Does everyone use serviettes at table? I'm not sure.
Having spent over half my life in France, I have naturally adopted many French ways, one of which is always to use a serviette.
This isn't just any old serviette, but a 'Normand' serviette. They are the National Serviettes of France. The official Government Serviette. The Serviette of The Elysée Palace. The Serviette of The French Foreign Legion. The Serviette of every single household in the whole of France and its Overseas Territories. They are France beside one's plate.
As long as I've been aware of them, they have always remained the same. They are a good size; 45 by 45 cms. They are 'substantial', being made of 100% cotton. They mostly come in red/white checks (occasionally green or blue). And they are of a loose-ish open weave. In fact they are the perfect bib for everyday use.
For some strange reason I only had ONE here in Brighton (dozens in France), so when it was in the wash I was obliged to use an inferior replacement, that I really didn't like!
So, being quick witted (it's taken 3 years) I decided to look on the Jungle Site, and buy some more.
There they were, I found them in packs of 3 (why 3 I have no idea), so I ordered 3 packs of 3. Yesterday some oaf of a delivery man threw the package onto my doorstep, and fled. A traditional delivery.
So, today I'm much happier than I was yesterday.
I note on the pack it says 'Fabriqué au Pakistan'...... Well, you can't have everything!!!
Fabrique au Pakistan is a change from Fabrique au Chine. They look jolie and very practical.
ReplyDeleteWe use napkins with every meal but ours are always paper napkins. Tis the tradition here. Necessary with all the oil and tomato sauces. I don't whether I would want to have to wash the cloth ones. I'd need at least a dozen
I could hardly believe that they were made in Pakistan; they are SO FRENCH!
DeleteThey are very chic and would match my kitchen tablecloth perfectly.
ReplyDeleteThey just seem 'right'. I don't like anything too fancy.
DeleteThere are at least ten French enterprises producing the "linge de table" and especially the famous "serviettes " Made in France. " Linandelle and les Toiles de la Montagne Noire are two of them. So not made in Pakistan or China.
ReplyDeleteBettina
They claim to be 'made in the EU', but I wonder if the material also comes from Pakistan; they look very similar.
DeleteI used to dog walk with an older lady who was a bit " posh" and she was once pontificating that napkin was the correct word, not serviette......that was what the lower classes said. ( Though apparently it is the posher word in France!!) I nearly announced that if they were lucky my family might get a sheet of paper towel off the roll!! But I kept quiet and just smiled .
ReplyDeletePersonally I always say 'Bib'.
DeleteWe always use napkins, paper ones for the children.
ReplyDeleteI also have a big rolls of very substantial Kitchen Towel for when we hold BBQ's, etc. Much more practical, even though the serviettes are still present.
DeleteI use old linen table napkins, bought cheaply on eBay. They are a generous size.
ReplyDeleteSounds good. I must visit eBay more often.
DeleteWhere is this E Bay that I often here people referring to? Is it down in Dorset close to Studland Bay?
DeleteIt's just down the road from 'E bar gumme'
DeleteUsing all the time paper napkins provokes big environmental pollution and much trash. I avoid them as often as possible. For some things the old times were better.
ReplyDeleteBettina
A bit like old-style Nappies. There was no waste, and no long-term pollution. Too much work these days!
DeleteMuch better than those nasty paper napkins
ReplyDeleteI agree.
DeleteI use a tea towel, and as I live alone I tuck it in as a bib when eating.
ReplyDeleteThen you can dry the dishes with it later! Good idea.
DeleteMade in Pakistan - the hallmark of quality and taste and I will also add three exclamation marks!!!
ReplyDeleteI suppose we have to support the needy; thank goodness it wasn't China.
DeleteIn Pakistan and Bangladesh the factories are burning , no fire protection and all this for about 70/75 euros a month. I think China or Pakistan concerning the textil must be quite the same.
DeleteI'm amazed that so many people still use these, you must all be a lot of messy eaters! We've never felt the need for them, we must be particularly tidy eaters - the only time we ever use anything is when we have chicken leg joints to chew on. Even then it's just a bit of loo paper, can't be faffing around with even more laundry every day!
ReplyDeleteI find a nice Serviette rather comforting. I wouldn't know what to do with myself without one.
DeleteI do like a good napkin. 100% cotton is also very nice. You got a good buy, exactly what you wanted and great quality. French napkins made in Pakistan. It is a worldwide market.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the good people of Pakistan have their serviettes made in France.
DeleteI was just reading an article about manufacturing being offshored to low cost labor markets, the question is are we exploiting the markets, or are they exploiting us?
ReplyDeleteI'm sure we are mostly exploiting cheap labour.
DeleteI still have a (too) large collection of table linens from days of yore when I still had the energy to toss large dinner parties. Nowadays they tend to languish in the linen cupboard taking up too much space. In fact, I have several oldies in perfect condition exactly like those recently flung at your doorstep. Had I known Cro, I could have shipped them over to you. Its paper napkins and simple placemats on the table for us these days.
ReplyDeleteThat's my next search, I need some simple, plain, washable, place mats. They are surprisingly hard to find.
DeleteCro, I wasn't sure what a servette was... apparently it's what we call a napkin. And we used to use them, but no longer. Now it's a paper napkin (for nice occasions) and a paper towels for every day. Now, saying that... I 'love' dish towels and have a ton of them for all kinds of uses... even just to hang on the Aga and look nice.
ReplyDelete... and yes, I see I even spelled it wrong. Oops!
ReplyDeleteI'm ashamed to admit it but at the age of 66 years I am using a square of kitchen roll unless on a picnic when it's a Laura Ashley check napkin - flis x
ReplyDelete