L'economie en France

The notion of economy is broad here, and it manifests itself from macro to micro. While Europe is considering a $1 trillion bailout for Greece, Portugal and the rest of the "Eurozone", we see the signs of conservation and sound economic practices in every day life. The hotels often require your room key/card to be inserted in a reader to keep the lights on. The objective is clear: when you leave the room, why waste electricity? Toilets have two flushing options, a light flush for liquid waste and a more substantial one for solid, therby conserving water. Our VW Passat rental car is comfortably getting 40 mpg (diesel) even when driven at the autoroute speed limit of 130 kph (81 mph). Rather than indulging in excess, the French use just as much as is needed.

When it comes to food, the portions are modest by American standards, but still provide ample quantities to savor the meal and feel pleasantly satisfied. Last night we enjoyed local lamb chopes and ratatoille, the latter being a very delicious mixture of tomoatoes, zuchini, eggplant, bell peppers, onions and olive oil. The melded flavors were amazing, so this is one dish I resolve to learn upon returning home. My lunchtime chef salad came with the dressing spread on the plate, then the salad and other ingredients place on top. This approach provided just enough dressing for each bite, and none was wasted. But does the notion of excess exist in other cuisine? Croissants are buttery because their extraordinarily flakey dough uses just as much butter as needed to meet the French standards of what a croissant is. Rather than attempting to pass a simple roll as something more, each kind of pastry is made following centuries old rescipes precisely. My mille feuilles patry (literally "thousand leaves" of exceedingly thin dough with strawberries and custard filling) tasted exactly as it should have, and as I remember it to be, because no corners were cut when selecting ingredients or preparation.

I am impressed how conservation of resources and predictable outcomes can live side by side in a society which prides itself on uniqueness and sustaining the culture. Lesson learned!