French Lessons

My one-phrase-a-week French resolution is still up and running, although in recent weeks I have upped the ante and started learning song verses, instead of my usual "Où sont les toilettes?" and "Where's the supermarket?" So I am onto Anggun's "La Neige au Sahara" (Snow On The Sahara) and hopefully, expertly sing along soon—once I get past the second stanza. ("Perdu dans le désert/Tu es perdu dans le désert oh oh...")

Last week my Parisian colleague, Caroline, invited me over her apartment for dinner. We picked up some penne, fresh peppers, arugula, cream and baguettes from the neighborhood grocer and bakery before heading to the cute abode she shares with Raphael.

Pasta is a mainstay in my everyday fare, but more than anything I was curious to see how the true-blue French made theirs. Do they eat bread with it? (Yes! "Bread replaces the knife" apparently. Yehey!)

I must say it was a pleasure having a very educational dinner. We all compared notes on how Asians/Pinoys and the French sequence their food during a meal. "We eat salad and cheese AFTER the main course," shared Raphael. "Ah, okay, I'll do that now," I say. And after getting bored I go on switch to Pinay mode and start eating my salad, cheese, and pasta, all together now. What can I say? Old (Manila) habits die hard.

I'm off in a few minutes to join friends at a Filipino restaurant on the Lower East Side. I hope they have boneless bangus and fried egg.

Bon appetit!