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5 Tips for Eating and Drinking in France Like a Local
Eating and drinking are different in France. Why? Because the culture is different. If you are going to travel to France --or anywhere, for that matter --why not try it "their way". If nothing else, it should provide you with an interesting experience and a better understanding of the culture. So, here are some tips for how to do both like the locals. I bet you'll have a few "ah ha" moments when you realize you may have misinterpreted things in the past!
1. How to order Coffee! Seems simple enough, doesn't it? Well, I don't know about you but I think it's complicated wherever you are. In the US Starbucks has turned ordering coffee into a multi lingual tongue twister. In France, it's very simple --as long as you follow the custom! Cafe au lait (or any coffee served with milk or cream) is a breakfast drink, and not generally served after noon, or with meals. A "cafe normal" or "espresso" is just that --expresso in a small cup, served with a small cold glass of water. that's served during "coffee breaks", at cafes, and after meals. Can't take "expresso". Then order a "cafe Allonge" (literally "stretched out") or a "cafe Americaine" --both are watered down espressos --in other words, a typical strength coffee.
2. Dessert comes Before Coffee. Not with. You can't have it with. The waiter will say yes, but if the place is any good --or even remotely authentic-- this won't happen. Don't worry. It's better after! You finish your meal, and get the nice "pick me up" of the cup of coffee. Need something sweet? Never fear. Coffee comes with a little something sweet, always --a chocolate (in the basic cafes) or tiny pastries of some sort in the "nicer" restaurants.
3. Sauces in France won't make you fat, and don't come 'on the side'. "Hmmm", you say, "how is that possible?" Glad you asked. Because the meals are balanced, the portions, including sauces, are smaller, the food is very fresh, and we don't snack endlessly on things between meals because the meal itself is completely satisfying. If you order sauces on the side, you will (a) either ruin your meal, or (b) consume more of the delicious sauce than you would have had you let the chef dress the dish with what was probably a teaspoon to a tablespoon of sauce (rather than the 1/4 cup they might bring you).
Video of Provence, Mediterranean, Paris
Watch our Video:
Our October trip to Paris, Provence and the Mediterranean.
Just as the song in the video says: you can do anything. Why not follow your Bliss?
You only live once!
- Yours Truly, on a Bliss-ful trip
A Bientot,Wendy
Ideas for What to See Over the Holidays in Paris
The view is spectacular no matter what direction...Want to see more, watch our Paris Holiday video!
This was us last year!Paris Postings...What's Up This Season in the City of Light!
Paris is always beautiful. Paris has an excitement that permeates the air. Whether we're strolling through the Luxembourg Gardens or visiting the Christmas Markets, there's just nothing that's better than a spin through this city.Where else can you find a 1000 year old church (in which an emperor was crowned) built on the site of a 2000 year old church, which was in turn, built on the site of a temple to Jupiter? Oh, and just to make things a bit better, just around the corner is a place that serves the best "n'importe quoi" (anything) for dinner served with a glass of absolutely marvelous wine....Enough said. A picture is worth at least a few words. So, let's post some from Anthony Bianciella, our favorite traveling photographer (and the one who will be chronicling our holiday trip, making DVD's of the highlights for everyone, and also offering one-on-one photography lessons, tips and help for people taking their own shots.)
Maybe just a little stroll before dark? Or if you're too tired, a bike ride!
From whatever angle, the Left Bank is pretty close to perfect.
But, what truly sparkles with beauty is Paris over the holidays. Not a lot of tourists. Lots and lots of lights. Christmas tree displays, mile long holiday marekts in every corner of town, decorations and different sorts of tress by every monument...
Even in the Chocolate shops! Look! It's true. This Left Bank shop is a real gem, and quite beautiful over the holidays in particular (when chocolates won't melt).
Next up...Gourmet treats ONLY served during the holidays!
Paris Hotel Rooms and Holiday Travel Planning!
We are planning our Holiday Paris Getaways.
