Comments on: Sandwich de Merguez: French Street-Food at its Best – A Podcast

By: Jonny & Amy

Jonny & Amy — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 14:30:09 +0000

Hey, Noelle. As much as we appreciate your comment (and, believe me, there is nothing we like more than starting a conversation about food history, tradition and authenticity, it is pretty obvious you simply looked at our pictures and didn’t read the post.

Had you read the post you would’ve noticed the following:
“As you can see from the photos, we added some fried leeks as a topping in what can only be described as a petty bourgeois touch, which the French revolutionaries of old would certainly have disproved of, but that’s freedom for you, right? In a similarly middle-class stylie (or sans culottes for those of you who’ve fought your way through Baudelaire’s Paris Spleen), we attempted to make our own version of a harissa sauce…”

So, yes, we did add those things that were not traditional… and alerted you to it! Maybe our Merguez Frites sandwich guy in Carcassone didn’t have harissa on him on a busy Bastille Day? YES, we were offered ketchup and mustard – we are not making it up.

And, yes, we were one of very few non French people buying the sandwiches that day. Original or not, this is how we had it. and it was pretty friggin good!

By: Noelle

Noelle — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 04:42:48 +0000

When was the last time we French people had Merguez sandwich with leeks & mustard or ketchup??? LOL..NEVER
Should have said modified version of Merguez sandwich..
The original is simply Fresh Baguette, Harissa, Merguez & Frittes!
Yes French & proud, and a foodie snob !

By: Jonny & Amy

Jonny & Amy — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 19:15:15 +0000

@Ray: thanks for reading. I appreciate your outrage but what happens if, as is actually the truth, the man who served us the merguez frites sandwich was from Algeria, had a lined face and no teeth? Would we be unable to say so for fear of stereotyping? Frankly, what we did isn’t stereotyping at all, it’s the exact opposite – i.e. describing the individual in question, rather than making general statements about a type of person. Perhaps you aren’t sure what stereotyping means?

By: Ray

Ray — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 18:45:11 +0000

‘Toothless Algerian man’? Why such awful descriptive and bigoted image of immigrants from North Africa? His looks have nothing to do with the fine and amazing cuisine of his country. I find your comments disgusting! Stick to food blogging and not stereotyping minorities! Thank you.

By: Vix

Vix — Wed, 11 May 2011 09:41:27 +0000

Wow, that looks fantastic! My favourite way to eat Merguez is in a crusty roll with tzatziki; the cool, lemony yoghurt is well balanced with the spices. I will have to try the frites next time.

By: Jonny & Amy

Jonny & Amy — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 17:57:41 +0000

@Clarke: they are delicious. What’s the name of the Atlanta street cart? Happy to plug it here.

By: Clarke

Clarke — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 15:28:22 +0000

my brother-in-law is making these sandwiches as a street vendor in Atlanta, GA. they’re delicious.

By: admin

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:52:35 +0000

@Gary – Thanks for the comment. It’s interesting you should mention that. I’ve not been to La Rochelle since 1989 when on a school trip I drank cognac for the first time, so I can’t speak to the availability of merguez there versus other places in France, but I feel like they, and other north African ingredients are pretty well accepted into the cannon of foods widely found in France, though they are certainly easier to find in Arab neighborhoods of the large cities.

By: Gary

Gary — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 21:37:09 +0000

All the time I was in Paris (over a year) somehow I never discovered merguez. However, when I transferred to La Rochelle I was introduced to merguez. Unlike in the photos, and unlike the ones I recently bought domestically, the merguez I had were smaller, spicier, and more flavorful. I am working on a recipe of my own so I can have the La Rochelle version anytime I want. How how I miss them!!

By: Bastille Day in Cobble Hill, Smith Street, Brooklyn | Danwin: Dan Nguyen, in short

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 02:13:00 +0000

[...] having a block party. Lots of Petanque and merguez (a baguette with sausage and french fries). This entry was posted in thoughts. Bookmark the [...]