Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Fast food consumption is soaring in the cradle of haute cuisine. Quelle
horreur!
French gastronomy is a culinary tradition that emphasizes seasonal,
regional diversity, typically in a multi-course meal, from butter-based
northern dishes to olive oil-forward southern cooking, with various kinds of
bread, pastry, cheese, and wine. First opened in 1972 in a suburb of Paris, the
fast-food giant McDonald’s has adapted to French tastes, as it does in other markets,
and now operates over 1,500 locations across the country. Generation Z, born
between 1996 and 2012, is the first true digital natives, who have grown up
fully immersed in technology, social media, and the Internet. They are big fans
of fast food and street food, and are feared to erode the fine French dining scene.
It is estimated that the annual revenues of commercial chain restaurants in
France have increased 30% from 2019 to 2023, and reached 24 billion dollars in
2024, showing an increase of one billion from the previous year. Sandwiches,
burgers, and pizza are the most popular take-out foods, but the hottest one is
Crousty, or Krousty. It is a viral French street food featuring crispy fried
chicken tenders served over white rice with creamy sweet-and-sour sauce with
additions like fried onions, chopped chives, and sesame seeds. It went viral on
TikTok and Instagram and is praised for its affordable pricing, often less than
10 euros, generous volume, and convenience. Even in France, the traditional knife-and-fork
dining culture seems to be shifting to a smartphone-and-fork/hand eating style.
What is today’s main dish, Beef Bourguignon or TikTok?
Read the article and learn about the changing dining culture in France.
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