Looking in our kitchen window, Smokey says, "Ever seen those signs in French restaurants: "Nous acceptons les Tickets Restaurant?"
"Yes, Smokey dear, I've seen those stickers in the window–but you don't need a ticket to eat at this greasy spoon! Now take a seat and I'll be right out with your Croquettes du Jour!" (Photo taken after Friday's storm, which took down our bougainvillea. But it was a happy accident–it made such a pretty window frame!)
ticket restaurant (tee-kay reh-stor-ahn)
: meal voucher (offered to salaried employees)
Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc read the following Wikipedia definition (the English translation is found in the story column, below): Download Ticket MP3 or Wav file
C'est un support de paiement remis par l'employeur au salarié pour lui permettre d'acquitter tout ou partie du prix de son repas compris dans l'horaire de travail journalier. Il est en général utilisé pour le paiement d'un repas dans un restaurant, ou pour l'achat de nourriture dans un magasin. C'est un avantage social alternatif au restaurant d'entreprise.
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A Day in a FRENCH Life… by Kristin Espinasse
Food stamps are in the news. Whereas they were once given to children and the elderly, today working-age Americans are claiming the "nutritional aid."
Out in my vegetable patch I'm sifting through seeds and the latest infos–finding it hard to believe that, back home, things have come to this. When I left Arizona for France, in '92, people were throwing food in the dumpster. Now, some are dumpster diving!
For those who don't want to glean à la Agnès Varda, victory gardens are back in style–just as they were during WW1. People are changing out their front lawns for rows and rows of lettuce, beans, and tomatoes. Some of these kitchen gardens are as attractive as the former, manicured, jardins that they've replaced–in many cases even prettier….
Personal potagers–and, when not possible, community gardens–are definitely one answer to the food crisis. (And the act of pulling weeds and planting seeds is calming in these uncertain times.) But as I plant rows and rows of fava beans and mangetouts (amazed at how prolific and easy they are to grow) I think about those who do not have the time to enjoy food-giving soil….
When you work from home, it's easy to nip out and dig a 10 minute trench for radish seeds or spend 15 minutes filling a large bucket with dirt and potatoes (use one "mother" or sprouted potato and get a 1.5 pound yield!) not such an easy task when you work 20, sometimes 60 or more minutes from home (unless your boss will overlook a bucket of patates in your south-facing cubicle?).
That's when a light goes off: le ticket resto–France's genial meal-voucher! What better time than now to introduce this European invention, which began in post-war England!
"That's not government aide," Jean-Marc points out. Les tickets restos are an employee perk."
He's right, and Wikipedia goes on to say:
A meal voucher is a payment aide offered by an employer to the salaried worker, permitting him or her not to have to pay all or part of the price of a meal consumed during work hours. It is generally used to pay a restaurant tab or the purchase of food in a store. It's an alternative advantage to a company cafeteria.
Jean-Marc and Wikipedia may be right about that, but if more companies would offer the "perk," maybe more people would meet their daily nutritional requirements as well as get a hot meal–in some cases their only meal of the day.
The French may not have been throwing out food when I arrived in the early 90s (as a starry-eyed girlfriend to a French national), but they sure appeared cushioned from need. It seemed everyone could see the doctor–who still made house calls, for under $20–and most workers received meal tickets–whether they needed them or not. It was another one of those citizen's rights. (According to the popular food blog, Chocolate and Zucchini, French law requires businesses to provide a dining room for their employees. Where this is not possible they must offer tickets restaurants, so that an employee may eat in dignity and comfort (i.e. away from his or her desk).
I remember a colleague's outrage on learning that not all employees received the same advantage. We were sitting in a busy bistro, in Marseilles, the scent of roasted chicken and potatoes wafting through the air, carafes of wine on every table, dessert–meringues, tiramisus, crème caramels on the rolled out tray. "Que desirez-vous?" the waiter had asked.
My colleague ordered the same several-course meal as all the other "employed" patrons were ordering (from Chamber of Commerce teachers, like us, to what looked like a variety of workers)–and she didn't forget chocolate for dessert!
"Un fondant," she said, ordering the chocolate cake with the soft, melted interior.
