Everything French

Coco Chanel

2011-08-19T09:37:00.000-07:00

Today is the 128th anniversary of the birthday of Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel. She was born August 19, 1883 in Saumur, France.

Coco's education was in an orphanage and in the school of hard knocks. From very humble beginnings to one of the most celebrated and memorable women of the 20th century, Coco learned the hard way how to rise out of the ashes. What a gal!

Her name and the empire she created promises to continue well into the 21st century. Flip through the fashion magazines and you see an element of the iconic Chanel style on every page.

Question: What fragrance in the Chanel collection is closely associated with this day?

Days of the Week/Les Jours de la Semaine

2011-08-15T13:10:00.000-07:00

In France, the week starts on Monday and ends on Sunday. I think because in Genesis it says that God created the earth in six days and rested on the seventh. Also, of each word for the day, the first letter is not capitalized.
Here is rundown of the days:

lundi (Monday): Is the first day of the week and is named for the Moon (la lune)

mardi (Tuesday): Second day of the week and is named for the planet Mars (Mars)

mercredi (Wednesday): Third day of the week and is named for the planet Mercury (Mercure)

jeudi (Thursday): Fourth day and named for the planet Jupiter (Jupiter)

vendredi (Friday): Fifth day and named for the planet Venus (Vénus)

samedi (Saturday): Sixth day and named for the planet Saturn (Saturne)

dimanche (Sunday): Seventh day and named for God (Dieu)

Quick, Cool and Easy Summer Vegetables

2011-07-22T11:59:00.000-07:00

If you are tired of salads and need a way to have your daily allowance of vegetables do as the French do and serve them at room temperature with a vinaigrette.

Here is what you do:

Boil or steam your favorite vegetable and drain of water. Our favorites are asparagus, green beans, cauliflower, uncooked shredded carrots, summer squash and zucchini.
If you prefer a more robust, smoky flavor, use grilled vegetables. The secret is to let them cool to room temperature. Too hot or too cold and they lose their flavor.

Take a look at Vinaigrette Dressing Secrets and compose your dressing. You can pour the dressing over the vegetables and serve or serve the dressing on the side.

Since this is summer I like to put mint, chives and parsley from my little herb garden in the dressing. Shallots are a nice addition with a little salt and pepper to taste.

This would be served as an entrée.

Weather/Le Temps

2011-07-21T11:58:00.000-07:00

Weather. It's something we all enjoy when mother nature brings us beautiful, sunny mornings. Unfortunately, we take her for granted and she has to remind us from time to time who is really in charge. Depending on her mood she can offer us a nice sunny day or show her frustration with us mere mortals in her moody thunderstorms. Either way we are at her mercy.

Weather has been an inspiration for many. How we choose to respond is entirely up to us. We can let rainy days and Mondays get us down or we can sing in the rain. Our perspective can make a difference between a "bad day" or a "wet, rainy day". There are many times I must remind myself to pull on the rain gear and enjoy the fun such a day can bring.

Here are a few common terms to get us started:

Weather forecast - la météo

Weather is awful - Il fait un temps affreux

Weather is nice - Il fait beau

Sun - le soleil

Clouds - les nuages

Storm - l'orage

Lightning - les éclairs

Wind - le vent

Hail - la grêle

Rain - la pluie

Snow - la neige

Fog - le brouillard

Quick and Easy Temp Tip

Keep in mind that France is on the metric system. This can be rather confusing for us in the USA. Here are a couple of tips to help you figure an approximate temperature.

0 Celcius = 32 Fahrenheit
16 Celcius = 61 Fahrenheit
28 Celcius = 82 Fahrenheit

The Lantern by Deborah Lawrenson

2011-06-16T06:12:00.000-07:00

The Lantern: A Novel
If you love the sights, sounds, fragrance and all that is Provence; then The Lantern is a must read. British author Deborah Lawrenson, who now resides in the Lubéron, promises a tale of the ghosts of times' past inspired by a crumbling hamlet in Provence.

Deborah's UK audience are able to enjoy this summer read sometime this June 2011. Unfortunately, those of us in the USA must wait until September 2011. Tant pis pour nous! I can't wait so I pre-ordered The Lantern on my Kindle with a promised delivery date of August 2011.

More information on Deborah and The Lantern: Deborah Lawrenson

Traou Mad de Pont-Aven

2011-06-15T07:18:00.000-07:00

This is the deluxe collector's edition tin box version. "Traou Mad" means "Choses Bonnes" (things good) in Breton, the (official) language of Brittany. Without going into the details of what's in those galettes (let's just mention salted butter, the main ingredient in fine "cuisine bretonne"), you may want to consume in moderation. No need to go to Pont-Aven to get them since they're available in all fine French "grandes surfaces" like Leclerc, Auchan, etc. It's hard to describe how they taste but, first, they are of the crumbly kind and, second, the combination of salted butter and sugar is kinda right on.

On the face of the cookie, it says "Traou Mad" and above it, there's the symbol of Brittany: the ermine (winter coat of the stoat).

The "galettes de Pont-Aven" are so famous they made a movie of the same name in the 70s (but has nothing to do with cookies).

Jacques Dutronc

2011-06-14T16:01:00.000-07:00

Jacques Dutronc is one of those artists that got started in the 60s and whose tunes have not aged too much (when compared to most of that era) probably because of his talent (he writes the music) and the clever lyrics that usually came from a guy named Jacques Lanzmann, a pretty famous writer/songwriter. Back then, a lot of "happening" tunes were covers of american hits by guys like Johnny Halliday, Claude François, Richard Anthony, and many others (fans and interprets were commonly referred to as the "yéyés"). Jacques Dutronc never got into that cover mania and as Martha would say, that's a good thing.

He's been making tunes through the decades but he was definitely most prolific in the 60s. Since he's done a bunch of movies, he has always been in the public eye. His wife of many years is Françoise Hardy, a pretty famous singer that also get her start in the 60s.

In the 80s, he teamed up with a monument of French music, Serge Gainsbourg, for an album called "Guerre et Pets" ("War and Farts"), a play on words at the expense of Tolstoï's novel, "Guerre et Paix".

I think he's been wearing Ray Ban sunglasses since the 80s.

Il est 5h, Paris s'éveille

Les cactus

L'Opportuniste. In the vid, you can see seated from left to right: Jean Yanne, Sacha Distel, Gilbert Bécaud, Francis Blanche, and Joe Dassin who seem to play around with their jackets. It's because Jacques says "je retourne ma veste" in the chorus. "Retourner sa veste" (literally, "turn one's jacket inside out") is an expression often used in politics, when a politician changes his mind about something (being opportunistic, thus the title of the song). This song was covered in the 80s by Indochine.

L'Hymne à l'Amour. This is from "Guerre et Pets" and the lyrics are typical of Gainsbourg, that is, not too politically correct.

30 Avril 1245

2011-04-30T20:01:00.000-07:00

Philippe III, called "Le Hardi" (The Stout or the Bold), was born in Poissy to the House of Capet. King of France from 1270 to 1285, he was the son of Louis IX and Margaret of Provence and involved in the Crusades with his father. His parents were more aggressive personalities whereas Philippe III was more retired and quiet and was called Le Hardi because of his horsemanship and boldness in battle.

Married to Isabella of Aragon and Maria of Brabandt, he sired 8 children. He died at the age of 40 of dysentery during the Siege of Girona.

Dante refers to Philippe III in his "Divine Comedy" as the small-nosed.

French Saying - Qui vole un oeuf vole un boeuf

2011-04-28T13:01:00.000-07:00

Who steals an egg steals an ox

It's really supposed to be œ for both oeuf and boeuf as the o and e are "liés". Anyways, that saying is probably from back in the day when having an ox was a real big deal and stealing one was an even bigger one.

The verb "voler" means "to steal" in this context but it can also mean "to fly".

You pronounce the "f" in both oeuf and boeuf but be aware that when you use the plural (oeufs and boeufs), you don't! Talking about boeufs, there's another French saying that says: Il ne faut pas mettre la charrue avant les boeufs, which means: One should not put the plow before the oxes, and which corresponds in English to: Don't put the cart before the horse.

Unlike in English where there's a distinction between the animal (ox) and its meat (beef), there's no such thing in French as the word boeuf refers to both.

French Saying - La nuit, tous les chats sont gris

2011-04-27T15:00:00.000-07:00

At night, all cats are gray

All cats are gray in the dark

Well, this is due to the fact that humans (and probably other species) can't see colors when there's next to no light and therefore, everything (not just cats) appears to be gray. It's got something to do with our eye structure (the rods and the cones).

I am pretty sure this particular saying has a bunch of more profound meanings. It may mean that people you don't know all look/seem the same (night/darkness would refer to the unknown) and it's only when you get to interact with them (get to know them) that they become different from one another. Well, that's my own personal take on it anyways.

French Saying - Quand le chat n'est pas là, les souris dansent

2011-04-15T13:55:00.000-07:00

"Quand le chat n'est pas là, les souris dansent."

When the cat is not around, the mice dance. The problem is: How do those poor mice know that the cat is not around? Unless he was seen being hustled away to the vet in a carrier, the typical mouse would be hard pressed to know for sure.

