The French Lunch–No Cooking Required!

What is “enough” for you, and how do you make the most out of as little as possible?

That’s the question that gets tackled every week on one of my favorite podcasts, named (wait for it…) Enough!

The show started its run focusing on how to how to get the most bang for your buck with Apple products.

But over time it has transformed into a podcast about simple living in general, and how to escape the cycle of needing more and more in order to feel happy.

As a borderline Apple Fanboy and a dabbling minimalist, these talks with Patrick Rhone and Myke Hurley are always an enjoyable listen.

Especially when they talk about food.

In one episode, they talked about something called the French Lunch, which is something similar to a meal I make frequently.

The French Lunch is one of my favorite “on the go” lunches. If I’m heading out of the house all day on a Saturday and don’t feel like eating out somewhere, this is the kind of thing I’ll be taking with me.

And with the following five components, you can quickly make your own as well.

1. Baguette

The first part of the French Lunch is perhaps the most important: the baguette.

Now, normally I’m not a big bread fan. I think its health benefits are grossly exaggerated, and it can cause more problems than it solves.

That being said, I can never turn down a good baguette.

When done right, it is crunchy and crusty on the outside, and light and smooth on the inside. It’s perfect for mopping up homemade vinaigrette dressing, acting as the foundation of a sandwich, or playing an accompanying role in a larger meal.

You’ll find them everywhere in Paris, and they’ve been catching on in the States as well. Most supermarkets (and bakeries and smaller delis) now carry fresh-baked baguettes.

2. Cheese

I’m not talking Velveeta singles and Cheez Whiz here. You gotta step it up a level!

If you’re at a supermarket, look for a “gourmet” cheese section that is away from the regular dairy section. It’s usually near the deli. This is where you’ll find the good cheese.

Here’s some of they types I’d recommend you try with the French Lunch:

1. Brie–If you could only do one type of cheese, this is it. It’s so smooth and tasty, it’s almost like butter (only better). It also has a sturdy rind, so it’ll hold up if you carry it around for a couple hours. Available everywhere.
2. Camembert–Similar to brie. It is usually found in small disks. Another good, tasty, sturdy choice.
3. Manchego/Iberico–Spanish cheeses. They’re hard, tasty, and easy to haul around.
4. Gruyere/Emmenthaler–Essentially fancied-up Swiss cheese. If you didn’t like the cheap stuff growing up (like me) give these a shot anyway. They’re excellent.
5. Blue Cheese–It comes in many different types, but blue cheese is always available. It has a strong flavor, which might take getting used to. It’s softer than brie or camembert, so it might not be the best choice on hot summer days.

3. Fresh Fruit

Unlike vegetables, most fruits are ideally eaten raw, and this makes them a great addition to the French Lunch.

Depending on the season, the following fruits should fit the bill nicely:

1. Apples–One of the best fruits to take on the go with you. Apples can withstand a good amount of beating without bruising. Not to mention they are tasty (as long as you avoid the cardboard-tastic Red Delicious apples! 😛 )
2. Oranges–Oranges are another fruit that can withstand the wear and tear of being carried around. Their close relatives, tangerines, are just as good.
3. Grapes–Another excellent choice. But take care not to jostle them too much if you’re taking the meal to go.
4. Bananas–Bananas are cheap and available everywhere. Just be careful if you are carrying them around as they bruise easily.
5. Pears–Pears are another tasty choice, but they can also bruise if they are tossed around a lot. Probably best to use these when you’re eating at home.
6. Berries–Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries… These fruits represent summer more than any other, and they are therefore a good addition to the French Lunch. Make sure you keep them in the plastic containers they often come in (or add them to one of your own) as they are easily smooshed.

4. Deli Meat

Lunch meat such as salami really shines here, but do yourself a favor and upgrade from the pre-sliced bologna you’ve been eating since you were a kid.

My favorite is salami rolls, but make sure you bring a sharp knife with you if you go this route. (Or simply slice some up beforehand.)

Otherwise, you can get pre-sliced deli meats that fit the bill as well.

5. Wine or Juice

You didn’t think I’d forget about the beverage, did you?

Depending on where you are and what you’ve got going on, you have two good choices here: wine and juice.

Obviously, wine works best if you are eating this at home and aren’t interested in getting the cops (or your employer) on your back. But if it’s your day off and/or you’re going out adventuring, you might want to go ninja-style with the wine anyway.

Personally, I have no problem with sneaking a little wine in public (as long as you don’t overdo it and start a revolution), so I’m all for the incognito lunch drink.

You can now buy wine in single-serving “juice boxes,” aka the best invention ever, and you can probably sneak a drink with your meal without being too obvious. If you can’t find ’em, the single serving bottles can be found anywhere.

Otherwise, you can go the super-sneaky route and empty it into a different container altogether. Hey, it’s just like being in college again!

That being said, there are definitely places you don’t want to risk it, or perhaps wine just ain’t your thing.

In that case, I’d suggest you go with a good juice instead.

Orange juice, apple juice, pineapple-mango juice… Whatever floats your boat is fine here.

Variations On the French Lunch

The basic blueprint laid out above will give you a solid meal that will taste good and hit the spot when you’re on the move. But don’t feel like you should be restricted to that.

Here’s a few things you might want to try out as well:

1. Crackers–I’m not a big fan of the texture of bread and prefer things more on the crispy/crunchy side. Baguettes usually fit the bill, but crackers are another way to go if you’d like to substitute.
2. Salad–Don’t go the whole hog with an epic salad here, stick with just a plain salad of greens, and perhaps a veggie or two. You can take your homemade salad dressing along in a small container, plus the baguette works great for mopping up afterwards!
3. Raw Veggies–If a salad with dressing still seems like too much of a hassle, get some raw veggies such as carrots and cherry tomatoes instead.
4. Chocolate–I’m a big fan of fresh fruit, but sometimes you want to add a little more of a dessert to this meal. If that’s the case, I’d suggest getting a good dark chocolate.

Lunch To Go

The French Lunch has several important features:

1. It uses fresh ingredients.
2. It uses simple ingredients.
3. It is tasty.
4. It makes for a solid meal.

The French Lunch can be eaten anywhere, anytime, but I’ve found that it’s best as a meal you take along on full-day adventures where you’ll be away from a refrigerator.

It’s particularly good for when you’re going to events and anyplace that’s a big tourist draw (zoos, parks, etc.) since these types of places have really terrible food that they charge an arm and a leg for.

But it will hit the spot anytime you want a no-fuss minimalist lunch.