Crêperie
http://azmartinique.com/sites/azmartinique.com/files/crepes.jpg
In March, my journey’s trip will be to Saint Martinique. This island was a former French colony, so their culture is heavenly influenced by the Caribbean and French. One popular dish I found common on Martinique menus were crepes. Crepe is a French word meaning pancake (originally called galettes for flat cakes). I have heard of Crepes before. I love how they are versatile as to what side dishes you can add to crepes. I expect crepes to taste differently in Martinique than in the United States. Most times in the States, different cultures assimilate their traditional dishes in order to satisfy Americans taste buds.
Origin & Background: Crepes originally were made from Buckwheat after it was introduced in Bertagne (Brittany) in the 12th century. Around the 20th century, white flour crepes became the norm when white wheat flour became affordable. To cook crepes, many used to cook them in “large cast-iron hot plates heated over a wood fire in a fireplace to hot plates that are now gas or electric heated. The batter is spread with a tool known as a rozel and flipped with a spatula” (Crepehistory, 2008). Common fillings for meal crepes include: asparagus, spinach, mushrooms, and various meat products. When they are sweet, they are called desserts. They can be filled with: jams, chocolate, ice cream, Nutella, fruit, nuts, cinnamon, syrup, whipped cream, etc.
Environmental: The common ingredients include flour, eggs, milk, and butter. These main ingredients all involve diary, an ingredient that is from animal agriculture. “Animal agriculture is responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, more than the combined exhaust from all transportation. Livestock and their byproducts account for at least 32,000 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year, or 51% of all worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. Livestock is responsible for 65% of all human-related emissions of nitrous oxide – a greenhouse gas with 296 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide, and which stays in the atmosphere for 150 years. Cows produce 150 billion gallons of methane per day” (Anderson, 2014). Animal agriculture takes an enormous toul on climate change, as stated in Professor’s Perdue presentation. When consumers purchase crepes, they are supporting animal agriculture directly or indirectly.
Cultural: February 2nd is La Chandeleur (‘the return of the light’). Families come together and eat dozens of crepes to celebrate the ending of winter and the coming of spring. This day is also known as Pancake Day in France as “it marks the end of the Christmas period coming exactly 40 days after Christmas and is a Catholic holiday, Candlemas” (Phoebe, 2016). This holiday has many agricultural and weather superstitions that surrounded the welfare and prosperity of the new season for citizens. La Chandeleur is associated with Candlemas, a Catholic holiday which is also on February 2nd. This holiday marks the midpoint of winter, the spring equinox, and is a festival that commemorates the ritual purification of Mary forty days after Jesus’s birth. Because crepes are have few ingredients and are easy to make, almost all ages, races, and socio-economic background consume crepes (or some form of crepes) in their Martinique diet.
Socio-economic/Politically: Weeks before La Chandeleur, supermarket aisles will be filled with the ingredients to make crepes. The demand is high because of La Chandeleur. During this time, the economy will see a boom in the due to the high demand of crepes. The agricultural field will also experience economic prosperity as the ingredients are also high in demand. Restaurant owners will see a growth in crepes sells as they continue the cycle of buying, cooking, and selling crepes (Phoebe, 2016). Although La Chandeleur is celebrated in many French European countries, many sources say this holiday is not celebrated in St. Martinique. After the abolition of slavery in 1848, the dominant colonial policy went through assimilation from the French colony. Examples include: the full extension of French education, language (French/Creole), food (crepes), religion (Catholic), and civil rights to all those living under the French flag.
Work Cited Page
http://www.cowspiracy.com/facts/
http://www.excusemyfrench.co.nz/a-little-crepe-history/
https://www.loumessugo.com/en/blog/entry/pancake-day-la-chandeleur-another-french-feast
http://projectbritain.com/year/candlemas.html
