WASHINGTON, Sept 15 (AFP) - Lawmaker Sheila Jackson Lee said Monday it's time to mend fences with US allies miffed over the Iraq war, so Congress should do away with "Freedom Fries."

In a fit of pique over France's opposition to the war, the House of Representatives ordered "French fries" and "French toast" out of its cafeterias.

The continued listing of "Freedom fries" on the menu could cost dollars and US lives, the Texas Democrat explained to her colleagues.

US President George W. Bush has been drumming up international support for the occupation and rebuilding Iraq, and Jackson Lee said the House should not let "Freedom fries" or "Freedom toast" stand in the way.

"Our State Department is now on a difficult diplomatic mission to bridge the divide," she said in a statement.

"A symbolic start to that effort would be reinstating foods in the House cafeterias and dining halls with their traditional "American" names: French toast and French fries."

"Delays in rebuilding international goodwill are costing American lives in Iraq and billions of dollars to the American taxpayers," she said.

"President Bush is now urging that all parties put aside 'past bickering,'" Jackson Lee said.

"For example, after months of dodging the question, the president's chef recently declared to the chefs to the world's heads of state, meeting in Paris recently, that French fries were never taken off of the White House menu."

"It is time to restore the air of civility and respect in the House of Representatives," she said

I agree - that whole thing was stupid to begin with. But that's what happens when politicians get involved with anything.

would that also do away with calling a French Kiss a "Victory Lip Lock"? Let's hope so. And yes the whole thing was stupid....besides, it hasn't stopped me from calling it French toast or French fries.

French fries = freedom fries, what are they free from...fat, grease?

french toast is that like a french kiss except you stick your tongue into a class of wine

It seems like people are regaining their brains and realizing that French != bad.

I'll go back to seeking out all the same French products I purchased prior to the onset of this international tiff : French's mustard, French dressing & French bread. I've never developed a taste for French wine, preferring the German Rhine wines instead.

So you can "french" mustard, bread, and dressings? Wow I have so much to learn :D

"The continued listing of "Freedom fries" on the menu could cost dollars and US lives, the Texas Democrat explained to her colleagues."

This is even more silly than the original idea to rename thin cut deep fried potatos from "french fries" to 'freedom fries"

the whole thing is such a non-issue.

BTW, can someone explain me what is a "french toast" ?

Originally posted by Astrapol2
BTW, can someone explain me what is a "french toast" ?

French toast.................breakfast item.................eat it with powdered sugar, honey, maple syrup...sometimes butter.......sometimes a pancake alternative? Ring a bell astra? (maybe there's sarchasm somewhere in that that I missed......oh well).

French toast is bread dipped in battered egg and then fried, covered with butter and syrup, quit delicious, an dvery filling.

Intersting. In France we call this "pain perdu" which means something like "spared bread" because it is a way of using old bread.

I have been looking for french culinar expressions including "american" and only found two : "sandwich américain" is a sandwich with meat and frenchfries inside, and "filet americain" is a raw hamburger mixed with egg and various spices.

A sandwich with meat & fries inside?? Raw ground beef mixed with egg & spices? I'm really drawing a blank on both of those, Astra, although the second choice sounds like steak tartare.

http://www.luxuryweb.com/Recipes/Bisque_d_Ecrevisses/Steak_Tartare/steak_tartare.htm

exactly -i was not sure how you call it. In fact it is known as "filet americain" only in the north pf France where I livre, elsewhere it is called "Steack tartare".

About the "sandwich americain", it was the name given to this peculair sandwich in Nantes, my hometown, and precisely at "Macatia", a small sandwich shop where I used to go when I was a student. I a not sure such a strange sandwich even exists anywhere else in the world !

hey astropol, have you ever heard of la ha Du Puit? I went there for a while when I was in france, and it was the only place in the whole country where I wasnt reduced to eating old french bread and warm beer.

No. Where and what is it ?

Originally posted by astrapol2
No. Where and what is it ? Hey Astro........where is that protest taking place at? The one from your pic.

Originally posted by HaVoK
Hey Astro........where is that protest taking place at? The one from your pic.
Trafalgar Square. A similar picture is available from this Fox News article (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,103719,00.html)

Originally posted by astrapol2
No. Where and what is it ?

It is a little village in Normandy

What is a "French toast?"

I dunno! I thought it wuz when ya raise yer wine glass and say: "Salute!"

Well, at least I didn't... waffle... on this issue... ;)

Here's 2:

Au-dessus des lèvres, par les gommes, regardez hors de l'estomac, ici il vient !

Voici la boue dans votre oeil !

Originally posted by In Odder Words
What is a "French toast?"

I dunno! I thought it wuz when ya raise yer wine glass and say: "Salute!"

Well, at least I didn't... waffle... on this issue... ;)
::dies::

Sorry, 'bout that, Borg!

But ya didn't expect some kinda... syrupy sweet... answer, didja???

:0

Gee, I misspelled ":)" I wunder what ":0" means...

Originally posted by In Odder Words
Gee, I misspelled ":)" I wunder what ":0" means...
I think it's similar to :eek:.