Entertaining Appetizer - Pomme De Terre, Patate and Parmentier

When you're learning to speak French Usually you are Told That Is a potato a "potato" - which translate as Literally apple of the ground. When you go to the Market Though, it's Much More common to ask for "sweet". It's just another one of Those Things That learning French in France Gives You - the language that's in use Every Day Rather Than the language of books and CDs. It's little nuances giving further That You really can not pick up Any Other Way.

Dishes with mashed potato - what we know of in the UK have shepherd's or cottage pie - are Called "pie". Quite Often thesis are a mix of beef and chunks of thin pork sausage, WHICH IS unusual combination year if you're Used To The aim Français dish quite nice. It's Not Refined French food, then this is a dish Peasant as It Was in the UK. The Most interesting thing about "pie" Though Is The tale about how it got it's name.

It Seems back in the 16th century the French would not eat potatoes. As far as They Were Concerned, Were potatoes for pigs, quite Literally. The French government banned Even The Growing of potatoes in 1748, believing THEY Caused Leprosy!

Despite the Fact That the Peasants Were starving, and despite eating em Every Country Around Them, the French just Would not Have It - until Mr. Parmentier cam is the stage.

To cut a long story short, Parmentier, year army pharmacist at the time, Was captured in the seven years war by the Russians. While a prisoner He Was Fed potatoes and saw others eating 'em with no ill effects. He Became convinced of Their Benefits and Loved it return to France to try Began to spread the word about how good the humble potato could "Be" for "people.

Still There was great resistance. No matter how poor, celebrities Still Thought 'em or poisonous pig-food. So Parmentier hatched a plan. Heb planted a large field of potatoes and the HAD Guarded by soldiers day and night. Of course human nature Being What It Is, the Peasants Thought That If It Was Guarded, It Must Be Valuable - So They bribed the guards Stole the Gold potatoes and ate 'em Themselves!

After That, dishes with potato (mashed Usually) Were Called "pie".

The Truth Might Be a bit less romantic, and It Was Probably famine Which finally broke French people's resistance, goal Parmentier DID Spend years and years working with ALP of society getting Loved your message across and ET DID plant substantial areas "of Land For That Purpose. Anyway, why let the facts ruin Such a great story? Next time you're HAVING your potatoes, gold potatoes, remember Mr. Parmentier!