From frites to fine wine, from Gothic cathedrals to water-lily murals, there are many things to admire about French culture. Perhaps the least appreciated by Americans is the fact, as I discovered after two weeks in the land of berets and escargot, that the French love their porc products as much as we do. They even have bacon memes.

Well, that may or may not be true. But a meme that has garnered Internet fame builds upon the famous saying of the 17th-century English philosopher Francis Bacon: “Knowledge Is Power: France Is Bacon”… which ultimately inspired the image above.

The French love affair with bacon precedes Internet memes by centuries and is deeply embedded in French culture. For example, bacon is widely served for breakfast. (Good news for Americans: “crispy” bacon, as opposed to flaccid, fatty, lightly cooked bacon, seems to be making inroads.)

Outside the big cities, international retail chains have made few inroads. The retail scene in rural and small-town France is still dominated by boutiques and family restaurants, which account for much of the nation’s charm. The signage reflects the affinity for pigs, ham and bacon.

— JAB