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Dec

Cultural Encounters on the Banks of the Seine

by Meredith Mullins on December 2, 2019

Les Bouquinistes
© Meredith Mullins

The Bouquinistes: Icons of Paris Culture

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night . . .

From this familiar and inspiring creed, you may think this story is going to be about a diligent U.S. postal carrier. Not so.

For this “Oh, I see” adventure, we travel to the banks of the Seine for cultural encounters with the riverside Paris booksellers—the bouquinistes (pronounced boo-kin-eests).

Through snow and rain . . .
© Meredith Mullins

This iconic community, like postal carriers, are dedicated to their job—in all seasons, in all kinds of weather. The bouquinistes have been officially authorized in Paris for more than 160 years. Read more...

Meredith Mullins 6 Comments

Cultural Encounters/France (Paris)

Nov

Do You Know Your Onions?

by Joyce McGreevy on November 26, 2019

Allium flowers reflect the surprising beauty of a staple of every world cuisine, onions. (Image by Sheila Brown, CCO Public Domain)

Take time to smell the . . . onions?
Sheila Brown CCO Public Domain

Crossing Cultures: Peeling the Layers of a Truly Global Food

Quick—what food is a staple of every global cuisine?

Wheat? Nope. Rice? Guess again. Uh, potatoes? B-z-z-z! Game over!

It’s the onion.

Piles of fresh onions, a food known for crossing cultures, showcase the appeal of this staple of global cuisine. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

Americans eat 22 lbs. of onions per person per year, placing 5th after Libya (66 lbs).
© Joyce McGreevy

It’s grown in over 175 countries—twice as many as wheat, according to United Nations estimates. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization lists China as the world’s largest producer of onions, followed by India, the United States, Turkey, and Pakistan. Read more...

Joyce McGreevy 6 Comments

Crossing Cultures/Proverbs & Sayings/The World's Chefs/Worldwide Sites

Nov

Cultural Diversity at Ground Control in Paris

by Meredith Mullins on November 18, 2019

Discovering the Flavors of the World

Traveling to Syria, Italy, West Africa, India, Taiwan, Denmark, China, Greece, Mexico, and the U.S. has never been easier. Especially if you’re hungry.

The Paris phenomenon, Ground Control, offers cultural diversity in a one-stop space, with an overarching mission of encouraging a free and curious spirit (libres et curieux) and an innate concern for the planet.

Meredith Mullins 4 Comments

Cultural Diversity/France (Paris)

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