Typical French Food La Baguette

What to eat : food in Paris

Typical French Food La Baguette : French bread stick

The most typical French food la baguette - is a French bread stick. Ever seen those photos of French people with a beret on their head, and a long bread stick under their arm? That bread stick is called a baguette.

The French live differently from Americans and Australians and many other nationalities. The baguette is a perfect example - it's purchased just before you need to eat it, and you would never use it on the second day [unless you don't mind really stale hard bread which is as hard as a brick]. They're cheap enough to simply buy a fresh one whenever you need them, and the bakeries [boulangeries] are everywhere.

Paris food

I have a funny story to tell. The first time I lived in Paris, an Australian friend [Steve] was living in Paris for 3 months, and was doing the 'starving artist' routine. He wasn't actually starving, just enjoying Paris as an artist, on a 3 month scholarship which included a small studio [atelier] to live and work in.

Steve's a quirky guy, and there was something about left-over baguettes that he sympathised with. He couldn't bring himself to throw them out. So he painted them - that's right, nice bright acylic colours. And then he nailed them to the walls of his studio in creative designs. :-)

Sounds funky and funny, doesn't it? Well, we thought it did ... until the landlord had a look - what a scene that was!

So - before I tell you more about the baguette, promise me you will not keep your old half-eaten baguettes, it only leads to trouble. :-)

The Meaning of Baguette

When I did some research about baguettes, I found some interesting facts at wikipedia, a website which is edited by anyone and everyone. I found that the literal meaning of the word baguette is stick-shaped loaf. According to Wikipedia, the long thin bread loaf became popular in London when its recipe was brought back from Paris by travelling Englishmen. The French word, with a diminutive ending added to the root, came from Latin word 'baculum' meaning a'‘stick'.

The Half Baguette is a Bastard - well, a Batard, actually

No, no - please don't think I'm swearing. If you buy a half-size baguette, it's commonly known as a 'batard', which is the French word for 'bastard'. I'll see if I can find out why and let you know (update! read Comments below).

Tip! La baguette bread is not a close relation of the baguette diamond.

:-)

Buying food in Paris

Buying a baguette in Paris is very easy.  You can already say "baguette", so if you want one only, you ask for, "une bagette" [pronounced like, "Oon bag-ett"].  Of course you want to be polite, so you need to add 'please' to the request:

After you've paid, don't forget to say, "Merci!" or even, "Merci bien!" = "Thanks!" or, "Thanks a lot!".  You may even want to say, "Merci beaucoup," with a smile, which means, "Thank you very much."  Buying food in Paris was never easier.

How to eat a baguette

As typical French food la baguette is simple to eat. Break off a portion, spread with jam for breakfast, ham and salad for lunch, or paté for cocktails. Such a versatile piece of food!

If there is a baguette on a table, you will not normally be provided with a bread and butter plate, or butter. Simply break off a portion of the bread over the tablecloth, and rest it on the table near your plate.

Baguettes can differ from town to town, region to region, and you will find specialty baguettes in different parts of France.

What is la baguette made from?

Cornflour, yeast, salt and water. There are strict rules regarding the traditional baguette-making process without additives or additional substances of any kind.

Don't miss out on all tips, updates and Paris news from Teena!

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• French Baguettes

  
  Jim Chevallier, USA - http://www.chezjim.com/books/baguette/ - August 5, 2009, 10:54 pm
  
  
  I've actually looked pretty closely at the baguette:
  
  http://www.chezjim.com/books/baguette/
  
  The literal word has multiple meanings; as a bread, it's not very specifically defined.
  
  "If you buy a half-size baguette, it's known as a 'batard', which is the French word for 'bastard'. I'll see if I can find out why and let you know."
  
  Batarde was first a type of dough, and I believe it was so-called because it was a mix of white and whole-wheat flour. But I don't have that source ready to hand.
  
  Strangely, the "flute" whose thin origin is clear from its name today tends to be thicker than the baguette. (I actually asked the Espace Pain - the official bread info site for the bakers' confederation - if there was a comparative image showing the various types of French bread, but apparently not.)
  
  Jim Chevallier
  USA
  
  

  Response to French Baguettes

  
  
  Hi Jim,
  
  So lovely to hear from someone who's done so much research on the French baguette.
  
  Thanks for your comments and information, much appreciated. Your article on the humble baguette is terrific - http://www.chezjim.com/books/baguette/
  
  In my humble opinion, there's nothing so delicious as a baguette in Paris - I can't wait to land in Paris, drop off my bags, and head to the nearest boulangerie for my taste of baguette :-)
  
  Au revoir,
  Teena Hughes

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• More on the baguette batard

  
  Jim Chevallier, USA - http://www.chezjim.com - August 12, 2009, 1:54 am
  
  
  "Batarde" dough was dough that was midway between soft dough (the newer, finer type) and "firm" dough (the more traditional type). If you're obsessed with the details, see Fontenelle, Manuel de Boulanger, 1871 p192
  
  http://books.google.com/books?id=z9cqAAAAYAAJ&pg=PP13&dq=Fontenelle,+Manuel+de+Boulanger&lr=&num=100&as_brr=1#v=onepage&q=&f=false
  
  Somewhere along the line this became a specific type of loaf (but I don't know that it's made with the dough in question.)
  
  Best -
  
  Jim Chevallier
  www.chezjim.com
  Now on Amazon:
  Thirty Monologues for Teens
  Après Moi, Le Dessert II: A French Eighteenth Century Vegetarian Meal
  August Zang and the French Croissant: How Viennoiserie Came to France
  
  

  Response to: More on the baguette batard

  
  
  
  Hi Jim,
  
  Thanks again for the great information - it's really appreciated.
  
  Good luck with your book on Amazon!
  
  Cheers
  Teena

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