Anyways, there's the same idiom in English but it reads a bit differently: When the cat's away, the mouse will play.

It's not a mouse and it has little to do with idioms (actually, it does - see later) but the French name for Tweety, the yellow canary, is Titi. What about Sylvester, the cat? It's "Grosminet" ("gros" is big/fat and "minet" is cat/kitty).

That's "Titi et Grosminet" (in French). Titi always says "j'ai cru voir un rominet" (yes, that's "I thought I saw a pussycat") whenever Grosminet is near. I guess that qualifies as another idiom.

Nutella and the Peanut Butter Paradox

2011-04-15T07:07:00.000-07:00

As you may (or may not) know, peanut butter is pretty big in the US of A. We have the peanut butter and jelly sandwich, staple food of our youth, and a whole lot of candy bars whose primary ingredient (at least, as far as we can tell) is peanut butter (Butterfinger and Reese's peanut butter cups to name a couple but there are tons more).

In France, I don't think JIF (the peanut butter in a jar) is a household name and you would probably find Nutella (the very delicious chocolate and hazelnut spread) in its place at the usual grocery store. Nutella is commonly found in the US but, in France, it has a cult status, and that's another story altogether.

Peanut butter is just not popular in France (and probably in other places as well). Would I be able to name a single French candy bar that has peanut butter in it? No, and I kinda know my candy bars even though my knowledge of all things sugary is not what it used to be. Do you know of any? You can find candy bars with peanuts (like M&M's, formerly known as "Treets", or Snickers) in France but that's a completely different animal.

Oh yeah, in French, peanut butter is "beurre de cacahuète".

French Saying - Pierre qui roule n'amasse pas mousse

2011-04-14T12:37:00.000-07:00

"Pierre qui roule n'amasse pas mousse."

Yeah, it has nothing to do with the first name Peter although it does refer to humans in general. Literally, it can be translated as "Stone that rolls doesn't gather moss". For the (wiser) French, it means that you have to stay put somewhere for a while in order to garner wealth.

Hmmm, it's probably one of those sayings that haven't aged too well.

If you think about it, it could have another meaning, the exact opposite of the accepted one if you convince yourself that moss ("mousse") is not a good thing.

There was a "Les Simpson" episode titled "Bière qui coule amasse mousse", a little play on words, which translates to "Beer that flows collects foam/froth".

Chez Loulou: Moving to France - A Tutorial - Part One

2011-04-11T05:08:00.000-07:00

Some great beginning information if you are planning to do the move to France. Check out Loulou's advice to get you started.

Chez Loulou: Moving to France - A Tutorial - Part One

6 Avril 1580 - This Day in French History

2011-04-06T08:13:00.000-07:00

At around 6:00PM the Dover Straits Earthquake occurred in England and Northern France (Flanders). According to the Channel Tunnel Study it had a magnitude of 5.3-5.9 and occurred in the lower crust of the earth and therefore was felt over a large area. This is one of the largest earthquakes recorded in history.

As it happened during Easter Week, it was seen as an omen. The belfrey of the Notre Dame of Lorette collapsed as well as several buildings in Lille. Peasants reported that they felt a rumble in the fields and saw the ground roll in waves.

5 Avril-This Day in French History

2011-04-05T02:01:00.000-07:00

Pope Peschalis I crowns Lotharus I co-emperor of France in 823

Duchess Anne ML de Orleans, the Grande Mademoiselle, dies at age 65 in 1693

The British take Grenada, West Indies from the French in 1762

Jean-Honoré Fragonard, French artist is born in 1732

Joseph Louis François Bertrand, French mathematician, dies in 1900

4 Avril 1688

2011-04-04T07:05:00.000-07:00

This day in French history.

Today is the day of the birth of Joseph-Nicolas Delisle. He studied astronomy under Joseph Lieutaud and Jacques Cassini.

Later, he was called upon to run the School of Astronomy for Czar Peter the Great in St. Petersburg, Russia.

When he returned to Paris in 1747, he built an observatory in the Palace of Cluny.

In 1732 he developed the Delisle temperature scale.

A crater on the Moon and Asteroid 12742 are named after him.

French Eye Lining with Kohl

2011-03-08T07:58:00.000-08:00

This technique is a bit tricky at first, but once you practice this eye lining a few times it becomes quick and easy. Here is what you need:

1 kohl eyeliner pencil any color
1 eye pencil sharpener

Hands washed and dried, free of lint

Sharpen the kohl pencil
Look straight into a mirror
Hold the kohl pencil straight to the underneath lash area of the upper eyelid (perpendicular)
With opposite hand, lift the top lashes a bit
With the tip of the kohl pencil apply the color into the underneath base of the lashes using short strokes
Repeat on other eye

Even though this technique is dated back to ancient Egypt, the French cosmetic companies have perfected it. When you do your kohl eye lining this way you have a more natural look and it will give more definition to your eyes. You can also line your eyes above the lashes for a more dramatic look. When you blink, some of the kohl liner may transfer to lower lash line...this is great and will look more natural.

Some things to be aware of when you do this eye lining technique:

Hands must always be clean
Always freshly sharpen the pencil before doing this on each eye
ONLY use a kohl pencil - other pencils have too much wax in them and will irritate your eyes over time
If you wear hard contact lenses DO NOT do this technique
If you wear soft contact lenses use your own discretion as to whether this technique is for you
If you have sensitive eyes or any problems with your eyes, this technique may not be for you. Consult your doctor.
As always, work carefully and slowly to avoid poking yourself in the eye.

The key to good eye lining in general is to get it into the lash base.

UPDATE...UPDATE...UPDATE
I was just working with John Fussell, Global Makeup Artist for Chanel yesterday and he showed us how to achieve this technique in a different way:

Line eyes on the lower rim of the eye above the lashes with a clean kohl pencil. Squeeze your eyes shut. The kohl is soft enough that you will transfer the kohl to the upper lash line. You may have to do this a few times to get the effect you want. John indicated they do this backstage at the fashions shows because they have to work quickly.

The difference between the two techniques is that you will have a darker and thicker line on the bottom lashes and it will not look as natural but more dramatic.

Bernard Lavilliers

2011-03-03T17:01:00.001-08:00

Bernard Lavilliers is from Saint-Etienne, the city made famous by Manufrance (it was a bit like Sears but mostly mail order), "Les Verts", the football (soccer) team that almost won the European Cup in 1976, and probably many other things. A pretty early album of his is actually called "Le Stéphanois" (yeah, the people that live in Saint-Etienne are called Stéphanois).

Lavilliers has always been giving the image of a tough guy that's been around (he does wear leather pants after all). When he started his career in the late 60s, he was really a cabaret act heavily influenced by Léo Ferré. At one point, he was really into the culture and rhythms of Jamaica and Brazil and it really showed in his music. Career wise, he reached his peak in the 80s with some wonderful albums like "O Gringo" and "Nuit d'amour". Can't say I have followed him much after the rather disappointing "État d'urgence" which has nevertheless a pretty strong duet with Nicoletta ("Idées noires").

Bernard Lavilliers - Traffic

Bernard Lavilliers & Nicoletta-Idées noires

Bernard LAVILLIERS + Ray BARETTO - Pierrot la lame

Gérald De Palmas

2011-02-28T17:59:00.000-08:00

What can be said about Gérald De Palmas is that he's not too prolific. His first album came out in 1994 (La dernière année), his 2nd in 1997 (Les lois de la nature), his 3rd in 2000 (Marcher dans le sable, that's the one I would recommend), his 4th in 2004 (Un homme sans racines) and his 5th in 2009 (Sortir).

He was in a somewhat famous band before going solo called "Les Max Valentin" under his real name, Gérald Gardrinier. Etienne Daho took them under his wings for a while until they vanished into thin air.

Gérald De Palmas - Sur La Route

Gerald De Palmas - Regarde moi bien en face

Gérald de Palmas - j'en rêve encore

Gérald De Palmas - Elle Habite Ici

Hubert-Félix Thiéfaine

2011-02-28T17:38:00.000-08:00

Hubert-Félix Thiéfaine has been around the block since he started making music, or more exactly words, since the 70s. He's some kind of a poet with lyrics that are kinda out there. His influences include great French poets like Rimbaud and Verlaine. He really doesn't get much air or radio play, doesn't make video clips but he's got a cult following that fills up pretty much any venue he performs at. He's like the Grateful Dead of French music.

Thiefaine - Soleil cherche futur

Hubert-Felix Thiefaine - Sweet Amanite Phalloïde Queen

Hubert-Félix Thiéfaine - Exil sur planète fantôme

Zazie

2011-02-27T14:46:00.000-08:00

Zazie, whose real name is Isabelle Marie Anne de Truchis de Varennes (her dad is a baron), started her career as a fashion model and it's only in 1992 (she was born in 1964) that she released her first album "Je, Tu, Ils". She's made a bunch of albums since then, namely "Zen", "Made in Love", "La Zizanie", "Rodéo" and "Totem".

Her nickname comes from the 1959 book "Zazie dans le métro" by author Raymond Queneau (there's also a movie of the same title by Louis Malle).

