Fast food in France © Tim Lucas@flickr CC-BY
There are of course the American type fast food chains in France and even one along the Champs Elysée, although their well-known emblem is somewhat subdued compared to those in the rest of France and the world in general. However, for me the French have always had their own versions of fast food which is sold in their wonderful boulangeries, patisseries, cafés as well as restaurants that are dotted all over the country.
When I was a child and growing up in southern France, fast food meant Croque Monsieur or a baguette with lots of lovely fillings in it and I must say that when I visit Paris or any other part of the country, if I want a quick bite to eat during the day, then this is what I choose to have.
Further south, on the coast when we travel there, we always have pissaladière as a quick lunchtime snack. This wonderfully tasty French onion tart is absolutely delicious and you can buy it ready made from a shop or an outside vendor, then devour it as you walk along the cobbled stones of a town like Nice. Of course, in the lovely old part of the town there have always been the restaurants which sell a stylish fast French food called Socca. You have to eat this accompanied by a very cool glass of French lager so that you really savour the delights of this wonderful dish. I for one would never miss out on the opportunity of eating socca as my first choice of French fast food.
Socca © Paul Downey@flickr CC-BY
The French I think have not adapted to the concept of fast food as the rest of the world has done in recent decades. Even their hamburgers are a lot nicer to eat than the ones bought in other countries, and they serve beer in their chains of well-known hamburger fast food joints, which makes it that more enjoyable for those who enjoy eating hamburgers, for adults anyway.
In the towns and the cities there are the fabulous Chinese, Vietnamese and other Asian restaurants that all offer such lovely things to eat. So in a way the choice of fast foods in France is vast and very diverse, with the added bonus of the quality always being as good as it can get, after all the French have rather discerning palates when it comes to food and drink, so only the best will do.
Hamburgers French style © Frank Kovalchek@flickr CC-BY
There are times when ‘fast food’ definitely comes in handy and we all know that there are days when we just don’t have the time to sit down and enjoy a long meal. I believe the French have got it just right and always have. Their choice of fast foods is great. There could never be a day when a person visiting the country would be at a loss to find a quick snack at lunchtime, especially when they have a busy schedule visiting a particular town, city or region. Of course the best part about this is that each region has it’s very own type of fast food, which makes it that much more interesting.