Doggy bags in France: how the French react to this foreign custom
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Having never seen a doggy bag at any restaurant in France, ever, I have no illustrative photo to launch this edition. However, I do have dozens of pictures of Mr Sacks (pictured left), who will be our sac à toutou standin today.
TODAY'S WORD
Le doggy bag (franglais)
AUDIO FILE: Listen to Jackie read the following sentence:
Download MP3 or Wav
En France, le doggy bag, pratique américaine qui consiste à emporter dans une barquette les restes de son repas au restaurant, a du mal à s'imposer à cause d'une certaine gêne des consommateurs... -Le Parisien
In France, the doggy bag, an American custom that consists of taking away, in a container, the leftovers of one's restaurant meal, is having a hard time gaining acceptance owing to a certain customer embarrassement... Comments welcome here.
Mas la Monaque - Rent this beautifully restored 17-century farmhouse. Click here for more pictures.
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE... by Kristin Espinasse
One of the first cultural differences I encountered after moving to the land of bistros was this: they don't do doggy bags in la France!
In 1990, in Aix-en-Provence, a plate of egg rolls separated me from my future husband. Egg rolls in France are different from those in the States. In France, Asian restaurants serve the fried rouleaux with sprigs of mint and leaves of lettuce in which to roll them. Les Nems, as they are called, are Jean-Marc's and my favorite entrée, and we usually order so many that by the time the main course arrives we are too full to finish it.
At the end of that first shared meal in the restaurant chinois, we had leftovers. I explained to Jean-Marc that les restes in America go into doggy bags. Jean-Marc was amused by the term and his sensible side was quickly won over by the frugal concept. But when he tried out the idea on our waitress, asking her to box the food that remained on the serving platters, she showed neither amusement nor sensibility. In fact, she looked a bit put out by the request.
After Jean-Marc persisted, the waitress returned with an empty plastic tub which, according to the label, had once held pistachio ice cream. She pried open the container and slid the contents of both platters—and the side-dish—inside. I watched wide-eyed as the sweet-and-sour shrimp was poured right over the canard laqué, and the riz cantonais was heaped directly on top.
"Ça ira?" As the waitress scraped off the last grain of rice from the plates, her exaggerated gesture embarrassed me, cheapening an otherwise romantic evening.
Walking down Aix's winding cobblestone streets after the meal, I suggested to Jean-Marc that maybe it wasn’t a good idea, after all, to ask restaurants to wrap up food. It was too awkward for everyone involved when the servers had to go scavenging for odd containers in order to be accommodating.
Jean-Marc disagreed. It was a very good idea, he assured me—no more wasted food. The French would do well to adopt the practice of asking for a doggy bag!
"But they are not doggy-bag equipped here, so there's no use trying to save the food!" As I argued my point, I walked right into a beggar. “Oh, pardon. Pardon, Monsieur!”
The homeless man, who sat on the ground beside another SDF, looked up.
"Bonsoir, Monsieur," Jean-Marc offered a warm greeting.
I watched my date, who smiled as he crouched to the ground, offering the homeless man the "useless" invention: le doggy bag.
The homeless man nodded in appreciation. After what seemed a very long pause, we said goodbye and walked on. Arm in arm, I pulled my boyfriend close. This one was a keeper.
***
(Today's essay is from my book "First French Essais")
COMMENTS
To leave a comment, click here.
Do you ever notice how hearts show up when least expected or most needed?
Thanks for visiting our sponsors!
Provence & French Alps Tours - Two regions of France in one affordable tour. Majestic mountains, Provence colors. Wine tastings, Michelin Star cuisine.
Provence Dreamin'? Maison des Pelerins, Sablet. A Vacation Rental Dream in the heart of the Côte du Rhone.
French Vocabulary
le rouleau
roll
le nem
a kind of fried egg roll
une entrée
starter, hors-d'oeuvre
le restaurant chinois
Chinese restaurant
les restes (mpl)
leftovers
le canard laqué
Peking Duck
le riz cantonais
fried rice
ça ira
will that do?