Rue de la Paix - Zazie

Zazie - Des Rails

By the way, the "Rue de la Paix" title is a reference to the most expensive property to own when playing the French monopoly. She's actually saying "Mettre un hôtel Rue de la Paix" in the chorus, which means, "Put/place an hotel on Rue de la Paix". don't know, maybe it's good to know that he 2 most desirable streets to own in French monopoly are the Champs-Elysées and Rue de la Paix, the latter being slightly more expensive and right next to the starting space. They correspond to Park Place and Boardwalk in the American version of the game.

Crêperie Amann Rik

2011-02-27T09:57:00.000-08:00

While in Quimper we were fortunate enough to dine in this little establishment. Amann Rik is just enough of a respectable hole-in-the-wall restaurant where it is comfy and cozy with a touch of exotic shabbiness but without the ewwww factor that can taint such places.

The menu is all about crêpes in many different varieties. Be careful when ordering and start off light because the idea here is to eat course after course of different crêpes. Once you finish one course the server will hand you the menu again for you to order your next course. It is up to you to tell her when you are finished.

I started with a rather plain crêpe with just a little butter and sugar. Then graduated on to my next one with an egg and some ham. Finally, for desert, I had a crêpe with bananas and drizzled with chocolate...yum! Throughout the meal we enjoyed a few bottles of cider. A coffee or herbal tea to digest and then on our way to visit and explore Quimper.

Crêperie Amann Rik
11 rue Elie Fréron
29000 Quimper
Tél. 02 98 95 17 29

Etienne Daho

2011-02-27T08:02:00.001-08:00

Etienne Daho has been on the French music scene for quite some time now. He was there in the 80s, 90s and he is still going strong in the 21st century. Etienne was born in Algeria but he really comes from Rennes, the "capital" of Brittany but most importantly the capital of "new wave" French Rock (la nouvelle vague) back in the early 80s.

In the 80s, his tunes were very poppy (listen to "Tombé pour la France" for example) but, as time passed and his tastes evolved, his songs became much more refined and probably less commercial.

He has worked with pretty much all the greats of French music (some were also his idols, in particular, Françoise Hardy and Serge Gainsbourg) making tunes for them or performing duets. He studied English at the university of Rennes, has always enjoyed going to London or New-York to work with English speaking producers or musicians and doesn't mind singing in English once in a while.

Etienne Daho - Tombé pour la France

Etienne Daho - Week-end à Rome

Etienne Daho - Bleu Comme Toi

Etienne Daho - Comme un igloo

Etienne Daho - Idéal

Indochine

2011-02-26T11:15:00.001-08:00

Indochine is a French band that was pretty popular in the 80s with its poppy new wave tunes heavily influenced by the Orient (in the lyrics, at least). Their biggest hit of that era is called "L'aventurier" which is pretty much all about "Bob Morane", a "bande dessinée" (comic book) hero.

After a few more hits and albums, the band kinda fell (like so many others) into oblivion. Well, until ... what is probably the biggest comeback in French music history. In 2002, Indochine released a new album kinda out of nowhere called "Paradize" which became a huge commercial success. In 2005, "Alice & June", loosely based on "Alice in Wonderland", came out with great anticipation and it was another big success for Indochine. The singer and front man of Indochine is named Nicola Sirkis. His twin brother, Stéphane, was in the band pretty much from the start but he sadly passed away in 1999.

Indochine feat. Melissa Auf Der Maur - Le Grand Secret

Indochine - J'Ai Demandé A La Lune

Indochine - Pink Water

Indochine - L'Aventurier

(French) Indochina refers to the former French colony which consisted of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodge. It remained a French Colony until the lost battle of Dien Ben Phu between the French forces and the Viet Minh. After the French left, Vietnam was split in two countries: the North (communist) and the South (backed by the US).

Le Jogging - A La Francaise

2011-02-15T14:44:00.001-08:00

Jogging and other forms of organized exercise are not usually seen in France, I think. Perhaps in the cities, but I personally have never seen it. Not once in all the times I have had the pleasure of visiting France these past 20 plus years have I ever seen jogging...bicycling, yes; jogging no.

Until one day, after one of Lorraine's sumptuous Sunday dinners we found ourselves in Pierre's car and on our way to Henri's sister, Bertille's, house. Smoothly sliding along on the road between Auteuil and Montainville we were all comfortably settled in and enjoying the early autumn scenery of farmers' fields getting ready for their final harvests. Everything was wide open and flat so adjacent roads connecting to the main road were easily seen. Suddenly, I looked off to my left and saw a man frantically running down one of these roads waving his arms.

I kiddingly said to Pierre, "Is that a friend of yours? I think he wants you to stop. Or maybe he is just out for a jog."
Forgetting that my American humor can be lost in translation, Pierre couldn't understand how I would think that this guy was his friend. Did I naively think that he knew everyone in France?

Just as I was starting to explain myself as my husband, Henri, rolls his eyes thinking, "Oh no! Here we go again!", we come upon a horse happily trotting along the main road. Of course, I just had to blurt out, "Anyone know how to stop a horse?" Foot in mouth disease is so hard to cure!

Pierre politely pulled his car over to the side of the road allowing the local jogger to get his horse. All was well as we continued on a sunny autumn day enjoying the scenery on our way to visit Bertille.

I dedicate this post to my friend and colleague, Becka, who said after I told her this little story, "You should write about that." Duh! Why didn't I think of that? Merci for the reminder, Becka!

Angélique - Marquise des Anges

2011-02-08T15:54:00.000-08:00

You cannot get more femme fatale than this girl. Written by French author Anne Golon starting in the late 1950's and she continues to write giving us more about the fantastic life of this beloved French heroine Angelique.

Most easily found in France with more books to the series that are not yet translated into languages other than French. In the USA and other countries one has to scour the used book shops for the series of the first 9 books.

The searching is worth it if you are a fan of Historical Romance Fiction written with an intelligent voice. This series is way more than just your average bodice ripper. Anne has carefully and meticuosly researched life in the time of Louis XIV and his court and life in general. One can also find movies made in France during the 1960's that are nicely done for that time.

Here is a list of the nine books that you can search for in English:
Angélique
Angélique and the King
Angélique in Barbary
Angélique in Revolt
The Countess Angélique
The Temptation of Angélique
Angélique in Love
Angélique and the Demon
Angélique and the Ghosts

The official website: www.worldofangelique.com

Château d'Ivry-la-Bataille

2011-02-03T07:00:00.000-08:00

This is for the more adventurous at heart. To get to the ruins of the château you must walk for a while up a very steep but wide path. I am not the fittest of people but took my time and made it up there. It was well worth the trouble.

Once there you can walk around the ruins. Do be careful because if you slip or fall the tant pis pour vous (too bad for you) rule applies. It is your responsibility to watch your step and watch any children and animals you may have with you. Also, we noticed that teenagers like to hang out here. They seemed to be school kids and not up to any trouble.

This area, as well as most of Normandy, saw a lot of action during both the French and English occupations. The original ruins date from 960 and this makes it the oldest medieval construction in Normandy. This castle passed back and forth into French and English possession until March 14, 1590 when the Huguenots (Protestants) under the French King Henri IV defeated the Catholics under the Duke of Mayenne.

The view of the town and the Eure River are amazing and you can see why this was a great strategic place to put this fortress.

Château d'Ivry-la-Bataille

La Joconde aka Mona Lisa

2011-01-27T19:19:00.001-08:00

The shy, knowing smile serenely looks out at us from behind her protective bullet-proof case. La Joconde is now the most famous and recognizable painting on the planet. Housed in the Louvre in Paris she is privileged to meet everyone that graces its corridors. For over 500 years she has been lovingly protected, coveted, and abducted with a few assassination attempts made now and then. What an adventurous life! I don't think in her wildest dreams did Lisa del Giocondo ever imagine she would be so famous.

For more information on the Louvre: Musée du Louvre

Quimper/Kemper

2011-01-21T10:41:00.000-08:00

If you are interested in ceramics or faience, I strongly suggest you visit Quimper while in the Brittany region of France. Quimper (or in the Breton language Kemper) is the most traditional region of Brittany in their proud display of their Celtic and Breton heritage.

There are three things you want to pay attention to in Quimper: the oldest Gothic structure in lower Brittany, Cathedrale de Saint-Coretin; the best crepes and cider and the HB Henriot faience factory. Francoise, Pierre, Henri et moi had the pleasure of a guided workshop tour in which we were able to see all phases of faience production. This, of course, ended in their shop where we could browse and take a piece or two home with us (which we did). If you do go here, allow 1 hour for the tour. It is well worth it. For more informations go to: HB Henriot

HINT: In the shop there is an area where you can purchase mismatched pieces or seconds. These are pieces that did not quite meet their quality standards but are still nice all the same. I purchased the Noel plate in this area and for the life of me cannot figure out what made it a "second". They also make and sell jewelry.

Soupe de Tomate - Tomato Soup

2011-01-19T07:30:00.000-08:00

As a kid my mother would make for me the usual tomato soup from a can. Was not a favorite of mine. She would then try to dress it up with popcorn, noodles, crackers and stuff to make it more interesting. The only problem the additions did not cover up the tinny taste of the can.

