Semi-Gallic Panache
The French are famous for their Gallic panache. And while I understand that the present-day French don’t really consider French-Canadians to be – or to speak – “true French”, there are nonetheless some strong cultural similarities between the two peoples because of common heritage.
Last year, I observed some of those similarities firsthand. While visiting Montreal, I stayed at a small hotel. The hotel had an arrangement with an adjacent café to serve breakfast to the hotel’s guests as part of the room’s cost.
The breakfast was nothing fancy: a small buffet consisting of boiled eggs, some ham, yoghurt, bagels (Montreal is big on both yoghurt and bagles), some fruit, bread, jam, etc . . . . They had a toaster, and also had both coffee and juice. You served yourself, and left when you were done.
All in all, not a bad breakfast – especially considering the price. (smile)
However, they also had pancake batter and a self-serve griddle for making pancakes. This in turn meant they had maple syrup on the buffet line as well. (Yes, it was real maple syrup – this was in Montreal, remember?)
As I recall, I’d gotten my breakfast and was seated. While I was having breakfast I observed a young couple who were also in the café. I wasn’t being nosy; the café was fairly small, so I really didn’t have much choice except to see and hear what they were doing.
By accent and other indications, the man appeared to be French-Canadian. His girlfriend appeared to be American – by accent, I’d guess from somewhere in the Midwest/Great Lakes region.
They went up to the buffet. The lady went to the griddle and made a pancake or two, apparently for herself. In contrast, the man picked up some bread and toasted it. He then put it on his plate and proceeded to put some maple syrup on it. (Not exactly my “thing”, but hey: whatever.)
His girlfriend looked at him and said in a mildly exasperated tone, “You Canadians put maple syrup on everything, don’t you?”
The guy’s response was priceless. Without missing a beat – and with perfect Gallic nonchalance and a distinct French-Canadian accent – he replied: “It is . . . the Canadian way.”
Since the guy was apparently French-Canadian, IMO that qualifies as at least semi-Gallic panache. (smile)
Category: Pointless blather, Who knows
And Tim Horton’s. Oh God, Tim Horton’s. You know you’re in Canada when half the folks have burnt lips from trying to drink coffee with the rolled up cup rims.
A good Canadian redneck adventure always begins with the phrase…”here, hold my Timmies”.
I checked with a Canuck pal, and Timmies is the real deal up there, eh? He said the traffic was so heavy at the local drive through they have a cop there to handle the morning crowds.
Yeah….its nearly a religion. Like Krispy Kreme in the South.
We have a couple Timmie’s up here in Minnesota…Its ( in my opinion anyway) a Canadian version of Dunk’n Donuts.
Nope. Nuttin’ beats Dunkin’!! I’ll serenade you from an old commercial:
Dunn-kin’ Donuts….it’s worth the trip….
Says the guy who has never been to Springfield, MA, I’d bet.
Donut Dip. Yes, it’s THAT good.
Believe it or not, the Krispy Kreme cult was late taking root in Houston. Shipley’s Donuts was the best bar none.
Back when I ate the fat pills, anyway.
I rolled up the rim and won a berry muffin a few times. Sorry DD, Tim,s has the best coffee.
Growing up in northern VT with Quebecois Grandparents we always had real maple syru, toutiere etc. Helps when you can tap the sugar maples in your yard and boil off on the stove
What the hell, the French (and others) have always been annoyed disgusted, bemused, whatever by Americans’ use of catsup on everything.
Ketchup is for the home fries; tabasco goes on the over-easy eggs.
And butter goes on toast, dammit!
*grin*
We could argue about “What is bacon.?”
Discuss the Great Maple Syrup Robbery.
Quebec
Fishing on the grand banks
(likely to incite cultural riot)
As in Canadian bacon? I do like it, but two things- it may well be Canadian, but sure it ain’t bacon.
Also, the only good film Michael Moore was ever a part of (unless you count his cameo in Team America: World Police).
Apparently stealing maple syrup in Canada is considered about as depraved as trying to grope Little Nell in front of Dudley Do-Right.
It so happens that the ring leader of the gang who stole $18 million worth of maple syrup from a warehouse in Quebec was recently sentenced to 8 years in Le Slammer and a $9.4 million fine.
Little Nell? Did you perchance mean Nell Fenwick, PG?
Little Nell was quite the hottie. Dudley himself might have been tempted by her.
(smile)
You’re probably right, Hondo. I was working from a vague recollection that Inspector Fenwick, Nell’s father and Dudley’s boss, would sometimes refer to her as “Our Nell” or “Little Nell.”
That other Little Nell looks a bit too tinsel for our boy Dudley, if you catch my drift…
In my old age, it’s Tabasco (or Cholula) or nothing.
Tabasco ain’t bad.
FWIW, my 82ndAB brother discovered that a dash of Tabasco in old coffee makes it right palatable.
A little Tony Chachere’s can put some Cajun spice in a meal.
The various salsas in Texas cannot be beat. Although the salsas verde from New Mexico are quite nice.
pork roll egg & cheese on a hard roll, thee best cheap breakfast in the world I’m from NJ, so I am biased
But I really like Montreal, especially the old district and want to go to the Canadian F1 Grand prix someday on a return visit…Forza Ferrari!!
Wawa or Sheets. Almost impossible to top them for a quick breakfast bite.
You’ll not meet better people than French-Canadians.. I lived in Montreal for a year and still to this day it is the finest city I ever lived in (if you like snow !). Great people and fun. My time living there and training at the Royal Victoria Hospital was one of the best times of my career. If you like to dance, eat warm delicious bagels, party and have fun…find French-Canadians. Serving with them in Afghanistan was also an honor. And yes, their French is distinctly different than across the sea , but it is a great mix and an American should not miss a chance to be with them
CAPT Bones USN (ret)
Taking my youngest daughter back to Quebec for her birthday this summer. She speaks French quite well. Started in 3rd grade and finished honors French in High School. We bought her the Rosetta Stone French series so she could keep up with it while in College and not lose her proficiency. I’d like her to have it as a 2nd language to help as a selling point for future job applications.
Anyway, the old city of Quebec is beautiful and fairly inexpensive if you stay outside of town and just commute in for the sightseeing, etc.
It’s only a 6 hour drive from my house, so an easy trip.
Have always heard panache defined as: Fella comes home to find his wife in bed with a stranger, and instead of killing them, says “Please continue”. That ain’t panache… but if the stranger CAN after that, THAT is panache.
I’m sure both cities have changed since I was there in ’67, but returning to see them nowadays is definitely a bucket list item.