Bonsoir, monsieur
Good evening, sir
SDF (sans domicile fixe)
homeless person
Jean-Marc and his faithful sidekick, Monsieur Sacks. See more of this endearing sacoche, and the story here.
SHARE IT - LIKE IT
Thank you very much for reading this post. By sharing it with a student or teacher or friend, via the share buttons below, you help to get the word out about my French language journal.
A Message from Kristi: Ongoing support from readers like you keeps me writing and publishing this free language journal each week. If you find joy or value in these stories and would like to keep this site going, donating today will help so much. Thank you for being a part of this community and helping me to maintain this site and its newsletter.
Ways to contribute:
1.Zelle®, The best way to donate and there are no transaction fees. Zelle to [email protected]
2.Paypal or credit card
Or purchase my book for a friend and so help them discover this free weekly journal.
For more online reading: The Lost Gardens: A Story of Two Vineyards and a Sobriety
One reason the doggy bag is not used in France, in my opinion, is that generally the quantities of food served at a French restaurant are reasonable for the meal, not these gigantic quantities US restaurants, and US customers, demand. I generally find I finish meals in France and have no need to cart anything away because I have eaten it all. One of the major reasons for the weight problem in the US is the quantity of food people insist on, and restaurants insist on serving up, at every meal.
Eat reasonably and well and you will have a better meal and a better figure--and you will have no need of a doggy bag
Posted by: Jim Ounsworth | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 11:37 AM
I'm pleased to note that restaurants are becoming more used to doggie bag requests and more accommodating. Also more agreeable to sharing a meal - which used to be a big no-no as well. L
Posted by: Lana Holmes | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 11:45 AM
I agree with Jim about the enormous servings in American restaurants, but it can happen in France as well. If one orders sensibly and stll gets too much food there are 3 choices, eat until you are uncomfortable, waste it, or take it home and enjoy it later. I've tried to convince my British friends that the last is the only answer, and very gradually it has become possible to get a ."doggie bag" here in the U.K. Often wrapped artistically in foil.
Posted by: Sue jean | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 11:54 AM
I recently noticed that in a Paris restaurant that they gladly gave an American couple two doggie bags. They also charged them 15 euros for each bag!!
Posted by: Bernie Duhaime | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 12:07 PM
Sweet story! Thank you for sharing!
Posted by: sandra | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 12:36 PM
What a cute post! And I love nem!!! I believe they are Vietnamese, called cha gio. I've always thought it funny that they're only found in Vietnamese restaurants in the States -- but in almost all ASIAN restaurants in France :)
Posted by: Ann | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 12:45 PM
Two photos of Jean-Marc's back today. The first one makes me wonder, "How many bags does one person need?" The second is one of my favorite photos ever. I hope it's framed and hung in your house somewhere.
Posted by: Bruce in Northwest Connecticut | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 12:45 PM
Dear Kristine,
I am a faithful follower of your wonderful blog and have never dared to comment on anything in fear of offending someone, as I respect the opinions of others even if I don't agree. But I think I have to mention about your "sac a toutou" just incase you didn't know that it doesn't mean restaurants' "doggy bags" but instead they are bags distributed in public areas for picking up dog poop. If you knew already, then please excuse my intervention. Another little thing is that, egg rolls in the states are actually "spring rolls" and are wrapped with wrappers made from wheat, and have different stuffing as the "nems" which are wrapped with wrappers made from rice. The nems can be eaten deep fried and hot or steamed and cold. I hope you don't mind this info...I am an asian who lived for many years in the states and now in the south of France, married 41 years now to a french.
Posted by: khimmie | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 12:48 PM
Bernard, Yikes ! Thanks for the info. Might be a good idea to ask about the fee before requesting a take-home bag.
Ann and Khimmie, Thank you very much for the additional info and correction. Always appreciated and helpful.
Enjoying reading the comments to this post. Has anyone ever been tempted to bring along a Tupperware? I know I have. Now to find the boldness to follow through.
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 12:56 PM
Thanks, Bruce. Good idea. I need to frame it. And then give another one to my mother-in-law!