Flash forward years later...we are at Jacques and Lorraine's house in France and what appears on the table? You guessed it, tomato soup. But not just any tomato soup. After I enjoyed the fresh goodness and the meal was over, I just had to ask. What brand soup was that? How was it made? To my surprise it is freshly made and very easy to do (facile à faire).

Here is what you do:

4 medium tomatoes, washed, cored, seeded and cut in quarters
1 medium potato, washed, peeled and cut in cubes
1 medium to large carrot (depending on how sweet you want your soup),washed,peeled and cut in pieces
1 small onion, peeled and cut in quarters
salt and pepper to taste

Put in a large pot, cover with water and cook until all the vegetables are done. Whiz with a hand blender to a puree. Cook for about another 10 minutes.

Serve and enjoy!

If you still have some seeds and you want them removed, just pour the soup through a mesh sieve.

Soupe de Cresson - Watercress Soup

2011-01-19T06:42:00.001-08:00

This is a very fresh and comforting soup to have on a cold winter's day. It brings the promise of the freshness of spring. And very simple to make...but just be aware...it is a diruetic. Which may be a good thing to freshen us inside and clean out the plumbing. To make you will need:

3 bunches of watercress triple washed and most of the stems cut off
NOTE:I like the hydroponic type as it is freshest
1 medium potato washed, peeled and cut into cubes
1 pat of butter
water
salt and pepper to taste

Melt butter in a large pot. Add watercress and cook in the butter until it wilts down. Cover with water. Add the potato, salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat until potatoes are done. Whiz into a puree with a hand blender and add more water until you get the consistency you want. Cook over medium heat for about 10 more minutes.

Serve with croutons and enjoy!

Concarneau/Konk Kerne

2011-01-15T06:58:00.001-08:00

Recently, while visiting Henri's family in France we had the opportunity to visit Concarneau in Brittany on D783 southeast of Quimper. This third largest fishing port in France is made up of two districts: the modern town on the mainland and a 14th century Medieval fortified town on an island connected to the mainland by a drawbridge or a ferry boat.

The island town is devoted to tourism but not in an obnoxious way that takes away from the idea that this is a town. There are lots of little shops and restaurants as well as the ramparts that encircle the town. We strongly suggest walking the ramparts as they are free and offer some lovely views and visit the Fishing Museum (there is a fee for the museum).

The last Sunday in August is the Fête de Filets Bleus and although we were not there at that time, I understand that it is quite the thing to attend.

tripfilms
virtualtourist

Harry's New York Bar

2011-01-12T17:37:00.000-08:00

This bar dates back to 1911 and located across the street from PastaPaPa on rue Daunou in Paris. I mention it because it is a famous American bar from Manhattan. The story goes that the original bar was dismantled and shipped to Paris and voila...there you have it. It certainly is warm and inviting for a comfortable drink or two to share with a few friends.

Notables that have visited Harry's Bar are Coco Chanel, Knute Rockne, Ernest Hemmingway, Rita Hayworth, Humphrey Bogart and the Duke of Windsor.
George Gershwin composed "An American in Paris" here at Harry's Bar

Drinks that got their start at Harry's Bar:
Bloody Mary
French 75
Side Car
The Monkey Gland (say what!?)

For more information click here: Harry's New York Bar

Violettes Candy

2011-01-12T10:34:00.001-08:00

These little violet hard candies are a different and tasty treat. Our favorite is Violettes made by Lucien Georgelin. They are made by hand in the traditional style. Travail à la main selon la méthode traditionnelle.

PastaPaPa Restaurant

2011-01-12T08:41:00.000-08:00

If you happen to be in Paris and are a picky eater or have picky eaters with you, I suggest you check out Pasta PaPa. This place is popular for lunch (déjeuner) with the locals. As you guessed it, it is a pasta and pizza place. It is easy to read their menu because with a little knowledge of French and the pictures of the different shapes of pasta you can feel comfortable knowing you ordered something you will like. I think they even may have bilingual French/English menus. There are seven locations throughout Paris, each identified by their Métro stop. We go to the one by Galleries Lafayette near the Opéra Métro.

Pâtes - Pasta
Sauce Bolognaise - Crumbled meat sauce
Des pâtes à la sauce tomate. - Pasta with tomato sauce.

For more information click here: PastaPaPa

Pizza Paysanne ou Pizza Royale

2011-01-10T08:37:00.000-08:00

Do you want a fast and easy pizza idea that is totally different? All you need is:

1 Frozen Pizza - the meaty kind is best, but any style is fine

1 whole egg

Pre-heat oven according to package directions.

Cook the pizza 1/2 way and then...

Break the egg and place in the middle of the pizza.

Continue to cook the pizza according to package directions.

Enjoy!

Now, I can already hear the moans and ewww's. I had the same reaction when I first saw my husband eat one of these. Give it a chance. Make it a full meal with a salad and a glass of wine. We regularly enjoy our pizza this way.

Hint: Thin crust pizza with ham is great this way!

Oiseau - Bird

2011-01-09T06:50:00.001-08:00

I admit it...I am a nerdy bird watcher. After my cats passed away it became all about the birds. Thanks to my friend, Gail, it started out as a suet cake here and a bird feeder there and before you know it, I felt personally responsible for the care and welfare of all sundry of birds.

Cardinals, Downy Woodpeckers, Black Capped Chickadees, Finches, Sparrows, Robins, Tufted Titmouses and a surprise bird or two passing through for a knosh gather regularly and flutter around their feast. That is until a Blue Jay or a flock of Starlings swoop in. In addition, chipmunks, both grey and red squirrels and the occasional Canadian Goose become regulars.

Unfortunately, my tall pine trees attract the Red Tail Hawks and they can quickly swoop down and grab a squirrel for their meal. Lorraine, ma belle-mère, saw the fun in this (feeding the birds that is) and started feeding her birds at home in France her left over French bread. Sometimes, she would even butter it for them!

Now every time we visit them, we see a suet cake here and a bird feeder there...

Blue Jay - Jay Bleu
Robin - Rouge Gorge
Duck - Canard
Parrot - Perroquet
Bat - Chauve-Souris
Squirrel - Ecureuil
Eagle - l'aigle
Hawk - Faucon
Goose - Oie

Café Ou Thé?

2011-01-09T06:47:00.000-08:00

The eternal question. I have learned that this question is universal. For breakfast, do you need the caffeine to wake up? I certainly do. Although tea and green tea in particular have enough caffeine to do the job. For me, I need the earthy warmth and savory richness of my coffee with some creamer to get my day started or I just don't feel right. Tea is reserved for the rest of the day as a pick-me-up to keep me going.

Café Noir ou Nature - Black Coffee
Café Décaféineé - Decaffinated
Café Crème - Coffee with Milk
Café au Lait - Steamed milk with coffee
Thé - tea
Thé Nature - Plain tea
Tisane - Herbal tea
Infusion - Steeping of herbs (mint, chamamile)
Prendre un petit café - Coffee Break

Cherry Blossom Pot de Fleurs

2011-01-08T16:55:00.000-08:00

A peaceful spring dawn announces its entry into the modest village of Thoiry, France. Birdsong gently awakens the inhabitants to start them on this new day. Following my morning café and tartine, I partake of a leisurely stroll along pastoral lanes. Eyeing the iris buds bursting and the cherry tree’s proud display of blossoms, I am inspired to fashion something for the garden; something simple with a touch of elegance from times past. Utilizing terra cotta as the base, iridescent clay tiles are skillfully applied surrounding a fashioned cherry blossom medallion. Voila! A classic treasure that transports you to another romantic era.

La Grotte ou La Caverne -The Cave

2011-01-08T13:59:00.000-08:00

The words Grottoes and Caverns seem much more mysterious and romantic than the word cave. When I think of these words I see in my mind's eye a lacy entrance of flowers and vegetation hanging down concealing an opening into the the earth. Someplace inviting, beautiful with pools of water and maybe even a waterfall (cascade). A refuge to hide oneself and contemplate the beauty that surrounds us and feel grateful and appreciate the beauty of our own lives.

No matter what we are experiencing in our lives right now, we all have the beautiful grottoes and caverns within to run to and feel safe, secure in the knowledge that tomorrow is another day and all things settle themselves in the end.

des grottes préhistoriques: prehistoric caves
souterrain ou caverne: cavern
homme des cavernes: caveman
spéléologue: caver, spelunker

La Cave -The Cellar

2011-01-08T12:03:00.000-08:00

Just as caves are the bowels of the earth; so are the cellars the bowels of our homes. This is where the machinery that makes our buildings function are secreted away in the low, dark recesses.

The furnace sitting next to the hot water heater hidden in one corner but not too far from the laundry room with the washer and dryer. The network of pipes and electrical wires are readily apparent above holding it all together with the beams and joists.

Another section of la cave is finished off to hold an extra refrigerator or freezer, pots, appliances and shelves that serve as an extra pantry. Perhaps we are fortunate to have room for a nice little home office, exercise room or family room just enough to give les caves some respect.

And, oh...the all important area to store our wines. Whether we are lucky enough to afford the fine wines from France and around the world or we just want to store our local "Three Buck Chuck".