We are always asked about the Paris hotel rooms. It's really hard to tell "what you are getting", especially when you are dealing with different cultures and different cultural expectations. People tell us nightmare stories about the room with the bath down the hall or the beautiful room --that was 40 minutes, and a subway ride-- from anything they wanted to see.So, to help people out, we wanted to post some photos of actual rooms we use, and to describe what people will see when they turn the key in the door of their room!We use only centrally located lodging --we prefer the Left Bank, in the 6th Arrondissement or the Right Bank in the 1st Arrondissement for people traveling with us. The hotels are always boutique. The hotels are always 3 or more stars. We describe them on our website at www.blisstravels.com under each trip description. The hotels or Inns are always located in great locations within walking distance to the major sites and great restaurants and cafes. They are always charming and feel Parisian. The "luxury" ones have additional amenities, such as designer products, larger rooms, super luxe baths, and ultra gourmet breakfasts --sometimes even cool jazz bars or other hang out spots!So, that all sounds good, but the real question is "what do we consider charming, boutique lodging in Paris"? Some of the below. These are what we call "standard" rooms in the 3 star hotels we use. So, if you're coming to Paris over the holidays with us on one of our Paris Getaways (http://www.blisstravels.com/parisgetaways.html#ParisTrip ) this is what you can expect for "standard lodging". theds
Our Inns in Provence are equally charming and even a bit more spacious and luxurious than our standard rooms...If you are booking our "luxury" lodging, then that includes larger rooms, Bose sound systems, robes, large, all marble bath rooms with special showers/tubs (rainforest showers, and the like), along with sitting areas in each room and many other special amenities, including "over the top" quality breakfasts each morning.I hope this helps for those of you who have asked! Write or call if you'd like more info! You can also watch one of our client video slide shows on our homepage www.blisstravels.comwendy@Blisstravels.com or 609 462 6213
Fall...Along the Mediterranean
Yes, jousting is still possible to watch. Bet you wanted to know how popular this Medeival sport really was. We were pretty surprised to see this. But, it does fit with the mood along the coast, where there are games and performances, no matter what the season.
Wine tasting in our favorite "cave". Trying the local whites.
Dinner in a private room, overlooking the Mediterranean cliffs at sunset.
Some of the dining choices...Mussels along the Med are often paired with wonderful sauces. This had a tomato, onion, and a touch of cream.
Rascasse -- a fish found only in the Mediterreanean.
A nice walk after a satisfying dinner.
calm and quiet after the summer high season.
cafe lounging before our walk around the cliffs.
It was a beautiful, fall day...wind was blowing, but that made the sky very blue and the temperatures cool enough to walk all afternoon.
Food
Bliss and all things culinary....
Fall meals, casual and gastronomic, from our week in France...Anyone want to know what wines we like to pair with these dishes? Which one pairs with a Muscat de Beaume de Venise, and which one a Rose? Which one can stand up to a red?
Moules!
Rascasse a la Provencale
The cheese and olive bread, meringues, and pastries from the best place in town!
Provence + Picnics = Paradise!
On the way...
Half the fun is getting there!
The butcher, cutting our market treats to order!
Some very authentic, less touristy markets.
Say "Cheese"!
Mmmmmmm!
Ho Hum! Just a little picnic spot!
Amazing what a nice lunch (and a little --or a lot of --rose will do for you!! Stay tuned for more shots from our trip. Next stop, the Mediterranean!
Wine Tasting in Chateauneuf du Pape
Our first day was in Chateauneuf du Pape, where it's all about Grenache! That's the grape that is used the most in wines from Chateauneuf du Pape. (Though it's possible to use up to 13 grapes in the wine.) We tried pure grenache as well as wines with various combinations....And tasted them it in an ancient cave (with Roman ruins) and a beautiful chateau.
Photography was hard to resist!
Now for three days in the Luberon! It's simply the most beautiful place I've ever seen.
A private "welcome" dinner prepared just for us. And off to bed for a restful night in a Medieval village.
7 "Musts" for the Ultimate Wine Tasting in Burgundy
Want to have the "ultimate" experience in Burgundy, tasting wines and visiting vineyards? Who doesn't! Here are some tried and true tips for ensuring your trip is over the top fabulous!
1. Location, Location, Location! Experience the "terroir". Find someone to take you around and "introduce you" to the various parcels of land. You know that fabulous Chardonnay you love? The one from "Les Charmes" (perhaps). Well, visit that plot. See where it's grown. It's all about real estate. 
2. Think Small! Some of the best vineyards, and best wine production in Burgundy is from small parcels of land. Just cause it's tiny and just cause you haven't heard of it means nothing. Good things often come from small packages!3. Timing is everything! Yep, that's right. The year's very important. And not just because it might be a "good" or a "bad" year. It's more complicated than that. A wine from one year might be fabulous and open immediately. A wine from another year might be fabulous (and open) 10 years later. Knowing the year of your wine and when to open that wine, is very important.4. Talk to the winemaker. You must find a wine maker to take you through his or her cellars and discuss their philosophy and methods. Nothing (and I mean nothing) beats that! If you don't have any personal connections (and let's face it, most of us don't) then find someone who does. Do you have a friend in the business? Can you join someone who's already doing this? Whatever it takes, as the saying goes, "just do it"!
5. It's all about You! Trust yourself. Often people are bamboozled by the expert or the name. You're the one drinking the wine. So, you are the one who has to like it. Do a blind tasting so that you're not overly influenced by extraneous factors. You'll be surprised by how much you know and how consistent your taste really is.
