I heard recently from someone I used to work with some 20 years ago and it reminded me of the way in which many people in those days used to go out to the pub at lunch time, drink vast amounts of beer and then go back to work in the afternoon. It seems incredible that any work got done at all after lunch and I suppose that, in reality, not much of value did get done, so it’s probably a good thing, for all sorts of reasons, that things have changed.
Yet in some quarters attitudes are now so politically correct that you are frowned upon even if you so much as consider a glass of wine with your lunch instead of mineral water.
On this, as in just about everything else, the French in general and the champenois in particular, see things a little differently. Wine or champagne at lunch is still very much an essential part of a normal day.
I can recall many occasions when I worked in Champagne ( and we’re talking of only a couple of year ago), on which, as the clock approached 11.00 a.m. and the meeting seemed to be dragging on a little, someone would say "Anyone care for a coffee, or a glass of champagne?"
Invariably the answer was "champagne". And why not?
A glass, or just half a glass, definitely lifts the spirits, raises the morale and far from hindering us from working afterwards, actually seemed to boost our energy.
Statistics support this impression and show that the French are amongst the most productive workers in the world – that is when they are actually working; the advent of the 35 hour week means that they now work fewer hours than many other countries, but that’s another story.
There was always wine available in the Moët staff canteen too – I imagine it still is – and in nine years I never saw anyone abuse this privilege. Equally, at management meetings (where, incidentally, we used to get the most fabulous pre-prepared meals on an individual tray), champagne and red wine were always available to accompany lunch for those who wanted a glass.
Dare I suggest that a glass of champagne at mid-morning or with lunch is not a sin and might actually be an innocent pleasure?
Comments