Moving to a foreign country, learning a new language, and finding work is daunting enough, let alone starting your own business! But that’s exactly what Ian and Alison from French bed linen company La Chambre Paris have done. We recently spoke to American-born Alison about life in the City of Light. …read more
Leaves have started to turn color and drop from trees in Paris, and the first crisp bites of autumn are settling in as we leave summer behind for la rentrée. Whether you’re sticking to télétravail (working from home) or getting back into the rhythm of commuting, podcasts are the perfect pick-me-up for working, traveling, or… …read more
With a world-wide pandemic, America’s Pacific coast fire apocalypse, the economy crashing, and us being trapped far from our loved ones (or cooped up with them), we’ve got to find small pleasures wherever we can. I found one this week. Outdoor yoga in Parc Monceau. …read more
Every year, thousands of people come to France with the objective of sampling its amazing cuisine. Many go a step further by learning to make French food themselves, taking hands-on cooking classes in Paris and around the country. The Covid-19 crisis is preventing many from being able to do this, or at least, in person.… …read more
For many, Provence equals rolling fields of lavender and quaint villages. But this southern French region also has a rich history and immense natural diversity. You can discover these lesser-known facets in the city of Arles and its surroundings, home to impressive Roman vestiges, France’s largest wetlands, otherworldly rocky mountains, and sites linked to artist… …read more
I moved to France three years ago, speaking rusty high-school French and ready to live large. By the beginning of 2020, I was getting the hang of it. One thing I couldn’t do, though, was talk on the phone. Then Covid-19 happened. Now, we live in masks. And it’s like talking on the phone all… …read more
Tian is the word for both the the dish itself and the pottery casserole in which this dish is cooked. My friend and cookbook author Lucinda Scala Quinn (Mad Hungry), summed up the dish perfectly: She said the best ones should have too much oil, enough salt, and a long cook time. In other words,… …read more
Where Hemingway once walked, and students now weave in and out of Soufflot Hall and the Bibliothèque Saint-Geneviève, is the storied Latin Quarter, straddling parts of the fifth and sixth arrondissements of Paris. …read more
Here is a selection of venues around the Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe that are well worth eating at, compared to the chain restaurants that unfortunately line the world-famous avenue. In fact, in the case of some, you may even have one of the best meals of your life if you’re willing to splurge… …read more
The Ferme Florale Urbaine cultivates sustainable, seasonal flowers and sells them to both florists and individuals. They are part of the growing “Slow Flower” movement, joining the ranks of slow food and fashion. …read more
A ubiquitous joie de vivre weaved its way through France, and all to the scent of Fragonard’s exclusive fruity parfums. Popular with members of high society on both sides of the Atlantic, the French house’s pretty glass flasks of perfumes were made with delicate French flower and fruit essential oils and spices that told of… …read more
There are so many things that Francophiles miss about the French capital while travel restrictions are in place, and chief amongst them is the food. At the heart of dining out in Paris is, of course, the humble bistro. For centuries they have popularized culinary classics like steak frites, coq au vin, gratin dauphinois, and… …read more
Just before the travel freeze was put in place, we met up with travel blogger Vanessa Grall, aka Messy Nessy, to fuel our travel lust. Seeking out those spots that are worth their salt is Vanessa’s primary trade. A skilled storyteller, her blog is steeped in stories of under-the-radar places and iconic figures in cities… …read more
