7. Don’t Bring Wine to a Dinner Party
So you’ve made a French friend and they’ve invited you to their house or apartment for dinner. Back home you wouldn’t dream of showing up empty handed, so you purchase a bottle of wine as a token hostess gift. Faux pas! To the French, this is a bit of an insult implying that they don’t know the proper wine to serve at their own party. Also, let your host do the pouring and refilling of wine glasses, as they know how to imbibe without overindulging.
8. Definitely Don’t Bring Chrysanthemums to a Dinner Party
So wine as a hostess gift is out. What about flowers? Well, just make sure they’re not a pretty bouquet of chrysanthemums. Those posies are associated with cemeteries, funerals and death. Carnations should be avoided, too, as they have a bad luck connotation. To avoid these floral faux pas, you might be safer with a box of chocolates.
9. Don’t Be a French Food Imbecile
Take the time to learn a bit about French cuisine before visiting France. Don’t be that dimwitted foreigner who orders the steak tartare well done, asks why the vichyssoise is cold or expects escalope to be seafood.
