Have you ever heard un épluche-légumes called.....

[woolybanana]

There is a convention that a gentleman should never reveal the way he peels his vegetable! Let us stick to this please, people, even if it is the ladies who are being provocative in their efforts to find out.

[idun]

sweet17, that is all very well you saying that one could peel forwards or backwards, but the backwards is towards oneself and 'men' don't like that idea at all. Unsafe apparently, but I find that many women do things that 'men' find unsafe..... and rarely do we get hurt.

[woolybanana]

Men have been taught to practise safe peeling, obviously.

[idun]

Men and women do so many things differently, natural or taught? I have no idea.

Coiling an electrical cable or ropes, well, they have to be slightly twisted as they are coiled to keep them 'straight' (even though they are coiled), apparently[blink] and not ran through the hand and over the elbow like a washing line. Can I do this, nope. I cannot throw a ball either.

So many differences and yet in spite of doing so much 'wrongly', we women still manage to get things done.[6]

[ericd]

The "epluche legumes" top left is useless to use. The "econome" second from left is my favourite and we have 3 in the drawer at home (asparagus, potatoes, carrots etc.)

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=eplucher+legume&rls=com.microsoft:en-gb:IE-SearchBox&oe=UTF-8&rlz=1I7RNRN_enGB421&redir_esc=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=mK7-ULmaMqmN0AWRs4HYDA&biw=1366&bih=566&sei=na7-UL33O_Ob1AWgroDYDA

 

[mint]

Ok, Eric, you've had the last word on un économe![:D][:D][:D]

Now, tell me, are you one of those canif-carrying Frenchmen?

I met some of OH's friends from his table-tennis club.  In fact, I was invited one night to eat with them.  Would you know, to a man, they had a knife and, in no time at all, were slicing rondels of baguette and saucisson.

So what knife do you favour?  Un opinel, un laguoile?  Well, what other types of pocket-knives are there?  This is a serious question as I always used to carry a penknife for peeling my lunch apple in the days when I was still working in the UK and my colleagues were horrified and said I could be arrested for carrying it.

[ericd]

[quote user="sweet 17"]

  This is a serious question as I always used to carry a penknife for peeling my lunch apple in the days when I was still working in the UK and my colleagues were horrified and said I could be arrested for carrying it.

[/quote]

Hi Sweet, Brits will be Brits ......

I don't carry a knife anymore (use to when I was 16 but that was a flick knife to impress ..... whom I don't know !!!), this is no longer a done thing at my age (I have one in the car just in case I need to peel something) However what you are talking about is perfectly true of a certain "age band".....get your knife out and as you say, be ready to slice whatever comes your way.

We even knew of an older gentleman in Britanny who carried such a folding knife. One day I saw him take the knife out of his pocket and carefully cut his finger nails as they were too long.....not a neat job but short nails at the end .......

About 5 years ago my Grandmother (and only for reasons known to herself) carried her deceased husband's flick knife, in her hand bag through the security control at Nantes airport on her way to Marseilles. They wanted to confiscate the item but her look of horror and near panic attack made them think better....she was allowed to return to the main desk to check it in ....

I eat with a Laguiole (inherited from my Father) which I must bring with me to France next time round and take to the town of Laguiole to give it a full MOT.

[mint]

[quote user="ericd"]

About 5 years ago my Grandmother (and only for reasons known to herself) carried her deceased husband's flick knife, in her hand bag through the security control at Nantes airport on her way to Marseilles. They wanted to confiscate the item but her look of horror and near panic attack made them think better....she was allowed to return to the main desk to check it in ....

I eat with a Laguiole (inherited from my Father) which I must bring with me to France next time round and take to the town of Laguiole to give it a full MOT.

[/quote]

Has your laguoile got a "mouche" on the handle?

And I think a flick knife is called un couteau à cran d'arrêt.  Is that correct?

I'm only learning these terms so that I can sound as though I know a thing or two about knives when I next eat with OH's copins! 

[Chancer]

Laguioles have an abeille on the handle not a mouche, I have one always in my thigh pocket together with a mini maglite, a hangover from my backpacking days, the little pocket is meant for a mobile phone except now the smart ones are all too big.

