Paris and Soupe a’ l’ognion

Paris and Soupe à l'ognion 

Soupe à l'ognion is an emblematic dish of Parisian cuisine. It is said to have been invented by King Louis XV late one night at his hunting lodge when he was very hungry. When he only found onions, butter, and champagne in the pantry, he decided to use the three ingredients to make the French onion soup for the very first time. Paris has utilised simple ingredients (plus) to build a city and like onion soup is rich, difficult to break into, very filling, unable to be consumed in one sitting and presentation is everything! 

However what is truly expressive of  Paris is the Seine River. It is a constant in a city that has experienced much trauma for its people over centuries and also in recent times. The left and right bank histories reflect both a city divided as well as a city that can build bridges and draw together people in times of hardship and need. 

The city has for generations built iconic landmarks and has nurtured a cest la vie attitude but it is the flow of the river passing by those icons that provides the city with its beating and fast flowing heart. Its banks have and still today  provide an outlet for Parisiennes to walk, to fish, to swim, to dance, to relax, to live, to boat, to haul and to rough sleep. It’s a melting pot of those who have made Paris home for better or for worse. 

They come from this place and far away lands that were colonised and suffered the humiliation of being captives in their own lands and their cultural artefacts and cultures stolen. They now have a legitimate place in this city and continue to confront being French with the other. Their ways of being and doing is an amalgam of cultures. The colonising nation state is now being colonised by people from Africa and the Middle East. 

Paris is however not particularly an hospitable city. Yes there are the one offs that keep one engaged and enthralled; the generous support on the streets, in the bars, restaurants and cafes. But generally there is no time to struggle with those with a poor grasp of the language. 

This is a city of neighbourhoods. They are distinguishable not by a unique built form. The design and height of the apartment buildings that frame the boulevards, roads and laneways is proscribed; nor by the ubiquitous corner restaurants and bars with their plates de jour. No the uniqueness is in the people who inhabit the neighbourhoods, its buildings, shops and footpaths. Each is tempting to explore. This is serendipitous city. 

The Olympic hype is pervasive. There is both an air of anticipation and a foreboding as the Olympic Games closed in on the city. The city is certainly under repair, refurbishment and construction for the arrival of athletes and an estimated 15 million tourists. The gold statues have already been given their touch up. And QR codes are now on offer for those living outside to gain access to Paris and the opening and major events will only be for those with seats.  

For small businesses which dominate the neighbourhoods that make up Paris the Games offer little, perhaps less than what they now are getting. But the Olympic torch will extinguish and the hype will come and go and leave little imprint on a city that has already established its DNA. 

France and Europe will remain in the eye of the political storm that spreads  a dark cloud across the region and beyond. Simplistic responses will gain traction as misinformation and disinformation reveals cracks in the union of European countries with hard right parties gaining influence in centre parties. Climate change threatens lifestyles and life supporting production and services. 

These are critical times given the increasing uncertainty in multi lateralism, disarray in international law order and democracy under threat. But the Seine will continue to flow and Soupe à l'ognion will continue to be an emblematic cuisine dish for Parisiennes. Maybe!