Friday, November 4, 2011

A Frenchman's Lunch...

Obviously, the French have the right and proper attitude towards lunch - that it consists of three courses and that it takes two hours. Think this is a stereotype? Well, working people do manage to get back to the office in under two hours, but they do all eat properly. They find the idea of eating a sandwich in front of your computer so bizarre that it doesn't really seem believable to them. And of course they're right - taking a proper break is better for health and productivity (and keeps crumbs out of the keyboard...) But there have clearly always been jobs where a picnic lunch is all that's going to happen. In the early 20th century, those lunches were carried in these diddy little enamel pails. The one on the left is my first buy - it's battered and doesn't seal any more, and I got it for a euro with some square mosaic tiles which had been stored in it - garage fodder, clearly.

But the new one, which I found today at the troc shop, is in full working order. Apart from two chips on the rim, everything is brand-shiny new. I wonder where it's been lurking all these years? It's going to hold batteries for recycling in our kitchen now (quick green note: we do use rechargable batteries, but the odd non-rechargable one does seem to intrude now and again).


Do you want to see how much the (overpriced, it's-old-so-we'll-sting-you-for-it) troc shop charged me for this shiny beauty?


Worth drinking to!


Foodie note: I know what the working French man has in his lunch box because when our pavement was being laid I stood behind the 'jeune' (the apprentice) who'd been sent to get the team's lunch at Intermarché. He bought baguettes, cheese, saucisson, apples and red wine. So there you go.

9 comments:

LissyLou said...

When me and my hubbie go to Paris we get bread, cheese and wine and take it by the river - bliss!!

Loo xx from Jumbles and Pompoms said...

Definitely worth drinking to!

We were in Spain last week and what we found interesting was to see at lunch time, burly builder types tucking into salads as part of their menu del dia. You'd never see that in the UK now would you?!

Pomona said...

So unlike our own dear country - the French are always so much more stylish!

Pomona x

Elizabethd said...

Always the red wine at lunch time!

VintageVicki said...

Sounds like a good lunch - reminds me of long ago french holidays - a warm bagette, a wedge of brie and tomatoes still warm with sunshine. Oh the most wonderful smoked prawns - blissful :)

Serenata said...

Yes it is always good to sit and have lunch away from computers and work space...take time out to enjoy and relax.

Love the 'new' enamel box. Looks almost too good to store batteries in it!

Carole said...

Oh no, a sandwich at the computer... NO WAY ! Lunchtime is not only to feed your body, but also to take a break and talk about other things with your colleagues. Two hours seems long, but 45 minutes is a minimum.

polkadotpeticoat said...

I love these old lunch boxes and with wine and bread....perfect!

Cape Cod Washashore said...

What a rather romantic way to ear! You've got a real treasure there! (I used to visit your blog as CapeCodRamblingRose but I had stopped blogging. I've returned finally, with this new name.) It's nice to "see" you again and to revisit your wonderful blog! Happy Weekend! -Louise