The English contribution to world cuisine – the chip. – British actor and comedian John Cleese

If you want to politically succeed in France, it’s not by way of the Lloyd George rule. The former British premier had suggested keeping one’s conscience “well under control.” 

Being pragmatists, the French were more than likely to agree on this but would have added diet to the mix. 

Egg-zactly, zey would have eggs-claimed. More precisely, they would have suggested an omelette.

Not just any frittata. No, it’s the one from Mont Saint Michel, an island off Normandy – a region in the north of France.  Specifically, it’s the one from the Restaurant de la Mère Poulard which has been serving the public since 1888.

Some background first. The French take their cooking very seriously. It’s like, to make a croissant from scratch, you have to first create the universe. It’s like that sort of grand. 

I mean, I can melt butter with the best of them, but so can a hot day.  Most people mix flour and water and make glue but a Frenchman with artistry in his soul and passion in his heart can make a little miracle: with those ingredients plus a little salt and yeast, he can make a baguette.

Toasted and lightly buttered, they go down a treat especially during breakfast. It’s highly prized by those sections of the French military with a sense of history. Throughout the 20th century, those humble bread rolls have sustained countless French armies marching their way towards surrender. 

But we were talking about omelettes and their impact on politics, weren’t we? 

That particular omelette was invented by one Annette Poulard, a master chef whom Michelin himself had his eye on.  She had been running an inn on the island and she created the omelette to cater to pilgrims visiting the abbey on Mont Saint Michel.

Apparently, guests could only reach the island by land during low tide and, as such, would arrive at all hours. Poulard would quickly prepare her omelette of eggs, salt, pepper and local butter so that her guests could have something to eat while waiting for a more substantial meal.

But the egg dish was as light as a souffle and just as delicious. Couple that to the French love for superstition – they’d been the ones who invented triskaidekaphobia to begin with – and Bob’s your Uncle! 

Actually, Uncle Robert had nothing to do with it but, over the years, a legend developed that those politicians who eat the Omelette de la mère Poulard would go on to be  President of France.

The legend dates back to the contest for the Presidency between Georges Clemenceau and Paul Deschanel in 1920. While in the running, Clemenceau visited Poulard but did not eat her omelette as she was unwell at the time. Deschanel, however, did and won the race.  

Since then, it has been noted that those who won all ate the omelette – such as Charles de Gaulle, who made a family visit to Mont Saint Michel in October 1957 before going on to win another term as President in 1958.

Nicolas Sarkozy actually launched his 2007 presidential campaign in Mont Saint Michel. Indeed, he thoughtfully chomped his way through several omelettes – you couldn’t be too careful – before going on to win his campaign.

But that was then and even urban legends, like old generals, have to fade away. Emmanuel Macron thought the whole superstition fowl and he refused the omelette, preferring another egg dish for breakfast. 

He thought boiled eggs were hard to beat. 

ENDS