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 01:07 PM
Good post Krisin. I agree that portion sizes are considerably smaller here. And a chesse round is an oppotunity to sample, not to gorge. Having said that, on occasion we have found that not asking for a bag would be wasteful as in your story. The first time this happened I struggled to use the right term. I was sure that any reference to a dog was not going to go over well. Once I made myself understood, the serveuse said "of course, a sac emporter" and returned with our food wrapped in foil in the shape of a swan. We have used the term since with good success.
Posted by: Randy Komisarek | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 01:08 PM
Dear Kristi,
Your post today brings back childhood memories. It was 1957 and my family had dinner at a steakhouse located In the middle of an old city stockyards. After the meal, when my dad asked for a doggy bag, my brother and I looked at each other and giggled. We thought he was taking scraps and steak bones home to our two dogs. That is exactly what he was doing! Happy dogs!
Posted by: Chris Allin | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 01:26 PM
P. S. And here you are, 25 years later, with a son grown into a young man, in the same city, following in his father's footsteps with the same kind gesture~
Posted by: Chris Allin | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 01:42 PM
Thanks, Chris =-)
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 01:55 PM
Love this story. I agree and object. A couple people stated "huge portions demanded by americans". Who demands this? No one i have ever dined with. We always are amazed and wonder how this got started and why restaurants pile on enough for three meals!!!!! Yes i doggy bag, after paying for it, it wil serve me for two more meals and save me time. In fact i think ill have some of that delicious mexican food for breakfast this am before running off to work! (I do wish tho that they'd bag it in the back like the old days, i hate the scraping at the table! I think its my knowlege that this is frowned upon in france, it does seem rather uncouth) tammy
Posted by: Tammy | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 02:07 PM
Kristi, where was that last picture taken? Paris? I remember this story from your book but enjoyed rereading it.
Posted by: Jeanne Asakura | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 02:21 PM
Lovely post. So different from what I expected, as my original thought went to the bags that Khimmie described. I laughed out loud at the way the mind works when I discovered the post was much different.
Loved the heart leaf photo! And, Kristin, my thoughts also went straight to the tupperware idea (though I have never done so ... yet). (BTW, have I missed something? Where is Jules these days? Or have I just overlooked her posts?)
And, thanks, Chris, for making that sweet connection and bringing it to our attention.
Posted by: Trina, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 02:22 PM
It would disgust us in America to have DOGS in restaurants.
Nous ne gaspillons pas les restes de nos repas. Beaucoup de gens sauvent leur repas pour le manger chez eux "demain." On est servi souvent trop de la nourriture; pourquoi pas sauver la partie qu'on n'a pas même touché avec la fourchette?! Beaucoup de nous ne sauvons pas le repas pour nourrir les animaux.
Posted by: Joanne Polner | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 02:32 PM
Can you tell me where you took the photo of the street stairs filled with flowers? It is so charming. Thanks!
Posted by: CORINNE WARSAWSKY | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 02:36 PM
When I first saw this article, having stepped around, over and sometimes regrettfully through various doggy messes in France, I of course thought the article was going to be about the doggy bags we use for those purposes and wondered what it would be called (probably not sac enporter). I hate to think how the French would react to the other kind of "doggy bag" if they have trouble with the leftover kind. From personal history, the former would also be a welcome addition to the culture, although of course not to give away! I wonder what it would be called? Doggy bag #2? sorry for any offense and/or vulgarity
Posted by: Katherine | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 02:40 PM
Kristin,
A delightful ending to your story, and Max has followed in his parents' footsteps -- I'm referring to Max cooking up a plate of pasta for the homeless woman!
Sandy
Posted by: Sandy | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 03:00 PM
Our solution to the doggy bag problem was to bring our own. We did a home exchange in Nîmes las summer, so we had a house to go back to. The first night there, we stumbled on a boulangerie that sold 'take-out dnners'. We got two delicious meals that night and two empty containers that would fit in a purse or man-bag. Who cares if we look like ugly Americans, scrping the leftovers into those handy containers. Just heat, eat, wash, and re-use.
Posted by: Tim Yocum | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 03:03 PM
Your post could not be more timely for me Kristin!Feeling lazy,I had lunch/dinner,at a small bistro across the street from my son's apartment in Paris.I ordered pasta,and when it arrived,the waitress and I laughed at the size of portion. I thought of the doggy bag idea immediately because I knew I couldn't finish the entree.
