[Leica] French Café Women

[imra at iol.ie (Douglas Barry)]

"Kevin Argue" <kargue at sympatico.ca>
>>>>>>>
Just got caught up on looking at photos. Nice photo
with the Rolleilex except
for one thing, McDonald's in the background. What a way to ruin a
french slice of daily
knife.
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/DouglasBray/cafewomen_bord06.jpg.html
<<<<<<<

Thanks Kevin, I'd like to say that was an ironic comment on the 
pervasiveness of US cultural imperialism in the form of the McDonalds arches 
undermining European architecture - and in particular the dix huitieme 
siecle architecture of Bordeaux, while, at the same time, sabotaging 
European culinary identities and subsuming them under a monolith of burger 
blandness, but that would be wrong. I happened to have the camera on the 
table, saw the elegant women, and took the moment of discussion in the 
moment!

Of course, while I might inadvertantly include a McDonalds in a photograph, 
I would not visit a McDonalds in Bordeaux or anywhere in France as the 
French culinary tradition has given the French - and those lucky enough to 
visit there - a dazzling array of good restaurants, some of which I have 
been eating in over the last few days in Saint-Emilion near Bordeaux. I 
strongly recommend Hostellerie de Plaisance with its wonderful chef Philippe 
Etchebest. Dined there yesterday (Sat) and it was glorious twist and turn 
through some sensational flavours over nine courses. His Mandarine en trompe 
l'oeil, salade d'agrumes ?pic?e, creme brul?e citron was one of those oh ah 
moments. The man's a culinary genius. Mind you I was in a good mood after 
visits to Ch. Figeac, Pavie, Cheval Blanc, and La Conseillante over the 
previous days, so my judgement may have been impaired...... :-)

Back in Ireland for the past few hours, and going on the way we ate in 
France, I'll be able to live on my hump for a few weeks. I'll probably have 
to in order to bring my cholesterol levels down!

Douglas
_________
Douglas Barry
Bray, Co. Wicklow
Republic of Ireland