Sunday, October 3, 2010

French waiters

I know you have heard the rumors about French waiters.  They are rude and obnoxious.  Well guess what, I have found for the most part that the rumors are correct.  Unless you have something going for you, and that is that you are a pretty girl.
Yesterday when we went for pizza at a cafe, we sat outside.  We asked a waiter where we should sit and he looked at us, pointd to any number of tables that were empty and implied, "are you stupid, sit where you want".  We then waited at least ten minutes for a menu.  We waited another 10 to order, and only because we got the waiter's attention and motioned him over.  He looked perturbed that we had bothered him. 
Soon after we put our order in, 3 pretty French young woman sat at a table beside us.  Two waiters about knocked each other over trying to be the first to wait on them.  They had menus immediately and had there drinks well before we had ours.  This ocurred even though we now had been sitting around a half hour.  The waiters joked and smiled at the women and then scowled when we asked where our drinks were. 
I have a theory about all of this.  First, of course 3 nice looking women would be preferable over 4 people, the youngest of which is 57.  Second, the French waiters, by law, are given a 15% tip  directly in the purchasing price of food.  They do not have to be respectful to earn a good tip, so "to insure prompt service" loses its luster for them.  We watched as the three women got their food, 3 pizzas, just like we ordered, well before us.  Ticked me off a bit.
The orther rumor about French waiters and hygiene, in my experience,( so as to not generalize), being odiforous is also true. For those that do not know what that means, it means smell bad.  It seems they don't think highly of deodorant either.  My eyes watered, not my taste buds, when we were finally served. 

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