In most Christian countries, Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus, to more or lesser degrees. In consumer-driven countries, much of Jesus’ birthday is lost as people scurry around looking for the perfect Christmas gifts.
David Downie thinks Christmas in Paris is focused mostly on food, and just a little on Jesus. The more foie gras, smoked salmon, champagne, and everything else rich under the sun you can slide down your gullet, the better. It’s about good food, but also about excess. It’s about dressing up all pretty and going from one meal or party to another. It’s about having a crise de foie or “liver attack”, as the French call it, after the holidays.
Read David Downie’s take on it.
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David Downie is a native San Franciscan who moved to Paris and now divides his time between France and Italy. His travel, food and arts features appear in magazines and newspapers worldwide His last book, Paris, Paris: Journey into the City of Light, was reprinted in April to rave reviews. He is the author of many nonfiction books and two thrillers, most recently Paris City of Light. His books include Enchanted Liguria: A Celebration of the Culture, Lifestyle and Food of the Italian Riviera; Cooking the Roman Way: Authentic Recipes from the Home Cooks and Trattorias of Rome; The Irreverent Guide to Amsterdam; and Paris, Paris: Journey into the City of Light, a book of travel essays. Downie’s latest food-related books are Food Wine The Italian Riviera & Genoa and Food Wine Rome, and Food Wine Burgundy in the Terroir Guides series published by The Little Bookroom.
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