[irish4]

Went to a real expensive restaurant last night (not French), waitress asked if we wanted bottled or regular water...my response was bottled as long as it's not French. She said they serve Evian..I said forget it and you might want to consider making a change. She just smiled and said she would mention it to the owner. It's an admittedly small gesture, but it felt good!!

[Illbay]

Yes, you see, Evian is an example of an "imported food" product. A sales drop in Evian or Perrier or Ferrero-Rochet (sp) chocolates and the like, will be immediately felt IN FRANCE. (Yes, there are Americans in the "food chain"--importers, distributors and the like--but they do other business with non-French suppliers as well, and would likely not be as affected).

Again, this is far more effective than just reading a list of companies that are "French-owned," because most such are multinationals. Many "French" products are likely assembled elsewhere including here.

A hotel or motel, even though part of a "French" corporation, likely has more U.S. staff and management (even ownership in the case of franchisees) than French for their U.S. operations.

But the foodstuffs and ESPECIALLY the tourism--that hits 'em where they live!

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

I have a similar tale. The wife and I celebrated our anniversary at a very trendy, upscale restaurant in New Jersey. While we were perusing the wine list, I remarked to the waiter that it might take me a moment, since I had to make sure I didn't accidentally choose a French wine. I asked if others had been making similar remarks. He laughed and showed me the dessert menu, where the "Warm, Flaky Apple Tart" has replaced the "French Apple Tart." Apparently, a customer had pulled one of the dessert menus out of the plastic holder and crossed out the word, "French." The owner, seeing the handwriting on the wall, made the change. Of course, this won't affect France, but it is nice to know that the sentiment is growing.