Gosh that sounded good! But as a temporary worker (without the same meal ticket advantage) I opted for a cup of coffee.
To my surprise my colleague ordered a dessert for each of us and handed the waiter an extra ticket. "I'm a little hungry today," she said, batting her eyelashes.
Her gesture was thoughtful–and we would just see if the extra ticket would work. She wouldn't be the first to attempt to use the meal vouchers in a sneaky way–some even succeed in buying alcohol and cigarettes and other non-restaurant purchases (it is not unheard of for a supermarket to accept tickets restos as payment for milk and butter–and maybe the latest tabloid? and a pack of gum to go with it?! And how about those préservatifs next to the check out register? Little did French Enterprise know her employee perks were also helping to curb unwanted pregnancy!)
Yes, there are abuses of the system. But overall restaurant tickets seem like a great idea in this economy. What, dear reader, do you think about the meal voucher scheme? Can you see your company handing these out (or do you have a lunch room, making it a moot point)? Would it incite you to order the chocolate mousse? Or would it come in handy when you ran out of hairspray or M&Ms (or, and Smokey would like to add, croquettes)? And would your local mini-market tolerate the substitution?
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Two book events–in Paris. Hope to see you at one of them!
- My friend Robin is hosting a book signing for Ann Mah and me! (For those who participated in my bookcover vote, now you know which was chosen!) Robin has thoughtfully extended this invitation to French Word-A-Day readers and she encourages you to bring copies of Ann's and my own books if you already own them. As well, there will be books for sale. Owing to limited space, please contact Robin right away if you can make it to this book event. Her email is rmkatsaros@yahoo.com
- Also, Ann will be giving a book talk with Patricia Wells, on February 5th at the American Library, 7:30pm. The two authors will interview each other. I can't wait!
Note: I've had another big set-back in the production of the "First French Essais" book. The full-color photos I submitted (and carefully sub-titled) were too small for printing purposes! It's back to the drawing board as I toss those and go through 20,000 photos, looking for just the right ones to illustrate each chapter. And it just dawned on me that, because I tend to severely crop my pictures, I may have trouble finding photos of 300 dpi or higher!
Ever feel like giving up when you're this close? How do you find the motivation to pull through to the finish line? Comments welcome! Meantime, I'll have copies of Blossoming in Provence for this upcoming book signing….
First almond blossoms. Pop! pop! pop! and the tree will soon be bursting with pink petals…stealing the spotlight from the bright blue sky. (P.S. in case you were wondering, nope–this photo's too small too! At only 735 x 777 pixels it won't print to 6×9!) Rolling up sleeves….
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I believe the term “Victory Garden” refers to home and community vegetable gardens grown during WW2 in empty lots, backyards, any place some open land was available and such gardens are booming all over this country now, whether on roof tops, city lots, home gardens. I’m sure, also, that such gardens existed during WW1 but probably under some other name.
Keep the stories coming!
I believe the term “Victory Garden” refers to home and community vegetable gardens grown during WW2 in empty lots, backyards, any place some open land was available and such gardens are booming all over this country now, whether on roof tops, city lots, home gardens. I’m sure, also, that such gardens existed during WW1 but probably under some other name.
Keep the stories coming!
Hi Kristin,
About your photo issues I have a few thoughts.
Your originals are on your computer’s hard drive in a folder probably in a library. I have Windows operating system so my photos are in my My Picures library. They will be in folders by date by default.
I DON”t know how a MAC works but, it probably is similar.
Once you find your originals you can rework them.
Hopefully you did a Save As when you completed your edits/cropping leaving your original in tact.
To get a larger resolution/image there are softwAre programs to “upsize” images. One program I know of that gets really good reviews is Perfrect Resize by NIK. I have it but have never used it so can’t tell you how it works.
Regarding your computertaking double the space when you were shooting in RAW I suspect you have selected a setting on your computer or Picasa that saves/backs up every image when you upload them. I did that in my Photoshop settings and had many many duplicates to delete then I unchecked that box that asked to back up images. My computer has a back-up program that runs continuously so I didn’t need to have Photoshop do it too.
It’s something to check anyway.
