French old people enjoy most lavish meals service in Europe

True to their nation's reputation for fine food, the elderly people of France enjoy the most lavish meals-on-wheels service in Europe, often with four courses and wine, the national conference of the Advisory Body for Social Services Catering was told last week.

Not only is the typical French meals-on-wheels service more sophisticated than its European counterparts, it also often delivers three meals a day against one in Germany and the Netherlands, the conference was told. The French typically enjoy a starter, main course, cheese and pudding.

But Heike Hartmann, international marketing manager for the welfare caterer Apetito, explained to delegates at the Coventry conference that the French were also prepared to pay more for their meals: twice as much as the Germans and Dutch on average.

The favourite meals served to Europe's older citizens also mirror national stereotypes. In Britain, roast beef is the favourite; in Germany it is bratwurst, in France, coq au vin and in the Netherlands, stamppot, which consists of mashed potatoes mixed with varying ingredients such as carrots and onions.

The Dutch like a healthy low-salt meal with particular emphasis on the vegetables, and they enjoy the biggest main dishes, with an average weight of 600g. Hartmann added that the emphasis on vegetables was underlined by the Dutch habit of naming the vegetable first when describing a meal.

"Where we will say lamb with potato and cauliflower, the Dutch will say cauliflower, potato and lamb," she said.

The French seem less concerned with health. "What they think is important about food is that it tastes good," said Hartmann.

The downside for the French is that meals-on-wheels delivery is geographically patchy: local authorities decide whether or not to offer the service.

Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 19-25 September 2002