Reply #13: Time, of course, misses the point. [View All]

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They exaggerate the small story and miss the big one, all with their copyrighted smirk.

Trust me, the French may notice the insult and may retaliate on principle but I doubt anyone there cares if Americans miss out on the delights of quality food. Their Roquefort exports to the US are a tiny percentage of the total, and even then only the lower quality cheeses (as judged by European consumers) are shipped and the best kept for domestic consumption. The same is generally true for wine. I have had better meals and better wine at French truck stops than most American cities have to offer. Sorry.

The real story is the corruption of American food, from farm to table, over the last 50 years. There are great cheeses produced in the US, from Vermont to Oregon, but they are overwhelmed on production and price by a subsidized food industry whose motto ought to be "cheap fuel for worker bees".

If that isn't shame enough, along comes the outrage and France-bashing when they would dare say "no thank you" when offered inferior fare.