HOPE THIS HELPS. YOUR PHOTOS ARE LOVELY AND WE WOULD MISS THEM IF NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR BOOKS!
Deborah
Hi Kristin,
About your photo issues I have a few thoughts.
Your originals are on your computer’s hard drive in a folder probably in a library. I have Windows operating system so my photos are in my My Picures library. They will be in folders by date by default.
I DON”t know how a MAC works but, it probably is similar.
Once you find your originals you can rework them.
Hopefully you did a Save As when you completed your edits/cropping leaving your original in tact.
To get a larger resolution/image there are softwAre programs to “upsize” images. One program I know of that gets really good reviews is Perfrect Resize by NIK. I have it but have never used it so can’t tell you how it works.
Regarding your computertaking double the space when you were shooting in RAW I suspect you have selected a setting on your computer or Picasa that saves/backs up every image when you upload them. I did that in my Photoshop settings and had many many duplicates to delete then I unchecked that box that asked to back up images. My computer has a back-up program that runs continuously so I didn’t need to have Photoshop do it too.
It’s something to check anyway.
HOPE THIS HELPS. YOUR PHOTOS ARE LOVELY AND WE WOULD MISS THEM IF NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR BOOKS!
Deborah
Deborah, thank you for your very helpful note. Each time I back away from this problem (and go and make soup, or go pet the dog, or …) a new spark illuminates a possible solution. It occured to me that those golden originals may well exist on my computer (behind the Picasa facade I use!). Your email gives hope! I will poke around some more and sleep on it if need be!
Leslie, I love the link you included to Grégoire Abrials project. It reminds me of my sister-in-law, Cécile, who works the same way (shes a reclaimed furniture designer. Now I understand what she does a little better. Heres a direct link to Grégoires page you mentioned:http://www.gregoire-abrial.net/projects/bright-friday/
Phil, thanks for the precision on the victory garden.
And thanks to all who have responded to this post, with helpful information and encouraging thoughts. Much appreciated!
.
Deborah, thank you for your very helpful note. Each time I back away from this problem (and go and make soup, or go pet the dog, or …) a new spark illuminates a possible solution. It occured to me that those golden originals may well exist on my computer (behind the Picasa facade I use!). Your email gives hope! I will poke around some more and sleep on it if need be!
Leslie, I love the link you included to Grégoire Abrials project. It reminds me of my sister-in-law, Cécile, who works the same way (shes a reclaimed furniture designer. Now I understand what she does a little better. Heres a direct link to Grégoires page you mentioned:http://www.gregoire-abrial.net/projects/bright-friday/
Phil, thanks for the precision on the victory garden.
And thanks to all who have responded to this post, with helpful information and encouraging thoughts. Much appreciated!
.
In November, of the first year we lived in France, a human resources employee came very huffy and puffy to my husband’s desk. She impressed upon my husband that he had not picked up any of his meal vouchers for the entire year. He was puzzled given that he was an executive and thought this was for hourly employees. Not to mention no one in HR had come to see him all year regarding these vouchers. She explained these were not free, that money had been taken out of his paycheck along with the company heavily subsidizing the vouchers.
We thought they had to be used by Dec 31st. With several hundred euros in vouchers we ate out every lunch and dinner until the day before Christmas. Only to find out that we could have had them extended in some manner into the first quarter of the next year.
It was a fun few weeks!
In November, of the first year we lived in France, a human resources employee came very huffy and puffy to my husband’s desk. She impressed upon my husband that he had not picked up any of his meal vouchers for the entire year. He was puzzled given that he was an executive and thought this was for hourly employees. Not to mention no one in HR had come to see him all year regarding these vouchers. She explained these were not free, that money had been taken out of his paycheck along with the company heavily subsidizing the vouchers.
We thought they had to be used by Dec 31st. With several hundred euros in vouchers we ate out every lunch and dinner until the day before Christmas. Only to find out that we could have had them extended in some manner into the first quarter of the next year.
It was a fun few weeks!
Kristin,
I like the cover of your new book, both the words and the picture. Good combo, tres cool.
How about posting the low-res photos you want to use in your new book, and have your readers make sketches of them, or maybe little paintings in the style you used on the cover of Words in a French Life?
