Flying The Flag

I've seen several French flags over the last few days.  This one is wonderful. It is on a beach house on The Strand in Hermosa Beach, CA. 

The American flag is on the right (hard to see) and the French flag is on the left.  It makes me feel proud that Americans are showing their solidarity with France.  We all need to stick together at this time. 

I Don't Think The Pilgrims Were Gluten Free

I haven't been in the US for Thanksgiving since 2007.  Celebrating Thanksgiving in Paris is a combination of difficult and easy.   Ingredients like cranberries are becoming easier to find in local markets.   I used to go to the store called "Thanksgiving" in the Marais with my cart and stock up on cranberries, stuffing mix, pumpkin and evaporated milk every year.   It was a wonderful ritual. I ordered the turkey weeks in advance from the butcher and I always got a very nice, small "fermier" turkey. 

The beauty of Thanksgiving celebrated in Paris is that no one else is celebrating so the stores aren't crowded and everyone goes about their business on the day after Thanksgiving.  No Black Friday madness, it's just another day. 

This year I've already ordered the turkey from Bristol Farms.  It will be excellent but it won't be "fermier" even if I get one that is free-range, organic, and ate only GMO free food.  It will still have the fat body of an American turkey.  I will have to start planning my shopping around the holiday, leaving enough time and energy to get everything done. 

In Paris, I don't have to worry about the parking lot being full, there is no parking lot.  But in the US, everyone comes out at once and the lots are full.  My brain switches immediately to US standards as soon as I pass through US immigration and I strive to park in the closest parking spot possible.  No walking to and from the car for me when it is possible to park close to the store.

Two things are different here in the US.  I was in the gym yesterday when the well-meaning trainer was giving a lecture on not indulging during the holidays.  Not very French of him.   In France, people live for the holiday meals and relish them.  They can make up for it tomorrow (or yesterday) but the feast is to be savored.  I am in agreement with this and I will enjoy the traditional foods that we eat only once or twice a year.  The other thing that's different here is "gluten free".  In France, I'm starting to see some packages of food with starbursts saying "sans gluten" in the stores.   You would never hear someone talking about eating gluten free or requesting a gluten free meal.  It doesn't exist. 

Thanksgiving is laden with gluten.  Not sure if wheat was even a grain that was around during the first year in the New World.  Corn was around.  Is corn gluten free?  I'm not sure. 

French people love stuffed food. It's called "farce" and anything from meat and poultry to veggies are stuffed with a variety of ingredients.  A stuffed turkey is a once a year pleasure.  Yes, the stuffing is gluten-laden.  I can't even imagine what stuffing would be like without bread as a base.  And, I guess you can make gravy with something other than flour but I am not sure I could figure it out and perfect it in time for Thanksgiving.   People that are gluten free can avoid the gravy.  What about the pies?  Laden with gluten.

So, we've strayed from whatever the Pilgrims really ate during their first Thanksgiving but we have our traditions.  I will enjoy the holiday in the US.