French Canal Gastronomy

Lakesailor

Lakesailor

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If you've been watching that Rick Stein bloke mooching along the Canal du Midi have you been overcome by revulsion at his snobbishness about, well just about everything.
French crap food is loads better than English crap food. Except of course he's not comparing like with like.
He know sod all about boats, but does know he despises the holiday makers in their plastic tubs. Maybe that's all they can afford to hire and don't need a skippered 100ft barge.
He seems to find everything English awful and everthing French just divine. We've shopped in French markets and not been able to find any veg worth cooking before now

How hypocritical when his Food Heros show was all about wonderful Bbritish cookery.
 
I've not seen much of that programme (bits here and there) so you'll have to take this with a pinch of salt. I know France quite well, as I was born there, and have been back a lot. So I write from this perspective, as well as that of a confirmed food junkie and ex restaurant critic. I do agree that English food is awful, even though we now lead France in livestock husbandry - we just don't know what to do with our good produce. I must say I'm staggered that you've not found good veg in French supermarkets - I assume you're referring to the north of France and probably a Super U. Not that staggered though... it has been going downhill. Go to the markets instead. It's half the fun of being in France. And yes, it is all a bit hypocritical, but it's part of that oxymoron of being a Brit abroad - you don't want to see any others! But I do believe he's entitled to his opinion however long his boat is... And finally, my girlfriend used to work as a researcher on a food programme called Good Food Live (dreary food live) on BBC2. She met a lot of self-congratulatory fools, but apparently Rick Stein was charming and modest (out of interest, so were Ken Hom and Anthony W-T believe it or not!)
 
I can only agree with this post. Mr Stein was leaving a lock and spoke in extremely derogatory terms toward the 'normal everyday' vessels found on the canal. They were simply enjoying their day/week/month of peace and serenity when this huge barge with their camera crew, director, make-up artists, entourage (thats French), a rather sad chef or two et al come cruising past. I am sure that their holiday would have been more enjoyed without such a hullabaloo happening around them.

At least these gastronauts where scuppered - all that the crew wanted was bangers and mash.

p.s. I understand that his jack russell (forget its name - Bitesalot, I think) was not allowed on the trip. Maybe this is why Rick was so tetchy.



"He told me that he had the sea in his blood,
and believe me you can see where it gets in."
SPIKE MILLIGAN
 
[ QUOTE ]
I must say I'm staggered that you've not found good veg in French supermarkets - I assume you're referring to the north of France and probably a Super U. Not that staggered though... it has been going downhill. Go to the markets instead. It's half the fun of being in France.

[/ QUOTE ]

In particular I remember Le Muy market in Var as having fruit and veg I would have thrown out (this was in the early '90s) and Bedarieux market in the Hérault (a few miles from Pézenaz where Rick was having orgasms) being very tired.
We have four Michelin starred restaurants in the Lakes and many other very fine eateries, but as we aren't in London or Padstow the AA Gills and the like don't feature the area. (We did have the Ramsey person take a pop at a restaurant with a problem)
 
Yes. The episode I saw, featured the skipper of Rick Stein's barge deliberatley forcing an elderly looking couple in their "noddy boat" as he keeps calling them, into the branches of a tree. A so called professional skipper who could do with resitting his CEVNI, or at least showing some respect for other users of the canal.
He might like to reflect thet some of those guys in their "Noddy boats" are experienced skippers who have crossed the English channel and on their way to do the same in the Med. I wouldn't mind betting he wouldn't know what do do with a tide/wave/storm/current/ if one bit him.
There are always greater and lesser men.
 
What a load of bo**ocks! I'm not that impressed with Rick Stein but hey the french care a lot more about what they eat than the brits. Just go into any of the main supermarkets in the UK and what can you smell in the veg section? Nothing, that's because it's all chilled and up to a year old and they still call it fresh! Strawberries all year round with no taste, parsnips in summer, fish fingers (let's not go there).

Lots of supermarkets and markets in France only have local seasonal produce and it's fresh. Most restaurants do an excellent 3 course menu for about £10 and reasonable wine for £5 (except it's in euros of course).

I do miss pork pies, crisps, burgers, kebabs, etc, very very occasionally but not home cooked pub grub (Brake Brothers cooked in the microwave).

Solution? Start a forum for excellent eateries - fresh local produce, well cooked, fair price.
 
There is little doubt that generally the food in available in France is of the highest quality possible and is excellent value for money. The French do regard eating well as an important part of their lives. Not really sure the average Brit feels the same or is regularly prepared to take the time at mid-day to eat well and relax.

There is also good quality food available in the UK and many excellent restaurants (I really miss a good curry!!!)

All that is not to say that some French 'tourist' restaurants do not provide a lousy meal -- as written in my Eloise Diary - on the Canal du Midi this year we stopped at a Port de Plaisance and ate in the quayside restaurant - odd meal! The next morning I proceeded up the Canal with the wheel in one hand and the bucket in the other... Eventually finding a parking place, both ends of my less than beautiful body poured forth.. Hit the bunk (and heads) till 15.00... So much as I love them the French do not always get it right..........
 
You paint a lovely picture

green_puke.gif
 
Next time you are in Herault, I can only recommend you try the markets of Lodeve and Clermont L'Herault. They're both great (and cheap) and eat the food fast, as they sell it ripe. It's a different tactic to buying fruit and veg in English supermarkets where they get weird odourless, tasteless stuff you have to hold onto for two weeks before it's lost its rock-like consistency. They do it becuase of the economics of shelf life. As a matter of interest (and this is not the slightest hint of exaggeration), I can't eat British supermarket fruit it tastes of so little. I go to markets where it's cheaper and better, as they are buying up 'end of line' (IE ripe) stuff. I can eat supermarket fruit if it's Waitrose or Marks and Sparks - and then I can't afford it. Oh, this life. "Somewhere between caviare and Chateau Lafite, and boiled carrots and water, is a place where we can satisfy our appetites without worshiping our bodies."
 
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