Since I knew, I would be returning during this stay,I didn't ask!
Paris is catching up with America...
Posted by: Mary Keates | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 03:35 PM
I am absolutely certain that Paris,and,France have no need for "doggy bags"! While the U.S. Has many worthwhile things worthy of borrowing, doggy bags are not one of them!
Posted by: Bob penny | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 03:41 PM
In Oklahoma, USA I have not heard the term doggy bag in years. 'Go Box' seems to be the preferred term now. If I have leftovers I usually get a go box; I paid for it and if good food will eat it later. However, in Europe (seven weeks this past summer, 2014) I cannot remember having leftovers to worry about, I believe because portion size is reasonable. Between the exercise, better food, and more appropriate portions I also lost 20 pounds. Suppose that partly means I have poor control over how much I eat when presented with what I probably know is too much food?
Posted by: Rick | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 03:42 PM
Feeding the hungry and homeless!...what a wonderful idea! So often the food we bring home and reheat for another meal just doesn't have the same taste or crispness as the night before! Kudos to Jean-Marc for thinking of those less fortunate.
Posted by: Mary Ann Boysen | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 03:52 PM
Your story raises another language difference across the Atlantic and it drives me crazy. One sensibly enters into the meal with the "entrée" but in the U.S. the word is used for the main course or "plat."
as for the other themes, I agree that French restaurants are usually much better at portion control. and I loved the loop with your two men giving food to the SDFs. And didn't you lose a potential doggy bag tupperware container in the last one?
Posted by: gary | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 03:57 PM
I am in love with Mr. Sacks! Every time he appears in a photo, it makes me smile. He outshines the competition in the first photo and makes the flowered stairs (and his transporter!) even more charming.
Posted by: Susan Dautel | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 04:01 PM
I find that asking for a doggie bag crude and impolite.
If one is so stingy that he need to take the food home to the dog, it is possible they should not eat in a restaurant.
It is offensive to see this disrupting the meal of others.
Perhaps the leftover food is being given to a charitable source by the restaurant.....who knows! But it is a definitely low class habit to ask for a doggie bag!
I find it very distasteful to see! Annie
Posted by: Ann | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 04:12 PM
Our portions here in the U.S. are very big for me. I try hard to pick something that is small enough portion but when I am unable I ask for a box to take home. Most restaurants ask if you would like to take home the leftover. I am not embarrassed by this, better to take home than have the restaurant throw it out.
Posted by: Karen Cafarella | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 04:24 PM
Like father like son - I recall the recent story of your son giving away your Tupper container with its contents to a homeless person.....Max'll be a keeper as well ;) .
Posted by: Maureen | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 04:25 PM
Not too long ago, TF1 and France 2 had a segment on doggy bags. It seems some cafes and bistros in Paris provide doggy bags. The proprietors and diners interviewed liked the practice.
Posted by: Linda Roll | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 04:29 PM
I do enjoy this site so much! My husband is American and speaks French as he learned it from attending the Lycee in Belgium as a youngster, and then living in South Africa as the son of a missionary there. He is a retired Psychiatrist.
I struggle along as best I can. You articles a photos are very helpful to me.
I find it is never to old to learn new things!
Thank you for helping me along in an interesting way!
Ann Broadhead
Posted by: Ann | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 04:35 PM
Hilarious! Restaurant portions in France are tiny compared to those in the U.S. Who would have leftovers from any French meal?
Here in the U.S., especially in Texas where I live, the waiter will offer a to-go container without the guest even having to ask because the servings are way beyond what one healthy person should consume at one sitting.
Posted by: Maxine Oesterling | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 04:40 PM
Bonjour Christy,
We have been taking our own plastic bags to save leftovers for another meal when traveling in France.
Merci,
Julie
Posted by: Julie Breckenridge | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 04:46 PM
Hi Kristin,
I love the photo of Jean-Marc on the stairs with the flowers. How pretty! We were just out the other night and the waiter asked if I would like a "to go box". I hear this more often now. I never remember needing a "to go box" when we lived in Europe. Although the portions in Germany were large and if we couldn't finish, we would just leave it.