Erics photos of the peelers just go to prove a chacun son epluche legume! the number two is the one I cant stand, number one would be OK but only if it had a swivelling blade, the red one underneath the page 2 numbering is the type I favour although I see some photos show it cutting towards the hand.

Whats the name for a lock-knife? The lack of a blade lock is the failing of my Laguiole but its so slender that I put up with it.

[idun]

This is the

one I use, the cheapest and most cheerful as far as I am concerned….. and then

in Geneva, I found one of these that was gold plated with a price to match, so not all are cheap[:D]. http://goo.gl/5gJgw

 

 

http://goo.gl/pTxEc  and this is the one my husband prefers, I can use this one, but

it find it harder to hold that mine. And as I find it harder to hold, cannot use it as quickly.

My husband always carries an Opinel No 08 french folding knife with a blade lock, when out walking. When we were in France, he would always carry it along with his papiers, but as they are no longer required, it does get left at home most of the time.

[mint]

Yes, id, that is also the one I favoured.  Alas, I lost mine some years ago and haven't been able to find one as good since.  I think mine was from Tesco.

Now I have one with a similar but smaller blade span and it has a long handle[:(]

Chance, if a laguoile has un abeille, which marque is it that has the mouche?

I have a Joseph Rodgers and I got it because a friend's husband lost his Rodgers and was so upset about it that I found a knife specialist on-line and bought him one.  So, as I already had to pay postage, I thought I'd buy myself one at the same time![:)]

Edit:  forgot to mention that it has the Rodgers Star and Cross on the handle

[ericd]

Sweet.....Laguiole !!! Copy this 100 times. Thanks.

A real Laguiole hasn't necessary got the "abeille" emblem on it's mouche......I see you wondering what on earth is he talking about.

In knife technical terms, the "mouche" is the name for the thick part of the end of the blade where it folds against the spring. So the "mouche" (next to the spring) can carry the emblem of a "mouche" or "abeille" or many other emblems such as "trefle a quatre feuilles" or a "tete de vache".

Please note that Laguiole is not a registered mark (BIG error on their behalf hence the various emblems on offer) so all the so-called Laguiole sold cheaply in the supermarket with the abeille on the mouche (got it ???) and a plastic handle are made in China/Pakistan and not worse the bother.

A real Laguiole will have a number and name (supposedly of the artisan maker) stamped in the steel at the base of the blade (mine has). It's handle will be made of a noble base (wood, horn, ivory ect.).

Agood Laguiole can be purchased for between €60 and €150 and above. Anything lower in price is likely to be an import.

[mint]

[quote user="ericd"]

Sweet.....Laguiole !!! Copy this 100 times. Thanks.

[/quote]

Ah but I can pronounce it![:D]  A few years ago, I sat next to a very posh French lady at a charity dinner.  Her husband was a retired vigneron and they were definitely BCBG.  When we got to the cheese, I said I liked "laguiole" (see, I have learnt?), mis-pronouncing it badly.  She MADE me say it until I got it right!

She was a beautifully dressed, charming elderly lady and, guess what, she left me her address and invited me to visit.  As I'd only just met her, I decided that my ability to pronounce laguiole must have been what got me the invitation!

Thank you for explaining about the mouche.  Of course, it's only the French who could have an abeille on a mouche, nothiing new there then?[:D][:P]

[Loiseau]

Thank you for that explanation, ericd! I was wondering why Laguiole seemed to have suddenly gone in for making cheap, colourful versions.

Somebody told me that the name is pronounced "la-yoll". Is this right?

Angela

PS i am with your husband, idun, in my choice of veg peeler, but am amazed that anything so simple could cost more than £4 on Amazon!

[mint]

Following the previous post, I've got a nemonic (can't spell that either [8-)]) for spelling "laguiole" now and will NEVER get it wrong again.

For what it's worth, the way to remember is say to yourself:  You before I? Oh!

That's it!

[mint]

[quote user="Loiseau"]Thank you for that explanation, ericd! I was wondering why Laguiole seemed to have suddenly gone in for making cheap, colourful versions. Somebody told me that the name is pronounced "la-yoll". Is this right? Angela PS i am with your husband, idun, in my choice of veg peeler, but am amazed that anything so simple could cost more than £4 on Amazon![/quote]

Spot on, Angela!  At least as spot on as one can be, writing it instead of saying it.

