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The French expression that most makes me want to shove my falafels up someone’s nose (#764)

12 April 2014 by OffQc

I ate at a Lebanese restaurant with a friend this week.

We sat at a table near the door. Just as we began to eat, a man entered the restaurant. He approached me and looked at what I had ordered.

Then he asked:

C’est quoi ça?
What’s that?

I told him it was the falafel dish. I didn’t mind the question. I was even glad he asked. I mean, hey, it’s frustrating to see a stranger eat something delicious and not know how to order it yourself.

Then he asked another question:

Est-ce que c’est bon?
Is it good?

I answered him again. As a good Samaritan, I was happy to impart a quick and positive opinion about my falafels to a stranger.

Then he asked:

Combien t’as payé ça?
How much did you pay for it?

I answered him again, but now I was hoping he’d stop asking questions. I was hungry and wanted to eat.

The man had other ideas, though. He wasn’t ready to give up. He wanted more. He wanted to look into my soul:

Pourquoi t’as choisi cette assiette?
Why did you choose this dish?

Shit, man. I don’t know. I ordered it ‘cos I like it. We done yet?

Nope. He had yet another question for me, and it included the expression I most dislike in French:

Est-ce que ça représente un bon rapport qualité-prix?
Does it represent a good quality-to-price ratio?

OK seriously, guy?

Stop playing the journalist, go order the fucking falafels, then come back and tell me what you think.

I think this guy’s watched too many episodes of L’épicerie.

The expression un bon rapport qualité-prix is used frequently in advertising.

On television, you’ll hear it used on shows like L’épicerie, where the hosts compare products to help consumers make informed purchases.

I hear the expression often enough in French that it sickens me. When my inquisitioner used it, I wanted to shove my falafels up his nose. Free of charge. Le meilleur rapport qualité-prix en ville.

In the end, the guy didn’t order falafels. In fact, he didn’t order anything at all. He said thanks, turned around, and walked out the restaurant.

Ah come on, man! Live a little. Go do something wild, like eat a falafel…

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Posted in Entries #751-800 | Tagged advertisement, bon rapport qualité-prix, falafel, falafel inquisition, français québécois, L'épicerie, Lebanese, publicité, Québécois French, restaurant, shoving falafels up someone's nose | 7 Comments

7 Responses

  1. on 13 April 2014 at 03:23 César

    That was funny! You have to admit it!!


    • on 13 April 2014 at 07:04 OffQc

      It was very funny… I’d never seen anybody take a few falafels so seriously!


  2. on 13 April 2014 at 11:45 Charles

    Est-ce gue vous mangez à Boustan?!? J’adore cette place!


  3. on 13 April 2014 at 18:59 Jude

    Best be careful Felix! Sticking one’s falafels up someone’s nose might easily be understood as meaning to stick ones “kids’ up someone’s nose!


  4. on 23 April 2014 at 20:42 Bob

    Aww, I love L’épicerie! I find it great practice in learning French.
    Les betraves sont à rabais chez IGA. 😉


    • on 24 April 2014 at 11:39 OffQc

      You’ll learn lots of French through L’épicerie. Don’t mind me!


  5. on 6 May 2014 at 10:38 Alexa

    That was awesome, I laughed and laughed… I’m very pissy when I’m hungry so I wouldn’t have been so patient.



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