Yes, the offending item in the photo is a half-eaten chip pizza. Oh the shame. There we were, in France, the home of gastronomy and my son was tucking into a monstrous affront to cuisine. To be fair, we had been struggling a little with translating the ingredients for each of the pizzas in this lovely bistro in the pretty town of Les Eyzies-de-Tayac. The Pizza Americaine seemed to have cheese, tomato and beef in the list of toppings. When I saw the word ‘frites’ in the list, I assumed the chips might be on the side until the waiter brought in the plate and ceremoniously placed the pizza, resplendent in cheese-covered chips, in front of our slack-jawed teenager.
Diners at neighbouring tables, hoiking out their snails and nibbling on slivers of foie gras, looked on in disdain at the obscene creation. What was worse, I took a photograph of it, so sealing our fate of being labelled common British oiks. I instructed Rory to hoover up his plate tout de suite (he had no trouble doing this), hid behind the shades of my Maui Jims and affected a nonchalant air. Pizza with mince and chips? Pah! Heston Blumenthal is considering it for his Autumn menu, don’t you know.
mmm chips
Eurgh. In France? Seriously?
I always thought chips with pizza was a peculiarly British thing that I confess I have never quite understood – I mean, carb overload?! Mind you, having said this when we went to Portugal we got chips AND rice with absolutely everything, which I also found a bit carb-bizarre.
Rambling over.
Now I'm hungry. đ
What?! No deep fried Mars bars on top? What kind of high class restaurant was this?!
@The Moiderer and @JulieB – it's not pretty but it made you lick your lips, didn't it?
@Steve – We can spot a classy joint a mile off!
I love, love, love chips and would have been very happy to have been served that. A very rich man once said 'the art of eating is to enjoy your food'…was there a posh french pudding??
Your son has style, what do the French know anyway?
MadDad would go for this after a few beers, mind you wouldnt every Northern Bloke, espeically with Garlic sauce too
Given the choice of snails, foie gras or chip pizza, I'd take the latter any day even though it looks bloody disgusting…
@Libby – we didn't stay for pud, we scarpered after the main course.
@goonerjamie – Indeed, they served it!
@The Mad House – garlic sauce would have added a lovely Gallic touch to the whole dish, I think.
@Mummmmmeeee – It looks vile. Tasted pretty good though (shh, I didn't really taste it, honest…)
Pass a slice my way, would you?
Umm, is it weird that I kinda want to make this now?
Gawd – I thought hot pineapple on a pizza was bad. Yuck!
Kinda like an Italian chip butty, but in France. I get it, I'd eat it too if it wasn't for this blasted low carb diet I've put myself on. Off to dribble, with cheese you say? gah.
Yes but surely its just a french joke by calling it a Pizza Americaine? I suspect the Pizza Anglais would have mashed potatoes and ketchup as topping.
No, I think that's very French to serve chips with everything. I found the home of gastronomy stopped around the Loire Valley. This is the country that has managed to put everything into a can except cheese after all!
@Mammatalk – slice coming over!
@Adenalynn – you see, naughty but nice.
@Expat Mum – Oh I love a Hawaiian: that might well have been my choice.
@Very Bored – haha, an Italian chip butty, of course! Sorry for the temptation.
@Troy – The Pizza Anglais sounds pretty good to me đ
@Previously – Brilliant! You're quite right – there were tins of duck everywhere.
Even a Glaswegian would balk at that.(who am I kidding?)
@Missy m – mince, chips and cheese: I think this could catch on.
Lol, definately a new one on me but one my kids would also love! lol Mich x
Want it!
Michelle and M Smoking Gun – I knew you'd all love it. I tried a slice, just for research, and it was rather good!
Ha ha! My teenage son's favourite sandwich in France is "un americain" which, you guessed it, is steak and chips! And he's half French and has lived all his life in France. I think he'd get on well with your son! Having said that I have never come across a pizza americaine