Have you ever sat down at a restaurant in France and realized the entire experience feels… different? The meal takes longer, the waiter seems oddly unbothered by your schedule, substitutions are met with distain, and somehow dinner starts feeling less like a transaction and more like a ritual.

This week, Emily and Caroline have invited gastronomy guide and chef Allison Zinder to explain how the restaurant was really invented. They dive into the surprisingly dramatic history of French restaurants, from medieval taverns and restorative broths to Michelin stars and modern dining culture, to uncover why eating out in France still feels unlike anywhere else in the world.

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