It's Flunch Time

Flunch is a French cafeteria chain which opened its first restaurant in 1971 in Lille. It has since grown to the extent that you rarely see an Auchan supermarket without an associated Flunch. In total there are about 160 restaurants across the country. It's owned by the same family that founded and still control most of the following companies (take a deep breath)... Alinéa, Aquarelle, Auchan, Boulanger, Cultura, Decathlon, In Extenso, Kiabi, Leroy Merlin, Norauto, Odyssey International network of French schools, Saint Maclou (amongst others).

We've been living in France for over 15 years, and in that time we have eaten in Flunch maybe a dozen times. Even though they have a reputation for being good value cafeteria style food, we've never quite cracked the system of how it works - in fact we usually come away wonder why it cost more than we expected. However, yesterday we made huge progress.

You take one of the white, odd shaped trays (this is important later) and make your choice from the large screens above the cashiers (and other places) you select the menu you want and the dessert (and entrée, if you're having one) that corresponds with that menu. Choose your drinks (they may or may not be included). Then go to the cashier, place your order and pay, and make your way to the kitchen. Hand your ticket over and you're presented with the meat part of your hot food. Then hit the freestyllee vegetable bar for chips (fries), a choice of hot vegetables, cheesy pasta, and other stuff. You can go back to that as many times as you like.

After you've eaten, you pile all the remainders on your white tray (remember that?) and put it in the racks provided. The little red trays don't fit.

Thus for 18€40 we had two sets of chicken nuggets, endless chips and veg, excellent if simple desserts, and a bottle of sparkling water.

Ace!