I know there’s lots of talent and willingness to help out among your many readers.
Gordon
Kristin,
I like the cover of your new book, both the words and the picture. Good combo, tres cool.
How about posting the low-res photos you want to use in your new book, and have your readers make sketches of them, or maybe little paintings in the style you used on the cover of Words in a French Life?
I know there’s lots of talent and willingness to help out among your many readers.
Gordon
I haven’t commented in a while, though have read every FWAD I’ve received. I knew a new book was in the works. Is it for sale by now?
Re the tickets: this is a good idea, although if money is taken from people’s paychecks, it’s not as generous as it sounds. I guess it’s six of one and half a dozen of another – paying with a ticket, or directly.
I have never heard of such an arrangement in the USA. One place I worked provided lunch items (heavily tilted toward yogurt, tuna, etc.), but the main problem was that by the middle of the week, most of the food was gone. One could plan, say, to have a tuna sandwich for lunch, then find out all the tuna had been eaten. I also didn’t like spending my limited lunch-hour time having to make the lunch (without much of any side food, such as, say carrots or an apple)in a crowd of other people in the tiny kitchen.
In most urban areas, people don’t have room to grow their own food.
I usually buy food at the grocery store and brown-bag it. Meals, even just a sandwich and a drink, are usually $9 and up in the establishments near businesses – too expensive to eat in every day.
In America now, there is definitely a mood of not wanting to help people if it means spending government money. And it’s doubtful companies would subsidize meals if they won’t even give people real sick leave, raises, or much of any other benefit.
In many ways, the French know how to live well.
I haven’t commented in a while, though have read every FWAD I’ve received. I knew a new book was in the works. Is it for sale by now?
Re the tickets: this is a good idea, although if money is taken from people’s paychecks, it’s not as generous as it sounds. I guess it’s six of one and half a dozen of another – paying with a ticket, or directly.
I have never heard of such an arrangement in the USA. One place I worked provided lunch items (heavily tilted toward yogurt, tuna, etc.), but the main problem was that by the middle of the week, most of the food was gone. One could plan, say, to have a tuna sandwich for lunch, then find out all the tuna had been eaten. I also didn’t like spending my limited lunch-hour time having to make the lunch (without much of any side food, such as, say carrots or an apple)in a crowd of other people in the tiny kitchen.
In most urban areas, people don’t have room to grow their own food.
I usually buy food at the grocery store and brown-bag it. Meals, even just a sandwich and a drink, are usually $9 and up in the establishments near businesses – too expensive to eat in every day.
In America now, there is definitely a mood of not wanting to help people if it means spending government money. And it’s doubtful companies would subsidize meals if they won’t even give people real sick leave, raises, or much of any other benefit.
In many ways, the French know how to live well.
Kristin,
I was mistaken about who makes Perfect Resize. It is OnOne software, not NIK. Sorry!
Regards,
Deborah
Kristin,
I was mistaken about who makes Perfect Resize. It is OnOne software, not NIK. Sorry!
Regards,
Deborah
Congratulations on the book signing event! Don’t dwell on the
technology issues. This is a minor setback and technology is
always evolving. And thank you for pointing out the
cultural differences between our two countries. I have been
raised to believe that the French culture has always revered a
high quality of everyday life for all citizens. I am glad to see
that this is still true in France today. It seems like the American
palate still has a lot to learn from the French. Joanne, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA.
Congratulations on the book signing event! Don’t dwell on the
technology issues. This is a minor setback and technology is
always evolving. And thank you for pointing out the
cultural differences between our two countries. I have been
raised to believe that the French culture has always revered a
high quality of everyday life for all citizens. I am glad to see
that this is still true in France today. It seems like the American
palate still has a lot to learn from the French. Joanne, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA.
Interestingly, Luncheon Vouchers have virtually disappeared in the UK.
I think this is because the only places where you could redeem them would be “greasy spoons”
and that anywhere decent would think that to display the sign would lower the tone of the restaurant and attract undesirables ! So, basically in the UK you could only use an LV if you were prepared to eat lousy food. Shame on the Brits. The French have got this one right.
