La nourriture

I just wanted to comment on how much I love la galette des rois. It's a cake that is served to celebrate l'Epiphanie. The actual holiday was last week but the French are still celebrating...and I hope they continue until forever because I could seriously eat this cake at every meal. I've had it five times since I've been here, twice today. The cafeteria at the university served it as dessert at lunch and we had a little party at the program office tonight.

You can buy la galette at pretty much every bakery or grocery store here in Montpellier. A little plastic or porcelain figurine is baked into each cake (often a baby Jesus) and the person who gets the slice with the figurine gets to be the king or queen for the day (Most cakes come with a paper crown). To equal each person's chance of finding the prize, the youngest person at the meal goes under the table and randomly assigns a piece of cake to each person.

Speaking of food...
Overall the food has been wonderful. My host mom really goes beyond my expectations and takes great care of me. I was a little apprehensive before arriving because at home I can be a little picky.
Breakfast is usually bread with jam and a piece of fruit. I buy lunch at the university on weekdays and, depending on the day, I eat at one of two cafeterias. The little cafe is for a simple sandwich if you need a quick bite to eat between classes. The big cafeteria is a great bargain and I try to eat there as much as possible. You get an entire meal (meat, starch, fruit, vegetable, dessert) for only 3euros. Then, I'm back at home for dinner and so far I've liked everything she's cooked. The only food I don't think I want to each again is polpetti. Yea...tiny little octopuses. Tentacles and all. My host-sister was popping them into her mouth like pieces of candy and I was sitting their dissecting them with my knife and fork, trying to figure out which part I should try and eat first. Honestly, it wasn't bad. To me they tasted like saltwater.
Sundays are usually a family affair with a big mid-day meal. This Sunday we took a little promenade along the banks of the river le Lez after the meal...Oh, the French way of life is very gratifying!