Food in France?

[ChrisMouse]

Ok, I am the mother to a very unusual 7 year old boy, who is OBSESSED with France. He spends hours drawing the Eiffel Tower & the French flag...and constantly asks me to take him to a bakery to buy an eclair (something he learned about by way of a Ratatouille Leapster game!)

Can someone tell me the food/entertainment/souvenir options in France at Epcot since we've never been there? What can my son experience as a pint-sized Francophile? Anything special?

Thanks!

Chris

 

[LowesChevy]

There is nothing wrong with that-I am a classically trained chef,so I love France also. I loved Ratatouille because of its realistic insight into the world of cooking.

Not sure so much if he would enjoy the restaurants Le Chefs De France or Bistro de Paris as much as the bakery Boulangerie Patisserie located in the pavillion. The bakery offers traditional French items like eclairs, tarts, pastries, and some sandwiches. It is enjoyable to walk through the glass filled cases of treats and pick some to try, then grab a table inside the store or outside.

The larger gift shop with souvenirs has books, keychains, postcards and many knicknacks to choose from.

The Impressions de France movie is the attraction here-it is about 20 minutes and shows you scenes of the country side, the history and famous landmarks in France.

The WS entertainment that I have scene are the chair balancers-they are pretty cool. They stack up like 15 chairs and balance on them in a dramatic fashion.

 

[TxMickeyLover]

The WS entertainment that I have scene are the chair balancers-they are pretty cool. They stack up like 15 chairs and balance on them in a dramatic fashion.

We saw these guys too. It was a very neat show.

 

[Booyakasha]

Definitely do the movie. It is like a scaled back version of Soarin but over France. Go to the bakery and have a meal in the restaurant. It is as close to being in France as you can get. Try and talk to the people working any of the places there, if you find one that is willing to talk I think your son would really enjoy it. Sometimes it is hard but if you get the right CM it will make your son's night.

P.S. The chocolate eclairs are to die for.

Have fun, take your time and enjoy.

B.

 

[JodyLynC]

We love the cream puffs!! A trip to Epcot is not complete for us without it.

 

[ChrisMouse]

This all sounds terrific! My son will be in heaven. I'll be the only mom of a 7 year old begging..."Please, can we leave World Showcase and go ride Soarin' now, PLEASE???"

When I told him about the movie & eclairs, etc. he was so excited! He's earning Disney Dollars for good behaviors, high grades, and whatnot right now...I'm sure he'll earmark some for treats in France!

Thanks for all of the responses!

Chris

 

[blueangel]

Be sure to walk around the pavilion a bit. They've done a lot of work on theming in this area. Walk down toward the International Gateway (go straight and off to the right after you pass the UK) to get a great view of the "riverbank" and the Eiffel Tower. Also, go into the more adult shops on the other side to see the Beauty and the Beast stained glass window.

Fun fact: The Epcot tower is a different color than the real one because of aging. The tower in France has oxidized over the years, turning it from brownish to greenish. The Disney one is meant to be the tower soon after it was built.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

The bakery is a great idea, but don't dismiss the cafe either.

You could have a light lunch in there. They have a nice charcuterie platter, and a pretty decent salade nicoise. You could share them, and your son would be having a pretty authentic French lunch.

In the larger shop the CMs there have more time (usually) to visit, so be sure to take him there if only to chat with the CMs.

Teach him a few basic phrases in French and he will win their hearts!

"Je m'appelle _______" (My name is_______________) Il fait beau, n'est pas? (Nice weather, yes?). Things like that.

 

[scojos]

BOnjour!
I am married to a French Head Chef, so if you would like any recipes PM me!
Its great your son is so interested in France, my boys (10 and 8 now) are french, have french passports and do not speak a word of the language!!
yes, we try all the time, the understand it fluently, I love it when we go to France and people talk to them, they understand everything, yet reply in English!!
i hope 1 day they will be as interested in their culture as your son is, try and cook some basic dishes with him, a galette is a fun dish baked for ephinany in January, or you could bake a creme brulee or hache parmentier, google them, French food is not all fancy, basic food is good, tasty cheap food.
Enjoy
Tracy
p.s. Sorry to have rambled!!

 

[Harambe]

I LOVE "Impressions of France". It is like Soarin' but the music is wonderful as well. Before you go into the movie, go to the right and peek into the room across from the perfume shop. Sometimes Beaty and the Beast (the story is set in France, n'est pas?) are here for autographs and pictures. That Beast is huge!!!!

I like to grab something from the French bakery at the end of the evening, and bring it back to our room to have for breakfast.

Adios! Oh, wait a minute . . .

 

[ChrisMouse]

Thanks so much everyone. My son is going to love this!

Tracy--you are so lucky being married to a French chef! Of course, maybe he does not cook at home since he has to at work?

I will take your advice and so some research so I can make some French recipes with my son Josh. He would really love that!

Thanks for all of the ideas everyone! I can't wait until my trip now. 91 more days!!

 

[FirstMagic]

Don't forget about the Kidcot Fun Stop at France where the Cast Members help your children make a little souvenir to draw and color. They'll probably have the most time to talk to your son about his interest in France. The Kidcot stop (at least in 09/2007) was in the store that the movie exits into, or you just go up the little "street" past the bakery to it.

The shop usually sells some little Eiffel Tower replicas, if you don't already have one.

It seems the CM who is the "door host" at the entrance to the movie often will chat a bit, especially right before they go in to start the show. Last time we were there one family near the front jokingly told their son to "Drop and give them 5" (pushups), so the CM said "Would you like to see how we do them in the French Army?" and proceeded to do pushups where he clapped his hands between pushups and I think he did some one-handed ones too. We were all clapping and cheering for him! He did take some time to talk to that family and their son.

The bakery can rack up some long lines, but they do move quickly, and I'm sure a nice "Bonjour!" and "Merci" to the lovely people working there wouldn't go unnoticed. The only problem there is deciding just which beautiful pastry to sample.

I love your avatar of the cat with the mouse ears.

 

[Kae]

My kids love the whole France Pavillion. And Chefs de FRance is their favortie Epcot place to eat.

Kae

 

[jennib5426]

I really enjoy Chefs de France for lunch, we go every year.
Great french bread rolls, the best french onion soup I have ever had and they have quiche on the lunch menu, which we love.

I recommend the lunch menu over the dinner menu and if you get a seat by the windows you can people watch and watch any street entertainment going on like the chair stackers.

Don't forget to get an adult Grand Marnie orange slush at the wine booth, yummy!!!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Buy him a DVD copy of Dear Bridgette.
(James Stewart, Fabian, Glynis Johns, 1965)