Spanish food is the greatest! Mmm, tapas. I would put Spanish food on a par with Italian as my favourite,
I lived in France for six months chopping wood in the Dordogne. I lived with an English family who were homebodies and I didn't really get the chance to eat at any restaurants, being unable to drive and in the countryside in winter and having no money (my work was in exchange for food and board). So regrettably I didn't get the chance to eat many French meals, the local towns within cycling distance being light on eating establishments. What I have had of French meals has been average, aside from escargots which are amazing.
BUT!
Nowhere, I mean nowhere, does bakery/pastries/cakes like the French do. Each town has a patisserie and a boulangerie and a chocolatier no matter how small. They're all independent, usually passed down in the family so there is a tradition there and a lot of care that goes into making them. Because they're all independent and not a chain (unlike Greggs in the UK) each one has a diverse range on offer.
And the cheese is to die for. No nicer cheese than Camembert!
So I agree that I don't see the big fuss about French haute cuisine but for pastries and cakes they really do excel,
Worst food I've eaten is Czech. I love the Czech Republic but the food there was so bland, even in the cities. We always joked that the reason they drink regularly at breakfast is to deal with the taste,
Ahh, I see from the blog, You'll know more than me on the subject then :) lucky you! I love Paris, had the chance to visit earlier this year to say goodbye to an American couple I'd met who were flying back to the States.
It rained heavily the whole time and I thought it was the most romantic thing in the world. Amazing city.
Good for you for deciding to move out there, that's a brave thing to do. Did you find work there before you moved? Always wanted to drop things and move to another country but I'm stuck with the language barrier.
The Italians taught the French how to cook. During the Renaissance, one of the Medici Ladies married the King of France. After a month of eating the horrible food at the French Court, she sent for her Chefs from Italy. They revolutionized "French Cuisine."