Does Size Really Matter?

America is truly the Land of Plenty. Plenty of space, plenty of money, plenty of stuff. And Americans take so much for granted - I know I did until I moved to romantic France and reality set in. The reality of tiny apartments, many not any bigger than 10x12 all inclusive. The reality of no closets, no cupboards, no bathtubs, just tiny shower stalls smaller than most Americans would have in their motor homes. And the kitchens? Oh la la! With the cost per square meter at an all time high for real estate in Paris, the kitchen suffers. To find a flat with 1 1/2 meters of uninterrupted counter space is like a dream come true - for me gone are the days of cooking with every bowl, pot, and spoon in the house and spreading out. Of course, the upside is the fresh factor. With little room for large refrigerators and pantry's crammed with junk food loaded with preservatives,* one shops more often. Almost every arrondissment has it's thrice weekly Farmer's Market, and of course bread is a daily event at your favorite boulangerie. Sometimes I see ads for apartments that include a "cuisine americaine"; that is a bar counter (usually about 3 feet long) that divides the kitchen from the main room in a studio apartment. Apparently a revolutionary idea! Most important however, is what one prepares in the french kitchen. Gastronomy being elevated to an intellectual art form here (ironically there are zillions of bad restaurants), still every culture has it's preferences and France is no different. The essentials in every french pantry are; tea, café, chocolat, and biscuits (cookies). No cupboard would be complete without an ancient tin of sardines, and of course wine is a must have! For the frigo it's frommage, (cheese) yogurt, jambon, (ham) eggs, butter, and smoked salmon. Throw in a fresh baguette and with these ingredients in stock, you have everything you need for a snack. If you are really clever a saucisson seche (dried sausage) is in your arsenal, as the french are particularly fond of this and will respect you for having it on offer. And after all, it takes very little space to slice a pepperoni! *(a "preserveratif" is the french word for condom, so my french friends will certainly be thrown into a state of confusion upon reading this LOL!)