All Things French

I love France. No, not just a fleeting love, I LOVE France. I love everything about it (almost).  No country is perfect, I realize that, but the culture of France is just about as close to perfect as one can be.

But seriously, look at what France has to offer... the Eiffel Tower, cave paintings at Carcasonne, Edith Piaf, Marion Cotillard. The list is endless.

One of, if not THE, best parts about France and the French culture is the food.  Food is an experience, it is an art, it is simply amazing. Every aspect of food in France is something to be relished, enjoyed, and taken very seriously.

Shopping for food in France is something that everyone should experience at least once in a lifetime. There is simply no way to explain the feeling of walking through an open air market and seeing the beautiful food that is so perfectly displayed. One can find pretty much anything at these markets: produce, livestock, cheese, purses, scarves. . .again, the list is endless. On one of my most recent visits to the City of Lights, I wandered through a market where I met the most charming escargots vendors. When I asked if I could take a quick photo to share with my students, I was told that I must be in the picture as well...

Needless to say, I obliged.

Open air markets are such a multi-sensory experience. The colors, the scents, the sounds of the vendors . . . it really is indescribable. So I leave you with these pictures. When I close my eyes, I can almost hear the fishmongers selling their goods...

La poissonnerie  

  La crémerie  

 La boucherie  

Le marchand aux fruits et légumes 

~c~

All Things French

The third Thursday of November is quickly approaching and that means that the 2011 Beaujolais Nouveau is almost here!  By French law, this young wine is not permitted to be released before 12:01 am on the third Thursday of November.  It is an annual event and throughout France where there are dégustations for the release of this wine.  I love the anticipation of the release; it is almost like Christmas for me.  My favorite, to date, is from the "King of the Beaujolais," Georges DuBoeuf.  It is a staple at my Thanksgiving table and is best served slightly chilled.  ~c~

All Things French

In February, my family had a four-legged beast wander into our lives.  Timing is funny; her arrival came months before the loss of Tache, the best four-legged friend a girl could ask for. Our new baby thinks she is a chihuahua and loves to cuddle on the couch, so when the time came to finally give her a name, it was perfectly logical to name her Coco Chanel.  Did I mention that she is the most adorable, slobbery St. Bernard that I have ever met? 

So far, her wardrobe consists of her raincoat, a bargain that we found on the sale rack at PetSmart (little did I know that doggy raincoats came in XL).  Sadly, in the desert southwest, she does not have much of an opportunity to wear it out. I am still on the hunt for the perfect pearl collar and little black dress for her, but I know that one of these days I will stumble on them, perhaps in the corner of a little junk shop, tucked behind a perfectly polka-dotted dress.
~c~

All Things French

I find a martini glass to be a perfect accessory to any ensemble. I adore a good "Diva-tini" and found this recipe two years ago when I attended a friend's martini party; it is called "The French Kiss":

1 1/2 oz. vodka (I try to use Grey Goose or Absolut if I can)
1/4 oz Chambord
1/4 oz pineapple juice
a twist of lemon and a strip of lemon rind to garnish

Pour the first 3 ingredients into a shaker over ice, shake well and strain into a martini glass. Add a twist of lemon. Drop the rind in the glass and enjoy!  Santé!!

~c~

The Beginning of the Madness....

After some fabulous Cava, exploding escargots, various cheeses, and lots of tipsy laughter, we finally started our blog about everything that we insanely and obsessively love. ~c & m~