Interestingly, Luncheon Vouchers have virtually disappeared in the UK.
I think this is because the only places where you could redeem them would be “greasy spoons”
and that anywhere decent would think that to display the sign would lower the tone of the restaurant and attract undesirables ! So, basically in the UK you could only use an LV if you were prepared to eat lousy food. Shame on the Brits. The French have got this one right.
Hello, Kristin,
First I loved the photos today- especially the willow + sky. Then, what a surprise to hear that dining rooms for employees mandatory or distribution of these tickets. I absolutely love the idea because I think both employer and employee gain from this very nice consideration. My husband works for a company which used to provide some very nice perks, such as taking out the employees and spouses for dinner as a thank you for hard work on a project’s completion. Those days are long over now, and I believe it has really affected morale.
Joan in Auburn
Hello, Kristin,
First I loved the photos today- especially the willow + sky. Then, what a surprise to hear that dining rooms for employees mandatory or distribution of these tickets. I absolutely love the idea because I think both employer and employee gain from this very nice consideration. My husband works for a company which used to provide some very nice perks, such as taking out the employees and spouses for dinner as a thank you for hard work on a project’s completion. Those days are long over now, and I believe it has really affected morale.
Joan in Auburn
Kristin,
I really wish I could be there for your book signing with Ann! I met her at your Shakespeare & Co event. Ticket resto—-I would love gladly have traded my high school cafeteria “meals” for one of those!
Kristin,
I really wish I could be there for your book signing with Ann! I met her at your Shakespeare & Co event. Ticket resto—-I would love gladly have traded my high school cafeteria “meals” for one of those!
Not one sip. Remember: not one.
Not one sip. Remember: not one.
So wish I could be with you & Ann in Paris – maybe another time.
So wish I could be with you & Ann in Paris – maybe another time.
Our dear Kristi,
Though we can’t actually be there for your book signing,we will be(always are)there with you in spirit,sharing your well earned pride,and also your joy.Congratulations!
The FWAD family has been so fortunate to learn of so many new things through your blog:Southern Fried French,Bien Dire Magazine,countless books,music,and now Chocolate and Zucchini. These are bits of pleasure that otherwise we might never have known about.THANK YOU!
Tickets have been around for as long as I can remember.While I was privileged to grow up in Scottsdale,and never knew of either hunger or Tickets (though I remember my mom talking of her Victory Garden during WW2),
my husband grew up in Europe and though called by another name,this was a completely normal event.I believe that for many it was a major meal of the day.When I first saw beggars on the street I was appalled that people didn’t give them more;it’s only now that I realize it was because they didn’t have it to give.Thinking of all the hunger and suffering that present day is engulfed in,what comes to mind is to end it,and NOW.
Love
Natalia XO
Our dear Kristi,
Though we can’t actually be there for your book signing,we will be(always are)there with you in spirit,sharing your well earned pride,and also your joy.Congratulations!
The FWAD family has been so fortunate to learn of so many new things through your blog:Southern Fried French,Bien Dire Magazine,countless books,music,and now Chocolate and Zucchini. These are bits of pleasure that otherwise we might never have known about.THANK YOU!
Tickets have been around for as long as I can remember.While I was privileged to grow up in Scottsdale,and never knew of either hunger or Tickets (though I remember my mom talking of her Victory Garden during WW2),
my husband grew up in Europe and though called by another name,this was a completely normal event.I believe that for many it was a major meal of the day.When I first saw beggars on the street I was appalled that people didn’t give them more;it’s only now that I realize it was because they didn’t have it to give.Thinking of all the hunger and suffering that present day is engulfed in,what comes to mind is to end it,and NOW.
Love
Natalia XO
When I lived in Paris, tickets restaurants provided us with the only chance to eat out. We were poor.. 50 per cent of the cost was absorbed by the state. I love France. I never, ever, have had better medical care.
When I lived in Paris, tickets restaurants provided us with the only chance to eat out. We were poor.. 50 per cent of the cost was absorbed by the state. I love France. I never, ever, have had better medical care.
I have never been in an employee cafeteria in the US where the meals were paid by the employer. However good the food, the employee paid. This French idea sounds much better !
