Posted: 19 Nov 2014 - David Lebovitz
One of the things that France is
known for, and does very well, is the luxury business. Or, as it’s shortened
to, in French — le luxe.
It’s a world that I don’t often dip into. In fact, I’m usually on the other end
of the stick. When I worked in the restaurant business, I was always the one in
the back of the kitchen, stirring and baking away while everyone else was
having a fancy dinner. My idea of luxury in those days, was getting home at
2am, taking a shower, putting on a bathrobe, and eating a bag of tortilla chips
and salsa with my feet propped up on a cushion, while watching reruns of The
Love Boat – and not having anyone talk to me.
Higher up than tortilla chips, in
terms of price (and to some, in status) is Champagne, which is perhaps the most
obvious product associated with French luxury, and fortunately, it’s an
affordable one. I don’t sit around drinking it as much as I should, or would
like to. (Imagine how much crazier this blog would be if I was drinking
Champagne while writing it, rather than my usual trilogy of desktop snacks;
bread, cheese, and chocolate?) But I do drink it from time-to-time, and it’s
one of those things that in spite of globalization, the French still do best.
One can buy a bottle of it, starting
at around €20 or so in France, although prices go up from there, somewhat
steeply. Still, it’s something that’s within reach of most people and
interestingly, in the period starting in mid-November, through Christmas and
New Years, almost every wine shop and supermarket in France has amazing deals
on Champagne. I often stock up for the year! Come to think of it, I still have
some from last year that I should probably use up before restocking the larder.
(Who can resist a sale? Especially when it’s on Champagne…)
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