If the situation about doggy bag in France is still not very clear, one thing is certain: things are changing. âLeâ doggy bag seems to be making its apparition on the French restaurant scene, and with the French government backing up the initiative, the French may very well adopt this once very foreign habit.
How Do You Say âDoggy Bagâ in French?
Apparently, the name is part of the problem. Even though they love their dogs, the French donât seem to like âle sac Ă toutouâ, literal translation for âdoggy bagâ nor anything suggesting that the leftovers of their scrumptious meals could be going to their four legged companions.
Wikipedia suggests âun petit sac pour emporter les restesâ â a little bag to take away the leftovers. Precise, but a bit long donât you think?
Looking over the web and newspaper articles, the consensus seems to be âle doggy bagâ. Note, the âleâ, itâs the French touchâŠ
âLe Gourmet Bagâ is the Official French âDoggy Bagâ Name
However, if the French seem to be using âle doggy bagâ, the French government has been launching a huge campaign under the name âle gourmet bagâ⊠so letâs see if the name sticks.
The official name and slogan for the French doggy bag is âGourmet bag : câest si bon, je finis Ă la maisonâ which translate into âGourmet bag: itâs so good, Iâll finish it at home!â
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âDoggy Bagâ French Vocabulary
- Le doggy bag, le gourmet bag, le take away bag = doggy bag
- Ă emporter = take away
- Les restes (m) = leftovers
- Est-ce que je pourrais emporter le reste ? (may I take away what is left?).
- Est-ce que je pourrais avoir un gourmet bag ? (may I have a gourmet bag ?)
- Le gaspillage (short: le gaspi), le gĂąchis = waste
- Lutter contre le gaspillage alimentaire = to fight against food waste
- Un sac = a bag
- Une boĂźte, un contenant = a box
- Un couvercle = a lid
- Recyclable = recyclable
Will Take-Away Boxes Finally Become a French Habit?
Up to now, if taking home your leftovers is sometimes offered in ethnic restaurants in large French cities, chic or traditional French restaurants donât offer to do so, and French people usually donât dare asking for it.
Many restaurants in France now offer take away food: âla vente Ă emporterâ. So these restaurants have take away boxes, and you could possibly ask: âest-ce que je peux emporter le resteâ (may I take away what is left â NOTE: I would not use âles restesâ (the leftovers) which would probably sound bad to a French ear, but rather âle resteâ: what remainsâŠ).
Except that French people donât. Why? MysteryâŠ
According to the English newspaper The Telegraph, Guillaume Garot, Socialist MP who drew up a report in April 2015 on wasted food costs says: âmost customers donât dare ask for the remains of their meal, and restaurateurs can see it as âdegradingâ their dishesâ.
However things are about to change. This report concluded that wasted food costs the average French household 400 Euros a year and the country up to 20 billion Euros.
âLe Gourmet Bagâ To Fight Against Waste â But is it a law?
So itâs time to change. On April 7th 2015, the UMIH French food Union announced they signed an agreement with the startup TakeAway in order to promote the doggy bag in France and fight against waste.
Will âle gourmet bagâ suddenly become the restaurant ownersâ best friend? Contrarily to the info that has been going all over the net, there was no law in 2016 requiring restaurants to provide a doggy bag to their customers. However, there is a new tax on food waste.
Therefore, since doggy bags are a clear solution for restaurants owners to reduce their food waste, one could assume they are going to back up the gourmet bag initiative. Restaurants offering take-away boxes will also have a sticker on their windows.
However, being able to provide a doggy bag and offering politely and systematically to do so (like it is customary in the US for example) is still quite a big leap.
Will the French Ever Dare Asking for A âDoggy Bagâ?
So, it all comes down to the French customers: will they now dare to ask for a doggy bag? A recent poll conducted by a regional food and farming state body in southeastern France found that 75 per cent of French people would be prepared to use a doggy bag (The Telegraph).
So, things could be changing fast. Next time you are in France, and you donât finish your plate (unlikely I know) why donât you try asking: âest-ce que je pourrais avoir un doggy bag sâil vous plaĂźt ?â (may I have a doggy bag please?) and let me know how it turns out!
If you liked this article, you may also like âHow To Comment About Food in Frenchâ, and âLes Abats: French offal names and common dishesâ.
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