Comments on: ON THE ROAD AGAIN, AND HUNGRY FOR FRANCE: Creating a Guide to Great Roadside Eats

By: Alexander Lobrano

Alexander Lobrano — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 18:25:25 +0000

Thanks for the good advice, Milt. France's secondary roads are indeed prettier, cheaper and do lead to great food, but for the time-pressed, I'm still befuddled by the rotten food in autoroute rest stops and hope readers will find the easy-off-the-road-and-back-on-again list of addresses I'm planning useful. Best, Alec

By: pop milt

pop milt — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:25:19 +0000

From 2001 until 2009 , I traveled around France, Germany, Austria ,and Holland in a vw camping car,from one tennis tournament to another. In France I stayed off the autoroutes , because of the tolls. I took the secondary roads. I would stop at the relais des routiers. These truck stops are fine places for an above i average meal. It's not gourmet, but I found most of the lunches quite good. Their qre usually 3 or 4 main course choices, and in someplaces their is a buffet.The average cost was from 10 to 15 euros. This usually included 4 courses with wine and in some places coffee. One may have to share a table with other customers, but to me this was part of the fun. You have an opportunity to mix w/ the locals,annd you don't find many americans eating at these truck stops. I also stayed on the secondary roads because gas is less expensive. These truck stops are usually open only for lunch and during the week. If one travels to Brittany their are no tolls and many of these truck stops. Just look for the red,white and blue in a circle which indicates the relais des routiers.Enjoy. Milt

By: Alexander Lobrano

Alexander Lobrano — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 20:41:08 +0000

Hey Rob, I've never seen the Cheeseburger flavor in the U.S. either. The horror of this little chemistry experiment is that it's so clearly targeted at the average Frenchman, or the guy who's made France McDonald's biggest market in Europe. Weird potato chip flavors are as much of an eye opener in terms of local palates as bouillon cubes, though, since they're so reductive of the comfort-food level of eating in any country. Best, Alec

By: Rob

Rob — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 16:31:26 +0000

Incidentally, I don't think the cheeseburger Lays are sold in the United States. We would never eat anything so vulgar here. :)

By: Michel

Michel — Tue, 31 May 2011 16:48:47 +0000

I look forward to reading your reviews as you travel the French roadways looking for good food. I have enjoyed and used your book, articles in France Today and this web site which I follow. We live part of the year in the Vaucluse so we are always looking for good restaurants to try as we travel in the South of France.

By: Alec Lobrano

Alec Lobrano — Mon, 30 May 2011 06:09:37 +0000

Thanks, Phyllis. Michel Bras's open-only-in-the-summer is a great example of what roadside dining could and should be in France. I love his capucines, too, and the quality of the ingredients is outstanding. What amazes me is that other chefs and regional tourist boards haven't realized that highway rest stops offer a great opportunity to showcase the quality of their cooking. Best, Alec

By: Phyllis

Phyllis — Mon, 30 May 2011 04:02:26 +0000

Alec, if you ever find yourself near the Viaduc de Millau, stop at the service area which is run by Michel Bras and his brother André. They only serve local products and have these great little crepe-like cone sandwiches called capucines filled with ingredients like truffles and potatoes, Roquefort and pears, smoked trout, and aligot and sausage. It is a fantastic place and shows you what fast food could look like.

Millau Viaduct Service Area
12100 Millau

By: Alexander Lobrano

Alexander Lobrano — Sun, 29 May 2011 21:19:27 +0000

Thanks, Nicole. I look forward to hearing about your roadside discoveries, and bon voyage! Best, Alec

By: Nicole

Nicole — Sun, 29 May 2011 17:24:46 +0000

Setting out on a two week road trip from Paris to Bordeaux and Cote d'Azur this week. I plan to pack picnics and fill up my water bottles with wine we find along the way but I will definitey report back with any good food we find on our journey! Great idea. Sad to hear France has gone more "American" when it comes to roadside dining.