Note: The French word cave is considered a "false friend" (Faux Ami). It does not literally mean cave as we would say in English.

The ping-pong table is in the cellar. La table de ping-pong est à la cave.
I'm going down to the cellar. Je descends à la cave.
Wine Cellar: Cave à vins

Galette des Rois (King's Cake)

2011-01-02T19:40:00.001-08:00

Every January starting either the first Sunday (dimanche) of the month or January 6 is the Feast of the Epiphany. This date is twelve days out from Christmas (Noel). Throughout the month a traditional dessert is La Galette des Rois. This cookie or cake dates back to the 14th century.
There are two versions of this dessert. In the northern regions of France is the La Galette des Rois which is puff pastry that may or may not be filled with an almond paste (frangipane). The Provence region have a Gateau des Rois which is a brioche style cake decorated with candied fruit. Inserted inside these tasty desserts is traditionally a bean (la feve) but through time the bean evolved to tiny porcelain figures and more recently to little plastic figures. Whoever gets the piece with the hidden treasure is crowned king for the day and has the obligation to provide La Galette des Rois the next year.

Here's the recipe:

- You need two sheets of puff pastry, so you either buy two rolls or buy one roll, divide it in two and roll the two halves to make two. Take it from me, it's plain easier to get two rolls of puff pastry.
- Lay the first sheet on some non stick sheet, put the bean (in French, it's called fève) somewhere, add some almond paste (in French, it's called frangipane), and lay the second sheet (don't forget to fuse the edge with the back of a fork).
- Use a knife to make a pattern on the top and brush some egg yolk (with a bit of water and sugar, say a spoonful of each) on top.
- Put the whole thing in a 425 degree oven for about 15-20 minutes.

Now, in France, not all galettes des rois have frangipane in the middle. You can certainly have a galette with nothing inside (nature) or some sugar (sucrée). These are however harder and harder to find in French bakeries. Anyways, to make a galette sucrée at home and following the instructions above, you obviously don't put the frangipane but instead, you sprinkle some sugar (about two spoonfuls) on top of the first disc. The rest of the recipe is the same.

Krema Batna Candy

2011-01-01T17:38:00.000-08:00

Batna is the chewy sweet candy with the wild taste (so says the half empty bag). Not completely sure what's in there but it's a mix of caramel and licorice flavors (all natural). It's a pretty unique experience to gobble one of those ... or two ... or more.

The Krema brand has been associated with candy since 1923. It is now part of Cadbury.

Krema Regliss' Mint Candy

2011-01-01T17:24:00.000-08:00

It's the chewy sweet candy that's fresh like mint and soft like licorice (that's what it says on the bag). The best part is that the flavors and colorings are all natural. This chewy candy has been around for ages, which can mean only one thing: it's good.

Apprendre

2011-01-01T17:03:00.001-08:00

Learning and teaching go hand in hand. As we learn and store that information in the amazing file cabinet in our heads, we retrieve it and pass it on to someone else. It's there to form a human chain of knowledge moving person to person...day by day. Sharing and understanding...if we chose to. Perhaps an ingredient in the recipe for a little peace in our world.

APPRENDRE: (verb) to learn or to teach

Apprendre quelque chose: to learn something

Je vais apprendre le français: I am going to learn French

Apprendre quelque chose à quelqu'un: to teach somebody something

Je vais t'apprendre le français: I am going to teach you French

Aller

2011-01-01T17:02:00.002-08:00

Allez...Allez...Allez!!! Go...Go...Go!!! To and fro we go (Allez)!

Allez les Bleus!!! was the rallying cry when France won the World Soccer Cup in 1998. I was there when my brother-in-law (beau-frère) was loosing his mind with every twist and turn of the game (What can I say? Male behavior is universal!). During the game the Champs-Élysées and Etoile were virtually empty of traffic (which is unheard of!).

ALLER: (verb) to go

aller à la rencontre de quelqu'on: to go to meet someone

Allez!: Go!

aller à pied: to go on foot, to walk

La Maison - The House/Home

2011-01-01T17:02:00.001-08:00

Home is where the heart is.
"Papa was a rolling stone. Wherever he laid his hat was his home." 1
Home Sweet Home 2
"Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home." 2
"Home, home on the range. Where the deer and the antelope play. Where seldom is heard a discouraging word; and the skies are not cloudy all day." 3
"There's no place like home." (Picture ruby slippers) 4

No matter where we are on our little planet located in an outer spiral in a minor galaxy of the universe; home and our house are oh so important. Whether we are rolling around like papa or hanging out in our own backyard with the deer and antelope we all belong somewhere; someplace to lay our hat and put our ruby slippers and hearts away for the night.

Other words and phrases associated with La Maison

des confitures maison: homemade jams (yum!)
Je suis restée à la maison toute la journée: I stayed home all day.
une maison de campagne: a house in the country
chez: preposition to mean at home
Je suis chez moi.: I'm at home.
le château: castle
un château d'eau: water tower
un château de sable: sandcastle

1.Written by Motown songwriters Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong in 1971 and sung by "The Undisputed Truth" and in 1972 "The Temptations".
2.Written by John Howard Payne and Henry Bishop in 1823.
3.Written by Dr. Brewster M. Higley in 1876. Kansas State Song.
4.The Wizard of Oz 1939 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer movie. Dialogue spoken by Judy Garland.
My thanks to Wikipedia.

Le Phare - The Lighthouse

2011-01-01T17:01:00.002-08:00

Le Phare de Bénodet.

The other night, mon mari (husband), Henri, ma belle-soeur(sister-in-law), Francoise, mon beau-frère (brother-in-law), Pierre et moi (and me) were in search of an open restaurant for our evening repas (meal). This is no easy task in the off season in the resort town of Bénodet on the southern Atlantic coast of Bretagne (Brittany). After searching a few back streets, we find an Italian restaurant complete with pasta and pizza!

Making our way back to Pierre's voiture (car) we once again pass by Le Phare de Bénodet lit to guide modern day travelers along the moonless night coast.

un gardien de phare - lighthouse keeper

allumez vos phares - put your headlights on (as in automobile headlights)

La Chambre - The Bedroom

2011-01-01T17:01:00.001-08:00

A place where dreams are concocted and formed. This night time's entertainment takes its shape throughout the night as we drift and float off. A place where we dress, primp and get ready for the day. A place where we cry and hide from the world as we seek sanctuary in the comfort our very own personal room offers.

La chambre - the bedroom (a private, personal room)
J'ai rangé ma chambre. - I cleaned my room.

La pièce - a general term for any room (private and public)

La salle - a room used for public purposes or a specific purpose.
La salle de classe. - Classroom
La salle à manger - Dining Room

Le Grenier - The Attic

2011-01-01T17:00:00.002-08:00

Spring cleaning. It's that time of year when we go through things and clear out the junk and cobwebs and make room for new junk as our friendly spider (and various other critters) make their new homes. Time to get ready for garage sales where we sell our stuff and buy new stuff.

Attic: Le grenier est plein de vieilles malles. (The attic is full of old trunks.)

Dans le grenier, il y a la chambre de Monique. (In the attic, there is Monique's bedroom.)

Houdan Market

2011-01-01T17:00:00.001-08:00

A sunny Friday morning brings the 4 of us down D11 to the weekly market in Houdan. We pass by fields of maize and canola in a countryside that is only to be punctuated with a little village or two. One village even has an electronic sign that records your speed and warns you when you are driving too fast. This does not work as it should for many local residents as they take the flashing warning sign as a challenge to see how high a number they can get it to flash. After we white-knuckle it through this village we are then able to settle in and enjoy the scenery of our ride.

Once in Houdan we must search for the ever elusive parking spot. The best spots are around the cathédrale, but unfortunately there is a funeral that day and all the best spots are taken for a while. Pas de problème(not a problem), there is a space in front of our favorite book and magazine shop.

The market is situated right in back of the cathédrale and is busy with activity from beginning to end. Everything is offered at this market. Les chaussures pour 10 Euros? A côté de la poissonnerie.(Shoes for 10 Euros? Next to the fish monger.) Imperméables?(rain coats) En face des livres.(Across from the books.) Even full sized beds were propped up on le trottoir.(sidewalk)

Further down is the ever-popular fruit seller. This rosy-cheeked man is a favorite with les enfants as he puts free samples into their chubby little hands and upturned smiling faces while neighborly chattting with their mothers as his wife carefully wraps each purchase as if she were gift wrapping a fine jewel.

Les grand-mères scrutinize les aubergines(eggplants) before allowing them to be put in their panniers(baskets) all the while looking out for the next bargain.

There are a few guys behind la charcuterie(pork butcher) and le frommage(cheese) stalls that compete with one another for their customer's attention calling out their specials for the week.
The salt seller has little bags of every type le sel imaginable. One type is best for salads, while another is good for la viande(meat) or le poisson.(fish) Fourteen possibilities in salt along with various types of salt shakers, dishes and jars to keep them in.

Next is a WARNING and is not for the faint-hearted as we see les lapins(rabbits) strung up as they have just recently given it all up to make market day in Houdan complete.

