Previous

Next

What I Learned From French Women

By Rebecca Taras

I just returned from a glorious trip in the land of wine, bread, chocolate and cheese! In the weeks ahead, I will share tales from my personalized market tour, to how my red lipstick scored me a date at Café Marly. My endless fascination with the French culture goes beyond month long vacations and three hour lunches. Upon every visit, I feel a sense of peace and contentment – even more so than a day at the spa. I like to think of Paris as my second home, except this home opens my mind in a way that my native land cannot.

Observations and facts about French women and the French lifestyle:

* Bread: I cannot say it any simpler. Not no carb, low carb, or in the form of something that tastes like your shoe and the Croque Monsieur sandwich was not two pieces of lettuce dipped in eggs surrounding the cheese.
* Up and down a set of Metro stairs, or on the way to work, these ladies know how to hustle. I don’t think the pep in their step is due to being rushed necessarily. The average French adult gets 30 to 60 minutes of activity a day, whereas fewer than half of all Americans get the 30 minutes of exercise each day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
* Wine. Ahh, yes. I feel as though this trip was a perpetual tasting! The normal French way of life, however, finds it acceptable to have a glass of wine not only with dinner, but with lunch as well. A glass of red is known to be good for the ol’ ticker, as well as copious amounts of antioxidants. How would that be as the beverage choice at Subway?
* The food was not just “real good,” but it was real! While processed foods have slowly crept into the supermarkets, this is simply to keep up with the sign of the times. Most still prefer the market minus the super for quality food that will keep your tummy satisfied.
* You may find smaller portions, but the focus is on taste, texture and smell. Quality not quantity.
* Crazy diet rules? Forget them! I dined on steak frites at midnight, only after waiting in line to get in for a half-hour!

Below are two local favorites of mine for some good bistro fare. Both are also great alternatives to the line at the pancake house for a leisurely Sunday brunch. After all, leisure over a meal is what the French do best!

Bistrot Margot
Unlike the environment of a traditional bistro, Margot takes the lighting down a notch, which makes the beautiful Art Nouveau décor all the more alluring. Traditional still is the over-stuffed seating arrangements, for which they expanded into an upstairs bar and dining area. More likely than not, you will hear the tinkle of bistro style jazz in the background to complete the ambiance. Go for a steaming crock of cheesy French Onion Soup.
1437 N. Wells St.
312-587-3660

Bistro Zinc
I love Bistro Zinc, so much that I will even go in for a glass of the delicious $7 glass of champagne they have on their menu, while perched on a stool at their (of course) Zinc style bar. Delicious salad nicoise and  steak frites. Zinc is a breath of fresh (or shall I say “French”) air to the Italian Rush Street alternatives.
1131 N. State St.
312-337-1131
A Chicago resident, Rebecca Taras is a licensed esthetician and creator of Cleansing Queen Bath and Body Care, which was well-received by both local and national press. She was recognized by the Chicago Fashion Foundation in 2004 by receiving the “Style Makers and Rule Breakers” award in the beauty category. Her passion for travel and wellness grew into Terminal Getaway airport spa, web apothecary and specialized hotel amenity concept, which she co-founded and serves as Vice President of Sales, Marketing and
Product Development.

Comments