Afterward, our group went to a restaurant for a delicious lunch that comprised of Burgundy's specialities.
For my entrée I ordered escargot, a traditional French dish of snails in garlic and butter. I know what you're thinking - snails?!? I couldn't believe it either, but they actually tasted delicious! While I was nervous at first to try something new, I'm glad I did, because I learned more about local French culture and found a new food that I enjoyed. Next up on the menu was beef bourguignon. Another local speciality, the beef is cooked for a long time in red wine, making it soft and very flavorful. It was paired with mashed potatoes and tasted a lot like something that I would have for dinner at home! Finally, we had ice cream with prunes - the prune part was delicious, however, the ice cream had a different consistency from ice cream back home. It actually tasted more like whipped cream! This meal lasted more than 2 hours and I loved the experience.
Meals are a huge part of local culture in France. Good ingredients, traditional dishes and treasured company are all important components of eating in France. It has been interesting for me to compare the long meals here to the shorter "grab-and-go" style American ones. I have found that I enjoy taking my time to eat and making meals more of a social experience as opposed to a practical one. I am looking forward to bringing this French tradition home with me to Dartmouth in the spring!