Chercher du Pain - The Other French Paradox

2011-01-01T16:59:00.001-08:00

Making our way back to Septeuil on an overcast Sunday afternoon, ma belle-mère, Lorraine, goes over in her mind the menu for dinner that she will prepare that night. Suddenly...quelle catastrophe! Il n'y a pas du pain! How did this happen? She being the consummate home chef with every savory morsel carefully planned somehow forgot the bread.

Rapid fire instructions to mon beau-père were dispatched. "Hurry, we must make it to Thoiry before the boulangerie closes." Jacques, being the ever dutiful husband and not wanting to risk a meal without his baguette, puts sa voiture into high gear and gets a move on as we all keep our eyes peeled for any open boulangerie sur la route.

No such luck...tout ferme! Thoiry, Houdan, Béhoust all conspired to make our meal incomplete without our baguette dorée. Plans were quickly made for an alternate plan. Jacques will drop us off at the house so that she can get dinner started and then he will proceed on to Mantes-la-Jolie, the local city, in his quest to make our meal complete.

All was well one hour later as he drove sa voiture through le portail (here is where we imagine the sun, or a golden brioche, breaking through the clouds) producing what can be thought of as the last available baguette on a late Sunday afternoon in France.

One hates to imagine what would have happened if poor Jacques came back empty-handed! But we won't think of that.

Le Temps

2011-01-01T16:58:00.001-08:00

Time. We whiz through life and the stuff eludes us. Before we know it, the day is over. French time is slower, more leisurely; even in Paris. There is something to be said for sitting in the local outdoor cafe, sipping whatever and doing nothing in particular. Time is important in France; they are just not so anal about it.

Quelle heure est-il? What time is it?

24 hour military time is commonly used in France. So if you respond:Il est une heure. It is one o'clock. You are saying it is 1:00 AM. That is fine if it is really that time. If you want to say it is 1:00 PM you should respond: Il est treize heures. It is 13 hours. or It is 1:00 PM.

So what about 12:00 AM (midnight) and 12:00 PM (noon)? For midnight you would say: Il est minuit. It is midnight. For noon you would say: Il est midi. It is noon.

To navigate the 24 hour system, just remember this: for the afternoon just add 12.
1:00 PM = 13:00
2:00 PM = 14:00 and so on....
12:00 AM (midnight) = 0:00

Okay....what if the time is 12:20 AM (20 minutes after midnight)? Then it would look like 00:20 and would sound like:Il est minuit vingt.
22:30 = Il est vingt-deux heures trente. It is 10:30 PM.
8:45 = Il est huit heures, quarante-cinq. or Il est neuf heures moins le quart.

Other words associated with time and timekeeping:

La montre = wristwatch
L'horloge = clock
Un réveil = alarm clock

Carnac/Karnag

2010-10-06T05:33:00.000-07:00

If you want to see something extraordinary and have time to drive around then I would strongly suggest Carnac. It's a nice day trip and it is free unless you choose to go to the museum or take the little train or go on guided tours.

The standing stones (menhirs) number to about 3,000 but they may have originally have numbered to as many as 6,000. Many areas are fenced off to protect the stones and the native vegetation, but you can freely walk around on the paths. One area even has a little tower you can climb to get a better view. But be careful, this is not the USA where everything is clearly marked and the steps and paths are clean and safe. You do need to watch your footing and any children you may have with you. If you fall or hurt yourself...eh bien, tant pis pour vous (oh well, too bad for you)!

Most of the stones are between highways D781 and D768 intersecting at Plouharnel. There is a visitor center there. Go to monuments nationaux for the best information.

Alignment: rows of standing stones
Cairn: stone monument covering burial places
Dolmen: Breton word for stone table. A chamber sometimes with a burial passage, bounded by horizontal stones.
Menhir: Breton word for long stone or standing stone
Karnag: Breton for Carnac
You can click on the pictures to enlarge them.

Auberge Du Bon Cidre

2010-10-06T04:53:00.000-07:00

Off of highway D44 in Fouesnant, France (Finistère Department in Bretagne) we had the pleasure of staying at this nice hotel/restaurant. While the decor in the rooms were a bit dated, they were well-maintained and clean. Breakfast was offered every morning of yogurt, fruit, croissant, bread, coffee, tea, chocolate. Free parking was available and a restaurant that even offered pizza.

Overall, including breakfast in the fee, we paid 70 Euros per day. It offered easy travel to everywhere we wanted to go in Bretagne.

Hint: All linens are provided including bath towels except for wash cloths. Be sure to bring your own and a zip lock bag in which to keep them.

For more information consult their website Auberge du Bon Cidre

37, rue de Cornouaille
29170 Fouesnant, France

Mont Saint Michel

2010-10-03T09:51:00.000-07:00

Making our way in my father-in-law’s Renault, the five of us start our pilgrimage to France’s most visited site outside of Paris. Upon approach on the winding road that leads to the abbey we could smell the clean salt air and catch quick glimpses of it at every turn.

Majestically rising up out of the sea, Mont St. Michel is a Benedictine abbey of the Middle Ages on a rocky island off the Norman coast of France. The isolation of this island attracted many pilgrims in its day where one could pray to God and His archangel St. Michel. Nowadays, because of a causeway to allow easy access for tourists and increased sheep farming, Le Mont has lost some of this isolation. Lorraine, my mother-in-law (a.k.a. the Martha Stewart of France) informs me the sheep that graze on the salty marshes have a special flavor to them.

Culinary references aside, once inside the ramparts there is a well-preserved town with many shops and restaurants in the nooks and crannies. My nephew, Robert, had fun making his way with us in tow and our brisk climb was rewarded by the abbey itself.

Inside the gates to the abbey we were able to meander in and out of the fortress on a self-guided tour enjoying breezy views of the sea contrasted with the quiet solitude inside. The change in architecture over the ages was perceptible as we made our way from Romanesque to Gothic ending in a peaceful and serene cloister where the monks would exercise, converse and meditate. We were grateful to have such a place to sit and meditate on our tired feet while watching Robert turn cartwheels on the lawn with the other children.

Touristy? You bet! But I wouldn’t change that day for anything.

Bohemian Paris Chic Makeup

2010-09-26T12:35:00.000-07:00

Do you want a simple and great makeup look that is a bit polished, easy and cheap? This is the one for you. Paris chic is quick and easy. In no time you will look and feel put together with very little effort.

Start with a clean face that is properly moisturized. By this I mean cleansed, face moisturizer and eye cream at the minimum. See skin care section for more info. Here is what you do next:

Red Lipstick that is lightly applied as a stain. Never goopy or caked on.

Your favorite fragrance

C'est tout!

As you can see, proper skin care is the key.

The Proper Order of Meal Courses in the French Style

2010-09-09T18:26:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite ways to enjoy a meal is as follows:

Apéritif is optional and it usually consists of champagne with either frozen raspberries, crème de cassis or Grande Marnier put in the glass first and then the champagne is poured in the glass. This is usually accompanied by crisps, nuts, and/or canapes.

First course is usually soup and usually served for dinner, not lunch
Next is the entrée and is usually pâté (charcuterie) et du pain, cornichons (little pickles), or a vegetable with vinaigrette
Plat Principal is the main course
Frommage - cheese
Salade - The cheese and salad can be served together
Dessert - Can be anything from fresh fruit to gâteau
Café - This is not served with dessert, but always after

Except for dessert et café, l'eau plat (non-sparkling water), l'eau gazeuse (sparkling water), du pain et du vin are drunk throughout the meal.

Classic Parisian Makeup Look

2010-04-30T06:50:00.000-07:00

Here is a classic Parisian makeup look:

1. Concealer around eyes and to blur imperfections

2. Foundation usually used in the evening or if you need more coverage

3. Neutral eyeshadow (beige, taupe) Gold for evening

4. Eyeliner - Black on top lashes, brown on bottom

5. Black Mascara on top lashes only

6. Red Lips usually applied as a light stain for day, a bit creamier for evening

7. Favorite fragrance

Makeup Basics

2010-04-30T06:40:00.000-07:00

In France, makeup is used to enhance one's features never in place of a daily skincare regime. Here are the basics:

1. Concealer - for around the eyes and to blur out any imperfections

2. Mascara - just lightly on the tips and top lashes only

3. Lip Color - lip stain (fill in lips with a lip pencil) with light gloss over it (never goopy)

4. Cheek Color - A gentle sweep of powder

5. Favorite fragrance

C'est Tout!

Basic Daily Skincare

2010-04-29T19:30:00.000-07:00

I have been in the beauty business for over 15 years. What really impresses me is the ratio of women (American vs. women from other countries) and how they view skin care. American women (for the most part) are more interested in makeup and color and tend to neglect skin care. They just want to cover it all up. Women from other countries (most notably Europe, Asia, Russia ) go for the skin care first and just use a touch of makeup to enhance. Unfortunately, no amount of covering up is going to hide bad complexions that are the result of lazy habits over time. Covering up too much can make the condition worse and is not pretty.

A daily skincare routine is healthy, prevents complexion problems, prevents wrinkles and just the act of taking care of yourself releases stress and is good for the soul.

