On French Food

On the plane back to Amsterdam I read Norman Bates’ letter (Feb. 21) and was surprised that he does not like French cuisine. In most European countries, eating is a social event and not a stowing away of enormous heaps of food with a fork in the right hand.

I’d rather eat coq au vin in a French restaurant at 9 p.m. than half a cow with piles of French fries in an American restaurant at 6 p.m. And guess what I’ll choose for breakfast: a cup of coffee and a croissant, rather than three eggs with bacon, ham, sausage, potatoes, hush puppies and pancakes floating in oil or butter. Bon appetit!

J.P.L. MANN

Netherlands