Alice Waters, owner of Chez Panisse, slow foodie and haver-of-feuds with Anthony Bourdain is set to receive the Legion of Honor. On Tuesday, Waters reportedly got a letter informing her that she’d sautéed her way to France’s highest honor. No word yet on how exactly she was chosen for the prize or when she’ll receive it.

Félicitations!

Image Source: Stuck in Customs under Creative Commons
Alice Waters to Receive France’s Highest Honor [SFoodie]

Zut alors! Even the French are feeling the sting of the declining economy and slim trans-Atlantic wallets. With an average of two cafes closing everyday, France shows that the U.S. isn’t the only one sweating finances.

Want more numbers? In 1960, France teemed with 200,000 cafes. Compare that to today’s less-than 41,500–and diminishing. Merde, indeed.

Small businesses are suffering, but the shrinking numbers also show a culture at risk. What is the Frenchman without his beret, baguette, cafe and cigarette? (Oh, and wine and cheese and an official Federation of Cafes, Brasseries and Discotheques.) Not much, apparently:

The cafe, (Daniel Perrey, owner of the Cafe du Crucifix) said, is a kind of public living room, especially in small towns and cities, and it is suffering as habits and laws change.

“We need the cafe to have an equilibrium between the village and the world outside,” Mr. Perrey said. “Without the cafe, you lose the conviviality. You lose your mates. Business agreements are made behind the zinc of the bar.’

Well, there goes their joie de vivre. Not only are their cafes closing, but soon the French won’t even be able to smoke with their cafes au lait. Quel horreur!

Image Source: akahodag under Creative Commons
Across France, Cafe Owners Are Suffering [NY Times]
via Eater SF
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