Here are the basics:

1. Determine your skin type
Dry - feels tight all over all the time and after cleansing your face
Oily - you see and feel oil all over
Combination - Oilier in T-zone (forehead, nose, chin) than cheeks

My advice: Got to an Esthetician and get a consultation and facial. It is so worth it. Otherwise, go to a department store cosmetics counter and ask there. These people have skin care training and some are even estheticians.

2. Cleanser
Dry and/or Sensitive - use a milky cleanser only
Oily - usually these people like foaming cleansers
Combination - milky cleanser in morning and foaming cleanser at night

This is to be used day and night. If you wear a lot of makeup, you may need to use a cream or milky cleanser first just to remove the makeup and then cleanse again with water and your cleanser.

3. Toner
Please do not skip this step! I read so much about supposed professionals telling people not to use a toner. This is what a toner does: It removes anything you may have missed when cleansing your face and lightly exfoliates. Also, many cleansers are alkaline in nature because they need to effectively remove debris from the skin. Your skin is more acidic (4.5 to 6.2 on the pH scale). Toners are acidic and bring the pH of your skin back into balance.

You will notice that your moisturizers will penetrate better if you use a toner because they get every last bit of debris off the skin. More recently, many local water sources have a lot of chemicals in them and people find that this irritates their skin. A toner will help counteract this.

Dry - Alcohol free or low alcohol
Oily - Purifying toner
Combination - A little bit of alcohol

Alcohols used in this product today are not bad. They are better formulated and a little bit of alcohol is beneficial. The problem is (and this is true even for oily skin) using a product with too much alcohol can dehydrate.
Just moisten a cotton ball with toner and sweep across your face.

4. Serums
The latest technology in skin care is serum. They are usually oil free and applied under your moisturizer. Serums are very concentrated with molecules that are smaller and penetrate right into the epidermis. The job of the serum is to address a specific concern you have about your skin.

Dry - Hydrating
Oily- Mattifying
Combination - Both hydrating and Mattifying
Mature - Anti-Aging

Note:Some anti-aging serums also address hydration. The first sign of aging is dehydration.
Serums are oil free. They address targeted concerns. The hydrating serum will add some moisture, but most importantly they help your skin retain moisture. If you are already using a moisturizer and add a serum, you will notice a nice improvement in the effectiveness of your moisturizer.

5. Moisturizer with an SPF of at least 15 (SPF 30 or more is best)
This is your moisture and protection. Even oily skin needs moisture (we are not talking oil here, just moisture).

Dry - Use a cream texture day and night
Oily - Use an oil free lotion day and night
Combination - Usually lotion for day; cream for night
Combination skin tends to be a bit oilier in the summer and drier in the winter. But everyone is different. You be the judge.

6. Eye Treatment
So important! The first signs of aging show around the eyes. Rule of thumb...once a girl starts high school...she needs to use an eye treatment. Prevention is the key here.

There are generally 2 types of eye treatments:
Cream for dryness and wrinkles
Gel for puffiness and dark circles

Remember with eye creams a little goes a long way. Just pat a small pea size of cream around you eyes with your ring finger. Be gentle.

7. Exfoliant
This is an extra step that is to be done 2-3 times a week. It will exfoliate any dead skin cells and your serums and moisturizers will produce better results because they will penetrate better. There are 2 types of exfoliants:

Mechanical - these are polishes and granules and physically remove dead skin cells
Chemical - these are the glycholic, alpha hydroxy, beta hydroxy or fruit acids

If you have sensitive or acneic skin then I would recommend to use the chemical exfoliants. Other skin types can usually use either type. Be careful not to overuse these products! I have seen many people who do and they are only doing damage. Consult with your dermatologist or esthetician if you are unsure.

Well, I hope this was helpful. French women take skin care very seriously and the results are truly apparent Take time and invest in yourself and your well-being.

Alexandre Dumas and the Château of Monte-Cristo

2009-05-14T12:49:00.000-07:00

A damp spring afternoon brought myself, Henri and Jacques to the twists and turns of the city streets of Port-Marly with the sultry, electronic voice of Madame GPS guiding our car up the hill where we finally reach the gate and park. Once past the admissions building and gift shop, we were admitted to the grounds of the Chateau by gravelly paths that gave way to an English style garden with rock formations, arches and waterfalls. The crunch of our footfalls in the damp gravel were the only sounds that could be heard as we made our way to the renaissance style Chateau de Monte-Cristo and it’s gothic pavilion, Chateau d’If.

Monte-Cristo became the name of this chateau due to an actress named Madame Melingue. When she asked the coachman to take her to Mr. Dumas’ residence, he was at a loss as to where she meant. In her frustration, she finally just called out “Monte-Cristo” and the coachman knew exactly where to take his passenger. Because Dumas was such a bon vivant and was famous for his dinner parties, he built the pavilion named Chateau d’If across from the house to have peace and quiet to do his work.

This house is a must see for Dumas enthusiasts. It was built in 1844 just after the publication of The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte-Cristo. There are 3 floors featuring mostly playbills, letters, books, paintings, and sculpture featuring the works of Alexandre and his son. Being a fan of mosaics, my favorites are the Moorish Room and the stained glass windows throughout the house.

The house was almost destroyed in 1969 to make way for a major property development, but was rescued by the Society of Friends of Alexandre Dumas. As most of his furniture was sold off (Dumas was a lavish spender that liked to throw parties on a regular basis and of course went broke), there are not many everyday furnishings, but the architecture, grounds and remaining contents certainly make this worth the trip.

For more information:
Château de Monte-Cristo
78560 Le Port-Marly
(Yvelines - France)
Phone: + 33 (0)1 39 16 49 49
Website

Hint: Carefully follow the signs ALL THE WAY to the green gate to the Château parking lot. You will drive through a small road with cars parked on both sides. Drive past this as this is parking for a neighboring hospital. Once you get to the green metal gate, press the button and the gate will open for you.

Château d'If.

Château d'If as it can be seen standing in front of the main house.

Château de Monte-Cristo.

Château de Monte-Cristo again (rear view).

Escargot

2009-04-16T14:42:00.002-07:00

This French classic is very easy to make. You will need:

A can of snails (in the gourmet/canned meat section of supermarket)
Snail Shells (you may have to go to a gourmet store for this; the great part is that they are re-usable)
1/2 c. Fresh Parsley
1/2 stick softened butter
3 cloves of smashed fresh garlic
Salt and Pepper to taste
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
French baguette

Mix the parsley, softened butter, garlic, salt and pepper together. A Cuisinart is great for this. Drizzle a little olive oil if you need to loosen the mixture a bit. It should be like a soft paste. Put a snail or two in each shell (depends on the size of the snails) and cap off the shell with the butter mixture. I like to put them in a cake pan with the hole side up. This way, they hold one another up and the ingredients stay in the shell better. Put under a low flame broiler until the butter is melted. Be sure to watch this carefully so it doesn't burn and to prevent the butter from splattering all over your broiler.

Let sit for a few minutes to cool a bit.
Enjoy with a glass of wine (Jacques says a Burgundy is best)and some French Bread!
Serves about 4-6

French Style Macaroni and Cheese

2009-04-16T14:42:00.001-07:00

Quick, easy and can be part of a meal or enjoy with a salad and a glass of wine.

What you need:

1lb. box of any style pasta cooked according to package directions
1/2 lb. cooked bacon, ham (cured ham like prosciutto works great) or leftover pork
1 package of grated Swiss Cheese

What you do with all this goodness:

Take an oven proof casserole dish and fill it with about half of the cooked pasta
Add the meat and about 1/2 of the cheese
Add the remaining pasta
Sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top and a little bit of butter here and there

Put under the broiler until the cheese is well melted and shows some color.

Enjoy!
Serves about 4-6

The cooked bacon, ham or whatever is optional. It's ok to dump all the pasta in the dish, add the grated swiss cheese and little chunks of butter and then put the whole thing under the broiler. The key is to let the cheese get crispy brown without burning the whole thing. In another words, once it's under the broiler, keep an eye on it but don't take it out too soon (the cheese has to grill a bit).

Herbes de Provence

2009-04-16T14:41:00.002-07:00

This is a basic herbal mixture that reflects the best of Provence. It can be used in vinaigrette, sauces, rubbed on meat, mixed with vegetables. I mix a batch of it ahead of time and keep it in an air-tight container. That way it will be ready to use.

3 Tablespoons dried marjoram
3 Tablespoons dried savory
3 Tablespoons dried thyme
1 Tablespoon dried basil
1 Tablespoon dried rosemary
1 Tablespoon dried mint
1 Teaspoon dried lavender
2 Bay Leaves

Mix together and store in an airtight jar.

If you choose to use fresh herbs you may add about 3 Tablespoons of kosher salt. This will absorb mold-breeding moisture and keep the herbs green. These fresh herbs will last for about 6 months.

Herbed Potatoes

2009-04-16T14:41:00.001-07:00

This is so simple and easy to do and is a favorite side dish with roasted chicken, leg of lamb or a pork loin.

Heat oven to 450 degrees
You will need a large,flat, pan...like a cookie sheet.

I like to use the small potatoes that are either Yukon Gold or Red. Cut these in wedges. Usually about 2-3 lbs.

