French bread in Europe

Journalist Ludovic Bassand examines what passes for French bread abroad: "The French can rest assured! The bread of their Belgian, Luxembourgian and Dutch neighbours is much more expensive and does not taste as good. In Luxembourg, for example, it's easy to buy petrol, cigarettes or Red Bull but you cannot get a decent baguette! The product that goes by the name 'French' beyond France's borders is made of unsavoury, mass-produced dough and costs 1.45 euros. The sliced white bread, despite costing 2 euros, has an unappealing appearance. ... And in Belgium things are even worse! A baguette ... costs 1.35 euros and resembles the 'Parisian' only in name. ... The pre-baked baguette - a true abomination - costs 80 cents. ... If you travel further north to the Netherlands, ... the 'French flute' sells for an exorbitant 1.70 euros, while Turkish bread costs only 1.50 euros. ... Without being chauvinistic I can give you the following advice: you are better off doing without."

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