Bowl O' Beans

We'd only been in France for two weeks when we were invited by my aunt and uncle to go stay in a gîte in the beautiful village of Lagrasse. We were excited because it would be our first excursion out of town.

We were given our own room downstairs where it was very quiet and cozy, and we slept like babies. What I mean to say is, we'd slept in! We never heard the noises of people getting up and around, starting the morning brew, clanking dishes while setting the breakfast table.
After waking, we proceeded up the stairs to check out the breakfast possibilities. Everyone was already seated and in the process of le petit déjeuner when I noticed that every person was drinking from cereal bowls. I felt like something was amiss and I seriously thought they were playing a joke on us.

My face must have said it all because just then, my French aunt said, "Ooh, you must be shocked to see us drinking from bowls. We forgot to tell you that French people drink coffee and hot chocolate from bowls like this."


I must have had a look of disbelief on my face, for I have never seen anyone at my aunt and uncle's house drinking like that! She went on to explain, "Your uncle has Americanized me! That is why we drink coffee from mugs at our house. But I assure you, French people usually drink their morning coffee from bowls like this. Do you want to try?"

I like to experience other cultures, so I tried it. It was a bit strange at first but I liked the feeling of cradling this bol and letting it warm my hands and face as I sipped. But the downfall was that my coffee got cold way too fast.

So why do they drink their A.M. hot beverage like this? Well, as it was explained to me, it's so you can have enough room to dip your croissant or chocolatine into.

Since I don't like wet bread, nor do I like lukewarm coffee, I'll stick with the good ol' American coffee cup.

But I still think it's very cool!

(Top photo: Happy-face coffee bowls I purchased in Toulouse...I have the matching cups too!)