Differences France/Russia (Part 1)

Obvious differences between France and Russia
Consumption

a/ Hospitality and food quality

Europe and Russia have a totally different notion of hospitality. Here, if a person says: “I’m coming to your house tonight,” some tea and some food will be waiting for you.

If not, it might be a sign that the person doesn’t have time, the mood or the wish to receive you – but it is rare, I’ve personally never been confronted to such a situation yet.

The other big difference I noticed (I’m not French for nothing) is about the food. Of course it’s evolving - especially in the Russian capitals, which are taking example from us, but in Europe, apart from expensive pseudo biological food, it is more difficult to find good quality products. Here, you can easily find homemade milk products, marmalade, vegetables, fruits, berries, bread, eggs and meat.

The knowledge that Russian people have about nature and foodstuffs is also remarkable. It undoubtably comes from the older generation who lived during hard times (revolutions, wars) and didn’t have good products or medicine. As a result, most people know many things about botany and how to gather vitamins looking forward a long cold winter. And I learn a bit more every day! What to do after big drinking parties? One way not to be sick is to eat a traditional soup based on fish – a tradition for January 1st! Another way is to drink “rasol” - the water of salty cucumbers; they are usually homemade, and in every Russian home.

b/ Eating habits

In France, the variety of products, the decoration of the plate and of the table, as well as a nice atmosphere are as essential as to take pleasure discussing with guests. In Russia, a table full of various plates is also perceptible, but the difference is in the assortment of food: almost everywhere in Russia, you can find the same cooking, whereas in France, it can radically diverge from a region to another.

And unlike us, the Russians eat more as a necessity, than with pleasure.

French people cook for a long time, but offer a few dishes, whereas Russians don’t cook so much complicated things, but offer a lot more different dishes. Furthermore, everything is right away put on a Russian table - except for sweet things that come at the end with tea; in France, there’s a cult and tradition about which dish should be offered first and then the rest.

In France, it is impolite to answer the phone while eating, or to stand up other than to help in the kitchen or to go to the bathroom. In Russia, it is not rare to see the TV on with guests, while hosts are busy with their personal matters.

In France, dinner is almost “holy”: it is a social time for the family members to gather, share food and talk about their day. Here, people from a family rarely eat all together.

Finally, I rarely saw Russians eating in public places, or eating while walking. I guess it is a question of modesty and hygiene, as Russians are according to me very clean for the majority, almost obsessed by it.