Like many different countries and cultures, the French love to wine and dine. When I first graduated school and moved to France, what struck me was how important dinner was during a night out with friends. Even when our main plans were to go to a concert with friends or clubbing, the evening always started with a nice dinner together.
And, it's still the same 10 years later, minus the clubbing...
So, typically everybody is invited around 8:30. Most people do not show up before 8:45/9:00.
Dinner starts with a cocktail that lasts I would say 1 and a half to 2 hours. So you don't actually start dinner before 10:30ish. And you start with an 'entrée' (an appetizer), then the main course, then the cheese, then the dessert, then the coffee or tea for girls, then the 'digestif' (whiskey, etc.) with an occasional cigar.
What do you talk about for so long?
1. FOOD, FOOD, FOOD! Whether it's the beginning, the middle of dinner or desert, food is the main topic of conversation. The more you get into the meal, the more food comes up. Like, "I love this cheese! Where did you get this? Speaking of cheese, I just found a great cheese store in town...etc." And it goes on and on.
2. Politics - You're not really supposed to bring politics up at the dinner table, but it happens 75% of the time. And people get riled up. No hard feelings.
3. Sex - When having dinner with friends, sex comes up pretty much every time. Don't by shy.
4. Wine - not to be confused with food; these are two totally different topics.
So, hope this helps if you're going out to dinner in France tonight.
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