In a 2007 survey of national cuisines, a bistro is characterised as typically:
a neighborhood restaurant where one can partake of French home cooking, typically robust, earthy dishes such ascassoulet .... Bistros are not temples ofhaute cuisine, but places for affordable and simple country food.[1]
TheOxford Companion to Food comments that the idea of simple inexpensive food served in a French atmosphere has wide appeal, so that by the end of the 20th century the term had "begun to be annexed by more pretentious premises".[3][n 1]
Plaque about the legend of the origin of the word "Bistro" atLa Mère Catherine, 6, place du Tertre, Paris. (English: On March 30, 1814, theCossacks were the first to launch their very famous "bistro" here and, on the hill, the worthy ancestor of our bistros was born. 180th anniversary. Tourist Office of Old Montmartre)
The etymology is unclear. TheDictionnaire de l'Académie française dates the word from the 19th century term,bistro, "innkeeper", and suggests that it may be linked to thePoitevin wordbistraud ("little servant"), or tobistrouille ("cheap liquor"). It recommends the spelling "bistrot" in preference to "bistro".[5]
The word was used to describe a drinking establishment,estaminet or small popular local restaurant[5] where alcoholic beverages were served. In the early part of the 19th century, the term "gargote" signified a basic style of restaurant,[n 2] but the term "bistro" or "bistrot" is not recorded until towards the end of the century. An early appearance of the term in print is inLes deux gosses byPierre Decourcelle, published in 1880.[n 3]
A popular folk etymology, not attested by theDictionnaire de l'Académie française, claims that the word originated among Russian troops who, following theBattle of Paris in March 1814, occupied the city and visited these tiny places to drink a coffee. They might have shoutedbistro! bistro! (Russian:быстро,lit. 'quickly') when they wished to be served quickly. This etymology has been dismissed by linguists, because there is no attestation to the occurrence of the term until the late 19th century.[8]
The bistro became familiar in France throughout the 19th century. At this period, the Auvergnats (French people originating from the Auvergne region), often called the "bougnats",[9] transformed and developed the French bistro. Indeed, they started to offer meats with their choice of wines and spirits.[10] Another older definition of bistrot is a wine merchant serving simple cuisine along with tasting samples of offered wines to potential buyers.
In the 20th century, these places became very popular and widely represented the diversity of the Parisian life.[11] More than that, bistros became the hallmark of the French lifestyle and inspire a multitude of artists (photographs, writers, etc.).[citation needed]
^In the 21st century a Parisian bistro, Le Benoit, has aMichelin Guide star rating.[4]
^Defined by theDictionnaire de l'Académie française as a "Restaurant à bas prix, où l'on sert une nourriture médiocre" − a low-cost restaurant, serving mediocre food.[6]
^"un 'bistrot' à côté de chez elle ou ils se réunissent tous." – "a 'bistrot' next to her house where they all meet".[7]
Gold, David L. (2009). "The Alleged Russian Origin of French Bistro – Bistrot". In David L. Gold; Antonio Lillo Buades; Félix Rodríquez González (eds.).Studies in Etymology and Etiology. Alicante: Universidad de Alicante.ISBN978-8-47-908517-9.
Hyman, Peter; Mary Hyman (1999). "bistro". In Alan Davidson (ed.).The Oxford Companion to Food. Oxford: Oxford University Press.ISBN978-0-19-211579-9.
Porcelli, Joey (2007).The Gyros Journey: Affordable Ethnic Eateries Along the Front Range. Golden: Fulcrum.OCLC1200488715.
The dictionary definition ofbistro at Wiktionary