Posted by: Eileen deCamp | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 05:10 PM
What a beautiful story! Yes he is a keeper.
I love the picture of the flowers on the steps. Are they planted or placed there?
Posted by: Debra Jordan | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 05:21 PM
Haha these comments are hilarious! Don't get so bent out of shape people about different customs! I live in Florida and we had the most lovely French foreign exchange student. She is now my second daughter!! Anyway, she LOVED to-go boxes (no one calls them doggy bags for at least a couple decades). She thought it was the best idea ever. The other idea that took her by surprise? Was that if they did not make the meal correctly (she had ordered a sandwich w no mushrooms and it arrived with them) you could send it back. She said she could not do that at home. We had such fun together!
I am a very non-fat American (haha) happy with the practicality of take-out as I have three nibblers for children who don't eat much after I have spent a lot of money on a restaurant. Grateful they can take it home and take it to school for lunch the next day. Hooray for different customs!! How boring globe-trotting would be if we were all the same!
Ps I live next to disney world and see quite a few over weight people from quite a few European countries. Nice try pretending it's just the Americans!! I'm looking at you, UK and Germany!! ;)
Posted by: Amy | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 05:29 PM
My roommate and I go out for dinner a couple of times a month and we always have left-overs (we're in California). We always bring our own plastic containers to take left-overs home, tho (they are reusable rather than the foam stuff that doesn't biodegrade for thousands of years). The waiters love it. :o)
Posted by: Smorg | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 05:42 PM
A couple of years ago I was eating alone at an outdoor restaurant in Lyon and struck up a conversation with the French couple next to me. I had several chunks of wonderful cheese left from my cheese plate. They thought it was an excellent (and non-wasteful) idea to take it home with me, and helped me ask the server for a box. The server came back almost instantly with some aluminum foil with which to wrap my leftovers. Maybe because this was in touristy Lyon, where food is pracically a way of life, the idea of a to-go box was not seen as strange?
Posted by: Janet | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 05:44 PM
On our first of 3 trips to the Luberon--in 1999--we ate at a Pizza place in Menerbes. We each ordered "small" individual pizzas. They were about 14-16" each, thin crust which being from Chicago you must state as deep dish is a big favorite here. Topped with guyere cheese and carmelized onions, lardon....exquisite. My problem was that I did not feel well stomach-wise that evening...so just ate a small slice. The other 5 of us too were just too full to eat it all. The waitress asked us if we wanted to take it home with us....and we all said "no" as we were instructed that it was not a thing that you do in France....so don't embarrass yourselves. The tragedy was that there was so much food left over and the next morning...a slice of cold pizza would have been great...as I always eat my leftover pizza for breakfast the next day. By then, the stomach was back in good shape and I had to settle for less.
Posted by: Margie | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 05:46 PM
By your photo, it looks as if Mr Sacks has siblings? Do they have names too?
Posted by: Sari Hotchkiss | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 07:44 PM
I disagree that it is rude to ask for a "doggie bag". I paid for the meal and I should be the one to decide what to do w/ my leftovers, whether eating it next day or giving to homeless person or my doggie. I think bringing a small plastic dish if doggie bags are not provided is great thing to do. Why should we waste food or let restaurant decide what to do w/ it or, more likely than not, throw it away , if we paid for the food!
Posted by: Faye | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 08:21 PM
Fine edition:
1. explains doggy bags (DB) had yet to occur to the frugal French.
2. explains in enough detail how DB was explained to a French waitress, her reaction, and how she filled the DB. Must have thought you had a barn animal back home to feed
3. Provides French in context.
4 Appeals to list people and compulsive collectors by ending with a list of vocabulary.
Economically written and doesn't talk to itself.
Posted by: Max ROBERTS | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 08:24 PM
A couple of months ago my husband and I had a pub lunch in England with aged 90-something relatives. Tony, the husband, ate only half of his sandwich, so my husband said "Why not take it home? We do that all the time." Tony really wanted that half sandwich, but wife Vera demurred, offering assorted reasons until finally: "We cannot! They would think us so poor that we can't buy our own food."