I wish you luck in figuring out where your photos are saved so you will likely have more that can be printed at the page size. Vertical versus horizontal, that is a big issue. The composition of the photo is your strong suit. Maybe the whole book should be in what I call “landscape” format, to match your mainly horizontal images.
I have never been in an employee cafeteria in the US where the meals were paid by the employer. However good the food, the employee paid. This French idea sounds much better !
I wish you luck in figuring out where your photos are saved so you will likely have more that can be printed at the page size. Vertical versus horizontal, that is a big issue. The composition of the photo is your strong suit. Maybe the whole book should be in what I call “landscape” format, to match your mainly horizontal images.
Best of luck with your new book. Looking forward to it being available through Amazon.
I don’t think the US will offer the restaurant tickets to employees plan in my lifetime. When there were “company stores” in some parts of the country, it was a bad system which benefited the employers more than the employees. The people worked in “company towns, which owned the housing, the stores, etc., and there was no free enterprise. The thinking now is pay the employees what is fair and right, but no “paternalism”. I worked for a few years at a company that had a cafeteria with good food but we had to pay for our food. It was nice in that we probably paid less than we would have at another food establishment, but when the company moved to a much larger building and had floors rented out in addition to company floors, the cafeteria was a commercial one and open to the public.
I can’t believe your almond tree is already budding. In sunny Florida it is cold and rainy today, but it’s still better than most of the country. Poor California, on the other had, is suffering badly from drought and Alaska is setting records for highs. Crazy Winter.
Best of luck with your new book. Looking forward to it being available through Amazon.
I don’t think the US will offer the restaurant tickets to employees plan in my lifetime. When there were “company stores” in some parts of the country, it was a bad system which benefited the employers more than the employees. The people worked in “company towns, which owned the housing, the stores, etc., and there was no free enterprise. The thinking now is pay the employees what is fair and right, but no “paternalism”. I worked for a few years at a company that had a cafeteria with good food but we had to pay for our food. It was nice in that we probably paid less than we would have at another food establishment, but when the company moved to a much larger building and had floors rented out in addition to company floors, the cafeteria was a commercial one and open to the public.
I can’t believe your almond tree is already budding. In sunny Florida it is cold and rainy today, but it’s still better than most of the country. Poor California, on the other had, is suffering badly from drought and Alaska is setting records for highs. Crazy Winter.
Victory gardens in the U.S.A. started in WWI. In England they were — and still are — called “allotments” (because the parcels of land were assigned or allotted to people). In England allotments came into official being in the 19th century with the first of a series of Acts of Parliament, though they had existed since the 18th century. A chunk of a green near my childhood home was turned over to allotments during WWII and continued after the end of the war because of the continuing food shortages. We children used to go “scrumping” on the allotments, which is simply a nice way of saying stealing! Young peas were a great favorite.
A friend of mine who has an allotment in London to which she is devoted tells me that eighties there was a resurgence of interest in allotments and now there are waiting lists for them in many places. She has a book describing the history of allotments that I flipped through with interest on my last visit.
Victory gardens in the U.S.A. started in WWI. In England they were — and still are — called “allotments” (because the parcels of land were assigned or allotted to people). In England allotments came into official being in the 19th century with the first of a series of Acts of Parliament, though they had existed since the 18th century. A chunk of a green near my childhood home was turned over to allotments during WWII and continued after the end of the war because of the continuing food shortages. We children used to go “scrumping” on the allotments, which is simply a nice way of saying stealing! Young peas were a great favorite.
A friend of mine who has an allotment in London to which she is devoted tells me that eighties there was a resurgence of interest in allotments and now there are waiting lists for them in many places. She has a book describing the history of allotments that I flipped through with interest on my last visit.
It sounds like a cool idea of a garden restaurant. In my previous Paris trip I enjoyed my food in Bistrotters Restaurant. I liked their food quality and service. It sounds like a great idea of dining with close to the nature.
It sounds like a cool idea of a garden restaurant. In my previous Paris trip I enjoyed my food in Bistrotters Restaurant. I liked their food quality and service. It sounds like a great idea of dining with close to the nature.