Letters: France is getting better at providing vegetarian options

To the Editor,

Having lived in France for 25 years, with a second home for more than 10 years before that, I agree with Anthony Harrison’s point that making France your home without being aware of what the country offers can lead to disappointment. 

And I am sure there are other unforeseen issues besides stale bread.

But that’s not the issue.

Things change – even culinary traditions are not static. 

Just as 50 years ago being vegetarian in the UK was difficult, many are now waking up to the health and environmental benefits of a plant-focused diet. 

All we are asking is that restaurants think beyond the meat-dominated menus and offer more veggie variation. 

I think they would be surprised by the number of new and happy customers.

Brian Plews, Lot

Read more: French winter warmer recipes – boeuf bourguignon 

To the Editor, 

I moved to France 20 years ago when restaurants offered little in the way of meat- and fish-free meals and schools served meat-heavy meals and did not accept children bringing in their own lunch boxes. 

Now, most restaurants will have vegetarian options and schools serve vegetarian meals at least once a week. 

With farming practises being more exposed to scrutiny and rejection of inhumane methods of factory farming and transport of live animals, more people have reduced their meat intake and choose quality, "cruelty-free" products or vegetarian/vegan ones. 

So commerce, from supermarkets to coffee shops, food to fashion, has responded by providing vegetarian/vegan choices. 

Culture changes when there is a great enough demand for it to do so.

Debbie Adams, by email

Read more: Comment – France's obsession with eating dead animals must end 

To the Editor, 

Twelve years ago, I innocently approached a helpful-looking assistant in a supermarché, brimming with confidence.

“Excuse me,” I inquired, “could you kindly point me towards the vegetarian chicken?”

Silence. Then, a sound erupted – a hearty, booming laugh. 

The assistant, doubled over, summoned another colleague, apparently eager to share the amusement. I, bewildered, repeated my question, at which point the laughter intensified. It was as if I had just announced there were unicorns grazing in the cereal aisle.

To this day, the mystery lingers. Was it the sheer absurdity of the concept – vegetarian chicken? A culinary oxymoron? Or perhaps it was my not-so-impeccable French pronunciation?

Perhaps it was the latter because a similar thing happened in a patisserie in Perpignan two years ago when I tried to purchase a tarte tartin. Whatever way I pronounced it, I was told by the English-speaking owner that I had asked for a prostitute!!

Michael Kinkead, by email

What are your experiences of finding vegetarian options in France? Let us know at letters@connexionfrance.com