Posted by: Jeanette | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 09:12 PM
Always a good topic, Kristin. I remember hearing of one person (could it have been on this blog) saying that she had asked for a doggy bag and when she got open she opened it and found it contained kitchen scraps for the dog! I like the term "sac emporter" so I might begin using it. The French do NOT always serve tiny portions. If you are eating at a relais or ordering some kind of comfort food like boeuf bourgogne the portions can be large because they assume you will share with others at the table. If I go to a brasserie for lunch and order a salad, they are frequently as large as the table. Because they can cost 10 euros or more I force myself to eat most of it and then feel horrible after. If they had sacs emporter, that salad could have also been dinner. There is one Italian restaurant that does dine-in or take out, so they always have containers to take food home. I frequent it often.
When my husband and I eat at expensive restaurants that end the meal with all kinds of sweets (truffles, petits-fours, etc.) I always shove them in my purse because we've had so many courses I can't stuff in another thing. For my next trip back to France I believe I'll dig out at least the smallest of my Tupperware and take it to dinner so I will have lunch for the next day.
Posted by: Julie Farrar | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 09:25 PM
Kristin, your post brought back so many wonderful memories. I'd brought my teenage son along on one of my first trips to France. He was a French honors student and had been there before with his school, so I thought I could count on his language skills. We planned to drive from Paris to Avignon, so I really needed his skills. I was barely beyond 'merci' and a smile to get by.
I forgot he was 15.
We had stopped in a little village to walk around and the kid spotted a pizza restaurant. I gave in, thinking he could live on the leftovers for a few days. At the end of our meal, I asked him to ask the waitress to box up the rest of the pizza. Unfortunately, the waitress was cute and my 15 year old was suddenly mute, leaving me to sort things out.
As my language skills were negligible, I proceeded to pantomime that I needed a box for the pizza. I pointed to the stack of boxes near the pizza oven, I pointed to the leftover pizza, I mimed the walking gesture with my two fingers, all the while nattering away in English and broken French that I wanted to take this food with me to the car. The waitress first looked perplexed and then burst out laughing. I looked at my son, who had turned several shades of red. "What? What did I say?"
With his head down he mumbled, "I think you just asked her to sit on the pizza in the middle of the street."
"Oh my God!" I gesticulated wildly. "No! No! Pardon! Excusez-moi!"
We had now exhausted my French. It was ok, though. Apparently extreme embarrassment translates well without words. As does graciousness. With a smile she returned with a box and packed up our leftovers. Since then, I try to do as the natives do. If I see that no one has asked to take leftovers home, I don't ask either. If I see others packing up leftover food, then I do too.
Posted by: Linda D. | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 09:46 PM
I've never asked for a doggy bag in France because I know it isn't "done." And to tell the truth, I've rarely been tempted, since portions in France are generally of a reasonable size, and I usually finish what's on my plate.
But my husband and I were traveling with some American cousins a few years ago. They wanted to save some leftover pizza. I told them about French attitudes towards doggy bags, but they insisted. (Who am I to insist they waste food? I thought. Besides, it may be interesting to see our waitress's reaction...)
Well, our previously pleasant waitress was shocked, SHOCKED at the request (which I had to make since I was the only person who spoke French). She saved the leftover pizza but glowered at us until we left. I was a bit amused at what felt like an overreaction.
And my cousins finished the pizza over the next couple of days. My only objection was that they were passing up a lot of fresher, more interesting food! But that was their choice.
Posted by: Chris | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 10:53 PM
Kristin, I see you posted that you might take your own container. This was what I was going to say. While here in Oz, doggy doo bags are OK, I sometimes take my own container, especially if I expect to have leftovers. I surreptitiously do the deed myself and it saves all the hassle.
Posted by: Debra | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 11:16 PM
I agree with other posters that I have paid for the food, it is my food, so I should be able to do with it as I wish, reasonably. I saw recently on a Brisbane restaurant's web page they don't do doggy doo bags for health reasons. So I would not go to this place or definitely take my own container. Often I prefer matured leftover pizza reheated over several days as the flavours are richer.