1 large, gallon size ziplock bag

1 Tablespoon Herbs de Provence
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
3 - 4 grinds of Freshly ground pepper
3-4 cloves of smashed garlic
2-3 Tablespoons olive oil

Put the cut potatoes on the ziplock bag. Add the olive oil and toss the potatoes in the bag. Seal the ziplock bag so the air is still in the bag and shake to distribute the oil onto the potatoes. Open bag and add the rest of the ingredients. Again, seal the ziplock bag so the air is still in the bag and toss all the ingredients. Remove the seasoned potatoes onto the cookie sheet in a single layer.
Reduce the heat of the oven to 425 degrees.

Roast in oven about 25-30 minutes until golden brown.
Serves about 4-6

Salade Niçoise

2009-04-16T14:40:00.000-07:00

Here is a great and classic Provençale dish that originated in the city of Nice. It is full of antioxidants and Omega 3's...so enjoy!

3 Potatoes cooked (I prefer Youkon Gold or Red)
1/2 lb. Green Beans cooked
3 oz. Fresh grilled Tuna or 1 can tuna
2 Hard boiled Eggs
2 Tomatoes
1/2 Red Onion diced
1 can Anchovy Fillets
Black Olives
Capers
Vinaigrette Dressing made with Dijon Mustard and a few cloves of crushed Garlic
Lettuce as a base (optional)

If using Lettuce, place the leaves as a base on a platter.
Then assemble the salad ingredients row by row across the plate over the lettuce.
Vinaigrette is served on the side.

Everyone just serves themselves of the ingredients that they want and enjoys with bread and wine.

Another option is to toss all ingredients (including Vinaigrette, but not the lettuce) together in a bowl.
Serves 4-6

Vinaigrette Dressing Secrets

2009-04-16T14:26:00.000-07:00

In France, while there are the bottled salad dressings in the supermarkets, the most popular, easiest and least expensive salad dressing is the vinaigrette.

Here are the basics to make a great one:

3 Tablespoons Oil (favorites are Extra Virgin Olive Oil or Walnut Oil)
1 Tablespoon of something acidic such as any type vinegar (red wine vinegar being the classic), lemon, lime, grapefruit or orange juice
Salt and Pepper to taste

This is the basic recipe.

Other additions:
Dijon Mustard for a bit of creaminess (the whole grain is great!)
Mayonnaise
Herbs such as Rosemary, chives (chive flowers are spicy), tarragon, chervil, or get a mixture of Herbes de Provence
Fresh herbs from the garden. I grow lavender, mint, basil, parsley and chives.
I would add these 1/4 teaspoon at a time until I get the flavor and consistency that I want.

France Miniature

2009-04-04T19:26:00.008-07:00

France Miniature is a 5 hectare (12 acre) outdoor, miniature park in the shape of France located in Élancourt (Ile-de-France, Yvelines) featuring 1/30th scale models of major French landmarks and monuments.

If you are planning a trip there, make sure you check the weather forecast. There you are in an outdoor park (albeit small) and it's not like you have shelters all over the place (there's a souvenir shop and restaurant you can run to in case it rains hard, so it's not too bad). So my advice is to dress appropriately and make sure you bring the sunblock and water on hot, sunny days.

This park is educational (history, geography) as well as highly animated with famous French buildings, water scenes, bridges, with trains moving throughout. Let the pictures - taken a few years ago - speak for themselves (trust me, there are many more things to photograph):

Saint-Tropez.

Sacré Cœur Montmartre, Paris.

Hôtel des Invalides, Paris.

La Rochelle.

Fort Boyard.

Cimetière marin de Colleville.

Château Chenonceau.

Place Bellecour, Lyon.

Arènes Arles.

View Larger Map
Viewed from (way) above, it is truly a miniature France!

Allow 3 hours to fully enjoy everything. There is wheelchair access.

An indoor exhibition features extremely detailed models of several indoor scenes.

The park is generally open from February to November.

Hours of operation:
10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. During July and August, the hours are 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Hours of operation vary from September to November. Last admission to the park is 1 hour before closing.

Park Fees:
Go to France Miniature for the most updated information. As of 2009 the fees were:
General Admission, 18.50 Euros (not too cheap, but what can you do?); Under 14, 12.50 Euros; Under 4, Free. Add 1 Euro each during July and August.

Address:
France Miniature, 258 Route du Mesnil, Boulevard André Malraux, 78990 Élancourt, France. Phone: 33-0-826-30-20-40 (if you want to call from the US of A, add 011 before 33).

Directions:
In car from Paris - Take A13 toward Rouen then take A12 toward St. Quentin-en-Yvelines/Dreux. Follow signs to Élancourt and France Miniature. By train from Paris – Use Montparnasse or La Défense stations. Take the train to La Verrière then take the 411 bus which stops at France Miniature. Be sure to ask about a combination ticket that combines the France Miniature entrance fee and the train ticket at the train station if you decide to come by train.

France Miniature is owned by the same group (Grévin & Cie.) that operates the Parc Astérix amusement park north of Paris.

As always, be sure to verify times, prices, dates etc....before departing on your visit.

More info can be found on the France Miniature official website.

Pôt au Feu (Beef Stew with Vegetables)

2009-04-02T15:21:00.000-07:00

Traditional French dish, ideal on a cold winter night. Key to the success of this recipe is the cut of meat you choose as it has to have some fat in order to be super delicious. Personally, I recommend the center cut shank with the bone (and the tasty marrow) in the middle. The best part is that it is quite cheap at your favorite supermarket.

Ingredients:

center cut shank
whole carrots
turnips
parsnips
leeks (not absolutely needed)
1 onion (not absolutely needed)
cloves

We are going to use a pressure cooker to speed up the cooking process because who wants to wait 3 hours to eat something? Well, not me.

Instructions:

Put some cold water in the pressure cooker
Put the meat in the cooker just like that (you do not sear it)
Turn on the stove thingy full throttle and let's start to heat things up
Peel the carrots, turnips, parsnips. Take the onion and stick a few cloves into it. Tie each leek (after a good wash of course) with some kitchen string so that it does not desintegrate. Dump all that good stuff into the cooker.
Close the cooker and once it releases steam, you have just one hour to wait before you can enjoy the fruits of your labor. Yes, that's all there is to it.

The Pôt au Feu is traditionally served with mustard (the Maille stuff of course) and/or red wine vinegar.
Serves about 4-6

Tarte aux Pommes (Apple Tart)

2009-03-27T17:33:00.000-07:00

Basic French apple pie tart. Can also use pears, cherries, strawberries etc....Serve room temperature or warm.

1 puff pastry sheet, defrosted (can get at supermarket)
5-6 apples
Sugar to taste
Dash of salt
Butter to dot on top
9" square or round pie pan

Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees F. Line pie pan with parchment paper. Place thawed puff pastry dough in pie pan. Peel and cut apples in slices and place on top of puff pastry. Sprinkle sugar and salt on top of apples to taste. Dot with butter.

Reduce oven temperature to 400 degrees F. Bake for about 25 minutes or until it achieves desired doneness.

Let rest about 5 minutes before cutting.
Serves about 4-6

Fraises au Vin (Strawberries in Red Wine)

2009-03-27T17:10:00.001-07:00

Very simple, elegant summertime dessert.

2 lbs. fresh strawberries, stems removed and cut in quarters
1 cup red wine (your choice, I prefer Merlot)
1 cup water
1/4 cup sugar

Put strawberries in bowl
Cover with water and wine
Add sugar and stir together
Let sit overnight

Best served at room temperature

Serves about 4-6

Pâté de Pâques (Traditional French Easter Dinner)

2009-03-27T17:08:00.000-07:00

This traditional Berry region dish is a great first course to your Easter Dinner. It is sausage and egg (with optional vegetables) wrapped in puff pastry (referred to as en croûte). It is served hot or cold as an appetizer and later the leftovers are great with soup and/or salad. Jacques, my father-in-law recommends a red wine from the Loire Valley or a Burgundy.

To make you will need:

1 - 9"x9" (approximate) sheet of puff pastry defrosted (you can easily get this in your supermarket freezer)
12 - 16 oz. uncooked sausage (also easily obtained at supermarket) formed in a roll
2 hard boiled eggs cut in half lengthwise
1 beaten egg
vegetables such as asparagus, artichokes, sliced olives (optional)
1 - 10x13 baking sheet

Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees F
Lay puff pastry sheet flat on ungreased baking sheet
If using vegetables you may put them on the puff pastry sheet at this time
Lay the sausage down on one end of the puff pastry sheet
Lay the halved hard boiled eggs along the top of the sausage flat side down
Bring the other end of the puff pastry sheet over the eggs and sausage to make a roll. Be sure the seam is underneath the roll
Fold the ends in to cover the sausage and eggs. Be sure the ends are underneath the roll
On top of the roll, poke vent holes in the pastry between where the eggs lay
Brush the beaten egg on top

Reduce the oven temperature to 400 degrees
Bake for approximately 30-35 minutes or until brown on top
Allow 10-15 to rest after removing from oven
Cut in slices to serve

Serves about 4-6