Overseas Briefing

Author: Christina Spencer

PARIS - Last night, after eating a modest nine Euro meal - a massive mound of salad topped with peppers, tomatoes and hot chevre cheese covering slices of bread - another student commented that the food in Paris is "beautiful." Never have I heard a truer statement - impressive, considering Paris is one place where many things could be called beautiful. The adjective just seemed to fit. No,the food was not just an appetizing gastronomical success, nor was it simply delivered by a strikingly handsome Frenchman. It was actually artistic, with all the reds and whites surrounding the greens in a pleasing circular manner. And my meal was the vegetarian option.

Coming from Middlebury, where one of the biggest on-campus rivalries is between dining halls, food is a big deal to every Middlebury-Parisian student. Where is the best place to find fresh veggies? Is that really a McDonalds "Café" on that corner? Will the Ben and Jerry's here give us free ice cream if we tell them we are from Vermont? After a week here, I find myself loitering around the produce markets, gazing dreamily at less haricots-verts and imagining all the really great stir-fry I could make. I do not even eat meat, but just watching the man precariously yet somehow daintily slice the ham - well, it is enough to rouse the ol' taste-buds into action.

It is a well-known fact that all of Paris is associated with excellent eating and drinking. Oh! the wine! There's the staple baguette for breakfast, and another for dinner. Freshness is of course the top priority - the evening commute consists of carrying a baguette in one hand and a briefcase in the other. Talk about bringing home the bread. Although I can't deny that being at Middlebury does guarantee excellent eating, I feel like I'm far more spoiled here in Paris. So all you over there in Vermont, you can keep your mountains, fall foliage and scenic drives - I'll be sipping coffee and eating my pain au chocolate. The scenery sure is beautiful, and delicious.