always compliments me on my french.
aidan xo
funny. one of the most perplexing comments i've had directed to me was actually from a French woman "of a certain age" they'd say in French. when she found out i liked to workout, she warned me to cool it or i might get (the dreaded) "runner's legs!" mmyeah...
ReplyDelete