Un tout petit peu
Sometimes I think that shopping in France is the inverse of shopping in the States. We Americans are addicted to big box chains, buying in bulk, stocking our cupboards with giant jars of peanut butter and cartons of goldfish crackers. Whereas the French are obsessed with buying food in as small an amount as possible.
For example, in Paris you can buy: A carton of two eggs, half a baguette, a wedge of pumpkin (photo above), one slice of bread at Poîlane bakery, one chicken breast, a sliver of cheese, a tiny filet of cod, half a cabbage or celery root.
Why? It all boils down to freshness. Many people still shop for groceries every day, which is time consuming but ensures that they're eating unwilted produce. Also, most people have such tiny refrigerators, they don't have room to store Costco-sized quantities of food.
Me, I quite enjoy going to the market and watching shoppers request the tiniest amount possible: un TOUT petit peu (just a TINY bit), une POIGNEE (a handful). Oh, non, monsieur, c'est trop, c'est trop!
Leftovers? Quel horreur!
newest »
I think the French have the right idea to buy in small quantities, both because of space availability in their fridge. and freshness aspect comes into play. We should adopt some of their ways in the States, sometimes we want just a taste of this. I think the British do this as well, they will only have several slices of bacon, eggs, not a whole lot because of available space in their larder.
