Food

[Guest JonWilkins]

I am writing a novel based in France 1917. The question of food is interesting. Of course it was short but how would cafes and restaurants cope? Those serving rest areas for troops would they be different from the norm? What would be a typical menu?

[John_Hartley]

You will want to buy a copy of my book "Bully Beef & Biscuits" which will, literally, tell you all you need to know.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bully-Beef-Biscuits-Food-Great/dp/1473827450/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1460209323&sr=8-1&keywords=bully+beef+%26+biscuits

[johnboy]

Via the forum link of course

[John_Hartley]

Indeed so:

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=169635

[John_Hartley]

I forgot to welcome Jon to the Forum- and do so now.

By the by, Jon, you write that "of course, it was short". In fact, it wasnt. Repetitive, yes - but lots of it.

[Magnumbellum]

I

By the by, Jon, you write that "of course, it was short". In fact, it wasn't. Repetitive, yes - but lots of it.

The fact that some food rationing was introduced is clear evidence that not all food was plentiful.all the time.

One illustration I well remember hearing that even non-rationed foods could be spasmodic in appearance is the word going round that the local grocer's had received a supply of jam, quickly resulting in a queue forming of people bringing their own jar to be filled, limited by the shopkeeper to one jar-full per person. Fairly or unfairly, according to one's view, families could benefit by sending several children, each with a jar.

[John_Hartley]

The fact that some food rationing was introduced is clear evidence that not all food was plentiful.all the time.

I was responding to Jon's query about troops in France, rather than the home front situation.

However, my book also covers that in reasonable detail.

[johnboy]

I think the OP refers to conditions in France

[Magnumbellum]

Apologies, I overlooked the location of the question.

However, although I understand that troops able to visit estaminets in France had little difficulty in obtaining light meals, there were occasions when troops in the field felt constrained to raid local farms to eke out food.

[John_Hartley]

Certainly some instances of looting of abandoned farms in France. And looting of villages in Palestine.

But they seem to be generally rare occurances. As you indicate "extras" could always be bought in estaminets or, indeed, in the canteens which were operated behind the lines by the likes of the YMCA.