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annabill
Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 1
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Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 1:49 am Post subject: French Easter candy |
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I was in France last year around Easter, and one of the hotels I stayed at put out a bowl of these amazing little chocolate eggs filled with some sort of divine Nutella-like substance. They were pretty small, and wrapped in a plain copper-colored foil devoid of any sort of marking or brand name. I don't think they were a regional thing (they seemed like they were probably mass-produced) but the hotel I stayed at was in Angers, if that's any help. I have searched long and hard on the internet to see if I could find them and possibly order some, but without any luck. If anyone has any idea what I'm talking about and could possibly help me find some, I would be eternally grateful! |
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Debbie

Joined: 21 Feb 2005 Posts: 861 Location: Paris
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Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 10:26 am Post subject: |
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They sound like the normal truffle filled easter eggs. Not a speciality really as they can be found in any country around the world. The Easter chocolates in France that are typically french are the ones shaped like fish and crustaceans.
There are so many brands etc, that it would be almost impossible to give you an exact name for the little eggs.
Sorry.
Maybe you could contact the hotel and ask them what brand etc. That would really be your only hope. _________________ If you cannot feel your arteries hardening, eat more cheese. If you can, drink more red wine. Diet is just "die" with a "t" on the end. Exercise is walking into the kitchen. |
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David
Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 1855 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 6:59 pm Post subject: |
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I'm having this vision of a giant lobster dressed in a short blue coat scampering from house to house on Easter Eve hiding Easter Crustaceans! _________________ Vivant Linguae Mortuae!! |
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Griffin

Joined: 09 Jun 2006 Posts: 932 Location: England
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Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 7:28 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, once more the Easter Lobster brings Easter prawns to good little children all over France!  _________________ Confusion comes fitted as standard. |
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minty

Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 140
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gingerpale
Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Posts: 1324
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Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 11:15 pm Post subject: |
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Easter candy outdoes even Christmas and Valentine's Day for me. It's just So Pretty in Pink--and every other pastel--
tabletop deco/food in magazines/catalogs this time of year knocks me out.
Are the French "fish" Easter designs religious symbols? -- because of the tradition of Christ being a "fisher of men"? |
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Griffin

Joined: 09 Jun 2006 Posts: 932 Location: England
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Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 8:36 am Post subject: |
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I don't know about the 'fishers of men' link tho' it sounds possible. But the Easter egg and the hare (not a bunny) are the symbols of Eostre, Saxon goddess of the Dawn. As far as I'm aware only Northern Europe and Britain call the festival after her. France, Italy and possibly Spain too call the festival Paques or Pasqua or a variant on that.
Usually it's a season of Rebirth in the folklore. The dawn of a new year properly.
I really shouldn't even be looking at the Leonidas site tho'... far too tempting!! _________________ Confusion comes fitted as standard. |
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Debbie

Joined: 21 Feb 2005 Posts: 861 Location: Paris
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Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 12:08 pm Post subject: |
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Griffin is right, it is a hare not a rabbit that is the "easter bunny". Rabbits were introduced to England, hares were not. And... it is the fertility festival of Eostre. Griffin you can have double points for your brain power this morning!
Yes it is called Paques in france.
I did know why the chocs are in seafood shapes.... but cannot remember Will think about it and try to recall. Maybe someone else can tell us immediately? _________________ If you cannot feel your arteries hardening, eat more cheese. If you can, drink more red wine. Diet is just "die" with a "t" on the end. Exercise is walking into the kitchen. |
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Rainey

Joined: 29 Sep 2004 Posts: 2498 Location: Los Angeles, California, USA
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Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 5:44 pm Post subject: |
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Griffin wrote: | France, Italy and possibly Spain too call the festival Paques or Pasqua or a variant on that.
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Yes, I was quite flummoxed to find that the French symbol for Paques is a bell. Every bit as "sensible" as a rabbit/bunny/hare but it took me by surprise.
BTW, ever hear Eddie Izzard's take on the meaning of chocolate vis a vis Easter? I think he's a genius and funny to boot! Wish we heard much more from him. _________________ God writes a lot of comedy... the trouble is, he's stuck with so many bad actors who don't know how to play funny. -- Garrison Keillor |
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gingerpale
Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Posts: 1324
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Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 6:17 pm Post subject: |
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Here's a bit I found about the French Easter seafood shapes:
Poisson D'Avril (French Easter Fish)
"Everyone knows of chocolate rabbits in America, but did you know the French delight in chocolate fish? Although not directly related to Easter, poisson d'Avril are enjoyed throughout the entire Easter season. These fishy little friends start appearing in shops on April 1st, when children use paper versions to play an April Fools type trick. The 'trick' is to stick a paper fish onto the back of as many adults as possible, then run away yelling, "Poisson d'Avril!" (April fish!). The tradition is several centuries old. Some say it evolved from a silly 'fish trick' where one would send an unknowing person to market to buy freshwater fish when it was not in season. In French culture, food follows season, and even children know when (and when not!) to buy oysters!"
So apparently it has nothing to do with the Christian fish symbol--
which has an amazing and complicated history, if you're interested.
Rainey I adoooore Eddie Izzard--even his throwaway asides can get me giggling enough to miss the next 4 or 5 jokes! |
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minty

Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 140
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Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 8:26 pm Post subject: |
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the explanation I heard is that the chocolate fishes do have a christian origin - Easter being at the end of Lent, the chocolate fishes were a sort of "thank you" for the real fishes that had been eaten during Lent, when meat was forbidden .
It also came as a kind of joke, as people were sick of real fish after forty days of it...they rather liked choc ones... |
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Nicki
Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Posts: 106 Location: England
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Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 8:43 pm Post subject: |
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What nice explanations!
I like the idea of chocolate fish very much. I think I might boycott easter eggs this - just seeing them piled up in shops and supermarkets is making me so angry at the moment! I hate the fact that there is so much packaging...foil, plastic, cardboard. Chocolate fish would be so much better. |
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