The Common Breakfast Myth Tourists Should Forget When Eating In France

Anyone who has watched "Chocolat," "Julie & Julia," or "Ratatouille" knows how seriously the French take their food. In France, eating is far more than just a necessity and much more important than a leisure activity. Food is a way of life (and almost a religion) for most French people, so it is hardly surprising that you can easily find a foodie heaven in Paris or any other popular tourist location. The croissant is an icon of French baking and breakfast culture, something that transcends mere pastry and has become ubiquitous across the world as a buttery, crumbly, delicious way to start the day. It is also one of the most recognizably French food items, a totem of their love of eating well. But despite their fame, croissants are not a regular part of most French people's breakfast!

Any trip to France will be a whirlwind of baguettes, cheese, wine, and garlic. Travelers looking to live a real-life "Emily in Paris" fantasy inevitably gorge themselves on the best items that French eating spots have to offer, and given how common pastries, croissants, and danishes are in breakfast buffets around the world, it is no surprise that most tourists head to the boulangerie for a croissant to start their day of sightseeing. But you might be surprised to learn that the common preconception of French people starting their day with a croissant turns out to be just a myth.

Lunch and dinner in France can be extravagant affairs, with multiple courses, rich sauces, and delicious desserts all washed down with incredible wine. Breakfast, on the other hand, is a surprisingly simple meal for most French people. Probably the most important part of breakfast for the French is the coffee. In fact, many people will survive on coffee alone!

The most common breakfast dish in France is something called a tartine, which is essentially a fancy word for a slice of toast and jam! Officially, a tartine is any kind of open-faced sandwich, rather like an Italian bruschetta. So, when it comes to breakfast, this means a baguette that is sliced in half and toasted, with butter and some sort of spread on top. While this might sound relatively basic, French bread is a revelation — lighter and fluffier than back in the U.S. — and makes even the simplest of meals a delight.

French breakfasts are usually far sweeter and smaller than breakfasts in other countries. In some areas, you might see some cold meat, salami, or sliced cheese on the menu, particularly near the border of Germany, but things like bacon, sausage, and eggs just aren't common. Similarly, eating out for breakfast isn't a particularly popular pastime (although brunch has become more commonplace in recent years), so you won't find big, American-style breakfast menus in local cafes.

Although croissants might not be as huge a part of breakfast in France as often portrayed in movies and TV series, that doesn't mean that they aren't eaten at all! Viennoiseries are a huge part of a classic French breakfast but are usually saved for weekends. The exception would be if you are running late and just need to grab something quick from a bakery on the way to work.

Viennoiserie covers all French pastries and translates as "from Vienna," as this was where the original recipes came from. On the breakfast menu, viennoiseries might mean a pain au raisin (a raisin danish), a pain au chocolat (a style of croissant filled with chocolate), or a palmier (a flaky, sugary pastry shaped like a heart or an elephant's ear). It will also almost certainly mean a croissant, freshly baked, and eaten on its own or with fresh butter. Croissants are also baked daily in almost every French boulangerie you come across, so if you are in the mood for a hit of that flaky, buttery pastry, then you don't have to worry (just avoid grabbing them from a restaurant). No one will think it weird or unusual if you choose to start your day with a croissant, a pain au chocolat, or a pain au raisins, but if you want to emulate the French style, then you might want to save them for the weekend.