Posted by: Debra | Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 11:26 PM
Our dear Kristi,
Once again,this is a timely and very moving story.
Not only did you beautifully address the problem of uneaten food(without waste),but you so eloquently spoke of performing random acts of kindness before the term was even invented.
You have wrapped us in hugs!
Thank you!
Love
Natalie. Xo
Posted by: Natalia | Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at 02:33 AM
I hate asking for a doggy bag, it sounds ridiculous. I ask if I can have the leftovers boxed to take home.
Posted by: ellen | Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at 04:16 AM
This is such a lovely and touching story, (and am so glad you kept that man) I always feel bad asking for a doggy bag here in France, but if I think we, my dog or our neighbour's chickens and goats will eat what is left, I put aside my reticence and get one. I will think of this heart warming story next time I ask for one! Love Karen x
Posted by: karen wilson | Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at 07:45 AM
My goodness! Looks like you struck a cord here. :) As was mentioned, there have been stories in the news about asking for a sac à emporter certainly as the idea of food-wasting has really come to the fore as of late in France - including stories on the many folks (and not all SDFs) who are searching for food in the wastebins of restaurants and grocery stores.
It is a timely subject and one where attitudes are changing rapidly as food portions have gotten larger (at least from what I have seen in the past 13 years that I have lived in France).
Beautifully handled, Kristin and bravo for your two wonderful men...
Posted by: Heather in Arles | Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at 10:33 AM
Jeanne, the photo of Jean-Marc walking down the flower-decked stairs was taken in Sicily.
Trina, thanks for asking about Mom. She is doing great and will soon be back with us in France for a visit!
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at 04:20 PM
My all time favorite New Yorker cartoon was a scene in a Parisian restaurant with an overly obvious American couple sitting at a table and the waiter asking the Maitre d', "Que-ce que c'est - un sac de chien?"
Posted by: Preston Lawrence Pittman | Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at 05:02 PM
Kristin,
You certainly got people talking about " the doggy bag". I have noticed that many restaurants in the states ask if you would like to take your extra food home. Then they either bag it in font of you or in the kitchen (which I prefer,although once when it was bagged in the kitchen, I received food other than mine).
We have one restaurant in Connecticut which gives you enough food for at least three extra meals. We did not realize this when we went there. Many people had said what a good restaurant it is. Their appetizer is huge and could be a meal in itself. Then you get a huge plate of pasta, family style, which is larger than what my husband an I would normally eat and then we had the main course ( I stuck to the other names for the courses, so as not to confuse the French and English words for the different parts of the meal.) we had all of the pasta bagged to take home and a good portion of our main course. The amount of food was obscene. As we looked around the restaurnat most of the clientele were over weight.
I would rather go to a French restaurant where they give you smaller portions and you can then enjoy an entree, principle and dessert and savor all of the different flavors.
Kathleen
Posted by: Kathleen from Connecticut | Thursday, February 26, 2015 at 03:35 PM
I agree with Ellen. I hate the term "doggy bag"! The food is not for dogs. I request a take-out box if I wish to take leftovers home. In Chicago I often give the box to the homeless if it something like pizza or a portion I haven't touched.
Posted by: Janis | Thursday, February 26, 2015 at 09:52 PM
I disagree. I remember going to a pizza place on the waterfront in Canne. I suggested we just get 1 eggplant pizza to share since they were rather large, but my friend said in France you order an individual pizza and you don't take the leftovers. Sad to say there was way too much pizza leftover and I just felt it was such a waste. Portions at the other places I went to in France are not much smaller than similar US eateries. Also, eating pizza with a knife and fork, I'm sorry but that's not as enjoyable as eating with your hands. Kristin, bravo for marrying an independent thinking Frenchman!
Posted by: Ann | Friday, February 27, 2015 at 01:17 AM
To each, his or her own opinion and choice, Ann. I find eating pizza with a knife and fork much more enjoyable than eating it with my hands, because I hate having sticky hands, or ending up with tomato sauce, etc. on my face! When my family orders home-delivery pizza, my sons and husband eat it with their fingers, but get a knife and fork for me. :-)
Posted by: JenniferToo | Saturday, February 28, 2015 at 09:59 PM
Thanks for your delightful memory..
