It had to happen eventually: the opening of a museum consecrated entirely to le fromage and how it came to conquer French tables and palates. Why it […]
In Review: The Musée Vivant du Fromage, France’s First Cheese Museum
Food History
A Brief History of the French Baguette: Separating Facts From Myths
In 2022, UNESCO recognized the French baguette as a prized item of “intangible cultural heritage“. The global organization lauded the “artisanal know-how and culture of […]
Where to Taste 10 Iconic French Foods & Dishes in Paris
In Paris, there’s no shortage of restaurants whose menus heavily feature traditional French foods and dishes. But how to know where to taste the really […]
The Edmond Fallot Mustard Mill in Beaune: Where Tangy Magic is Made
On a recent trip to Beaune, France, I stopped by the one of the Burgundy town’s most-iconic sites : the Edmond Fallot mustard mill and […]
Brief History of Cannelés – & Some of the Best in Bordeaux
When visiting Bordeaux, Saint-Émilion and the surrounding region in southwestern France, you’ll likely see shop windows lined with little cakes shaped like large gumdrops or […]
French “Bouillon” Restaurants: History & the Best in Paris
With origins in the 19th century, “bouillon” restaurants are an integral part of French – or more specifically – Parisian, culture. It’s often suggested that […]
French Candy & Confectionary Shops: History & The Best in Paris
Crispy millefeuille, rich opera cake, zesty tarte au citron — we’re all familiar with the charms of French pâtisserie. But what of its equally delightful […]
A Short History of French and Dijon Mustard
From aristocratic extravagance to everyday condiment In 2022, French mustard shortages made the popular condiment scarce on supermarket shelves around the world, owing in part […]
French Choux Pastry: A Short History
The versatile marvel behind eclairs, profiteroles & more If French pastries are your thing, you’ve certainly already encountered the humble pâte à choux, or choux […]
French Brioche: Short History of a Popular Sweet Bread
True, the baguette is the most familiar bread staple in French households. Bakeries reportedly produce some six billion elongated loaves each year, and it’s believed […]
Curious History of the Croissant (& Is it Really French?)
There’s something mysterious– maybe even alchemical— about the qualities that have to come together to yield the “ideal” croissant. To make the cut, it should […]
5 Classic French Desserts & Sweets to Try For Christmas
As soon as late November or early December comes around, I find myself craving a few classic French desserts and sweet nibbles typically enjoyed around […]
Where to Taste Delicious French Pastries in Paris: A Few Picks
The history of French pastry-making is, like almost everything else in the Gallic world, passionately debated. Some claim it starts with the 13th-century baker Régnaut-Barbon, […]
The Forgotten History of Paris’ Wine Market (Halle aux Vins) & Warehouses
The area around the Quai St-Bernard at the edge of Paris’ Latin Quarter is strikingly contemporary– in contrast to most of the 5th arrondissement, where […]
History of Champagne: How the English Helped Birth Bubbly, & Other Facts
There’s something deceptively timeless about raising a toast over a glass of champagne (or some other form of sparkling white wine). It’s easy to imagine […]
Why Brittany Butter is Salted (& Coveted): A Bit of History
My partner and I almost always have a block of salted Brittany butter in the fridge, and usually there’s a “backup” somewhere in the freezer, […]
Inside the Paris Wine Museum (M. Musée du Vin)
Aside from the humble baguette, there is perhaps no other staple more common in French homes than the bottle of wine. Parisians have the luxury […]
Parisian Legends: Interview with Patrick Roger, France’s Own Willy Wonka
I’ve pulled up an interview from my archives: a conversation with one of France’s celebrated chocolate-makers. It was originally published on About.com Paris Travel in […]
La Coupole, a Montparnasse Brasserie Haunted With Artistic History
Referring to the legendary Parisian brasserie on Boulevard de Montparnasse, French historian Georges Viaud once remarked: “If the tables [here] could talk, they would tell […]
The Weird, Winding History of French Macarons
The history of the French macaron is a strange and winding one, as I first discovered during a trip to the fortified French medieval town […]