Of course, if you were from Alabama as a dear friend of mine is, you try not to say "ya'all" instead!  Of course, you wouldn't; I'm just having a bit of fun today, larking about because I have two rather sad letters to write later today.

[Cendrillon]

I am amazed that this thread is now on page 6 and it's all about vegetable peelers! Goodness the weather must be dire to keep everyone posting about this for long.[;-)]

[ericd]

[quote user="Cendrillon"]I am amazed that this thread is now on page 6 and it's all about vegetable peelers! Goodness the weather must be dire to keep everyone posting about this for long.[;-)]
[/quote]

 

Hi Cendrillon, I guess you have finished all your chores and your two ugly sisters have gone shopping leaving you alone in the house to do as you please ...... Worry not, your secret is safe with us.  [:D]

Today people have learned how to pronounce "Laguiole", differentiate the various types of potatoe peelers and true French made knives "v" Far Eastern poor copies and also found out you also had spare time on your hands.

[mint]

Cendrillon, Cendrillon, of course it's not "all about vegetable peelers"!  Do you not hear the conversation cachée?

It's about, amongst other things, French culinary matters; its vocabulary and preferred practices (OK, how you peel your veg, if you must!)[:)]

Then Wooly and Chancer describe, with some subtlety (or so they like to think) their own methods.

Then, there is the cultural and social significance of pocket knives in French male culture.

As Eric has pointed out, one learns how to BOTH spell and say "Laguiole" and, importantly, how to distinguish the real McCoy from a Far Eastern fake.

As Philippe Delerm might say, "Un épluche-légumes à la main, on se dit des choses plus profondes et naturelles".

There, never underestimate the IMPORTANCE of "vegetable peelers", as you so carelessly call them....sigh, giggle, I can't keep this going any longer, belly laugh!

[Cendrillon]

"I guess you have finished all your chores and your two ugly sisters

have gone shopping leaving you alone in the house to do as you

please ......"

Eric, you are wrong I have been out all day, no time to get back with a reply until now. T'ai-chi class this morning, chat with the friends from the class, home for a quick lunch then a two hour Nordic walk over a snowy landscape. Now I have dinner to cook and might just use my épluche-légumes. [8-|]

Sweet 17 I like the musings of Philippe Delerm [:)]

[mint]

[quote user="ericd"][quote user="sweet 17"]

  This is a serious question as I always used to carry a penknife for peeling my lunch apple in the days when I was still working in the UK and my colleagues were horrified and said I could be arrested for carrying it.

[/quote]

Hi Sweet, Brits will be Brits ......

[/quote]

Eric, if you are still there, look at this:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2269341/Pimlico-stabbing-Teenager-16-heard-screaming-life-killed-sword-wielding-gang.html

Quelle horreur!  It's not enought to say "Brits will be Brits"[+o(]  As long as these stabbings amongst young people in the UK are common occurrences, something has to be done to stop the carrying around of knives!

As a matter of interest, what is the experience in France of killings by stabbing?

I just feel so awful for the parents of this poor boy and, if it means that nobody is allowed to carry even a canif, then so be it.

[ericd]

Sweet. Very regretable in deed but banning even the smallest pocket knife will not stop "some" people carrying the real thing. In most cities, this is the gang culture, no barrier, no fear just respect.

Just look at the lack of respect shown to Policemen in the Metro in Paris. Kids as young as 16 have to be seen acting like big men by their peers and as such, show their worst side in front of the Police. Club them to a pulp is my say but some might not agree.

Weapons of war are forbidden in France but they still find their way in the streets of Marseilles to dire effect (although they only seem to be killing each other which is not a bad thing...)

[idun]

I have to say that I am really really fast with my chunky peeler, take off a minimum of skin and get through all the veg at a very very rapid rate. Whereas my husband with his straight long one takes twice as long as me, maybe longer. It isn't as if I we race and I do more, if he is peeling veg, then he is, but I know I am fast and he isn't.

I don't like using anything else, I like the job out of the way, quickly, it isn't the nicest of prep jobs is it?????