Where I live in CA, we are aiming for Zero-Waste-Stream by 2020.
I always bring my own Tupperware container to restos both to avoid throwing away a disposable container and to avoid having to ask for one. In France I felt frustrated not being able to take away wonderfully delicious dinner food when the alternative for lunch the next day in tourist areas was much inferior. I am glad this sensible custom is beginning to to be accepted as a possibility in France.
About 3 years ago, when going with a "mixed" group of American and French acquaintances to a lovely bistro, I asked the person next to me if I could possibly slip my yummy leftovers into my Tupperware. She told me it would be considered quite rude. She suggested that I pass my plate around the table and offer my leftovers to the others, which I did. I have to admit that it wouldn't have occurred to me to do that unless it were family. Sure enough, the plate went around the table, each person taking a few bites of food, until nothing was left!
Posted by: Aria | Tuesday, March 03, 2015 at 02:02 AM
I moved to Nice over a year ago, and have found a mix of portion sizes in the local restaurants, and the amount of food is difficult to gauge in advance. Two or three times, now, my husband and I have asked to take left-over food home, with no negative reactions.
The first time, we had been served enormous pizzas, and so we had leftover crusts and a good many untouched slices. When I asked for a doggie bag, the waiter looked at me dubiously. Feeling that I had been rude to suggest that the establishment's food was fit only for a dog, I explained that the crusts were for my pets and the pizza was for us. He broke into a big smile and wrapped up the leftovers in foil. We left a generous tip.
Generally, I don't feel embarrassed about asking to take home food that would otherwise be wasted. I think that a reluctance to do so is sometimes based on a notion of how members of a higher social class are "supposed" to behave. That said, I would never ask in a very formal restaurant or anywhere else where it might seem inappropriate.
Posted by: D. Morgan | Friday, April 03, 2015 at 09:38 AM
..."Doggy bags' are a useful and great invention, but "when in Rome, etc.."... I can never finish my meals here in the USA, and we always get a 'to go' box for the left-overs ( lunch the next day?). I have never, ever asked when in France or another Euro country. As for JM loving 'le nems'... OMG! Those are my favorite thing in the world to eat... with the lettuce wrap and mint and dipping sauce! The first thing we do when we go anywhere there are more then 2 restos is see if one of them is a Viet Namese!
I 'll bet he likes Pho as well.... me too. It is sad to think of all the wasted food each day and night when so many people go hungry in the world..... some right next door....some on the streets.
Judi Dunn, Tallahassee.
Posted by: Judith Dunn | Wednesday, June 14, 2017 at 05:57 PM
I agree wholeheartedly!
Posted by: Suzanne Codi | Wednesday, June 14, 2017 at 08:33 PM
So sorry to learn that the "doggy bags" story (most enjoyable) did not herald the use of bags to use to clean up after one's dog. In some otherwise beautiful squares and promenades, a pedestrian misses many enjoyable sights by having to constantly look down rather than around for an avoidable mess. Dommage! But the kind actions of your dear husband were most touching and serve as a reminder to all of us to share. May you now be blessed with the sale of your house and a most enjoyable vacation! - Janet
Posted by: Janet | Thursday, June 15, 2017 at 01:02 AM
Throwing food way offends my sense of frugality so I firmly believe it is acceptable to take leftovers home. However I have disliked that this practice requires that I use a disposable container - wasteful - which either goes into a landfill or is recycled. So I anticipate that I may need a take-home box and bring to the restaurant a small plastic container or a bento box. This avoids the need to involve restaurant staff in any way. I suppose that if it is considered tacky in France to save food, then I will have to do this in a sneaky way :-) My mother lived through a war during which food was scarce, so I am doomed, either by her example or through epigenetics, to be reluctant to waste food. I appreciate the resources that went into bringing the food to me - it wasn't simply grown, it was processed, transported, prepared, cooked, served, etc. using a great deal of fossil fuels. It feels like an insult to the universe to waste any of it, especially when there are people who have too little food.
Posted by: Eileen | Friday, June 16, 2017 at 07:36 PM