6. Learn to Read a Label. It's more than art. Each word has a reason, and helps you identify the wine. It includes things like vineyard, ranking, year, winemaker etc. Can you imagine how you might choose a wine if there was no label? Well, that's what you're doing when you don't know how to read the label! Information is power!
7. Relax. Everyone is just too intense about wine. It's meant to be enjoyed. So, enjoy yourselfWant to learn more about our photos or a trip to Burgundy visit www.blisstravels.com. Or contact wendy@blisstravels.com.
Our Provence...A Few Market Highlights!
Markets and Picnics! Two of our favorite things!
Bread from the best wood fired oven bread stand.
And a little spice!
Award winning sausages...duck, wild boar, pork, lamb...accented with goodies like walnuts, mushrooms, roquefort, olives or spices.
Seasonal produce like white asparagus.
Olives, Olives...Did we say, "Olives"?
Wine and Cheese...Mais Oui!The final result! Nothing better than a gourmet picnic on the TGV! Nothing!
Cooking Lesson in Provence
How To Make Soupe au Pistou!Soupe au Pistou is a Provencal dish (and a real treat). It's a vegetable soup laced (read: filled) with a garlic and basil pesto. Everyone has different recipes for it. Bliss Travels recipe is below. We taught it to a group last May, and they loved it. Of course, they picked herbs on a farm in Provence, sat outside, using a "summer kitchen" and drank wonderful rose! Dinner was served on a terrace, by candlelight, and everyone thought it a great success. Needless to say, people were happy!My preference is to use a small amount of potato for the starch, rather than the slightly less traditional pasta. I do this because the potato essentially dissolves and the starch thickens the broth. Pasta doesn't do this. And pasta will continually expand and "eat up" all of the liquid in your soup. This soup is better, better, best room temperature after sitting a few days. Yum! Serve it with a roast Camembert (not at all Provencal) or some local sausages and bread (much more "local") and have a wonderful evening in and "from" the garden!
Soupe au Pistou
4 Medium Leeks, white and light green only, thinly sliced12 ounces onion, thinly sliced
12 ounces carrots, cut into quarters and thinly slice1 to 1 ½ pounds of potatoes, thinly slicedBay leafThyme, 1 stick celery12 ounces or more of haricots verts and other varieties of green beans2-3 zucchini, sliced thinly
2 Tomatoes, finely chopped
Pistou:
Recipe by Wendy Jaeger of Bliss Travels… French culinary travel wendy@blisstravels.com5 "Bliss" ful Views: What to See and Do in France!
Sure you should see the Eiffel Tower.
But don't miss things that are "off the beaten track". Below are some of our favorites! Write us (wendy@blisstravels.com) if you want to share your "blissful" views or if you want to see more!
1. Villages in Provence that are more than a 1000 years old. Find the tiniest one. Eat in the local cafe. Order something "Provencal" like Daube or Soupe au Pistou (Want to learn how to make these? Contact us. We'll get some of these recipes posted over the next few months.)
2. Little "hideaways" on the Mediterranean. The water is so clear you can see pebbles on the sea floor---20 feet down! Arrange to take a boat into the inlets. We do.
3.
Local festivals in the countryside. Parades, traditional garb, seasonal treats, music, and more. These give you a real flavor of the culture. Attend one of the town sponsored meals --like an Aioli. (Want to know what that is, and how to do it? No problem. Just find the village festival you want to attend and look up the program. If they have an "Aioli" listed, then contact the local tourism office and reserve your place. Sometimes, though, you must do this in person. You will have to pick up tickets in person before the event. And you will have to pay at that time.)
4. Roman ruins. Find the ones that aren't crowded with hoards of tourists. Take a picnic and soak it all in!
5. Village fountains. All of them! Take a drink or just cool off.
Tips for Your Best Ever Holidays... in Paris
Paris for the holidays! Wow! What a fabulous experience. Take our advice and follow these easy tips to make the most of your Paris adventure.
1. Do pack waterproof boots or shoes --so the slushy streets don't slow you down!2. Do Make Dinner Plans for the Holidays. Even if you're not religious, many restaurants have special menus (or conversely, the "real" chef is away) during the 24th and 25th. So, plan to plan for these days. You will have a great time if you do!
3. Do Choose in advance which Christmas Markets to visit. The Christmas markets are amazing! Each one of them is a bit different. Some focus on antiques. Some on food. Some on artisan products and touristy gifts...(Our personal favorite is the foie gras vendor at one of the markets--who is across from the caviar stand! Where else in the world can you have foie gras and Sauternes or Caviar blinis while standing on a street decorated with lights, and lined with world class monuments?) Decide where you want to go and make sure you give yourself enough time to linger at each stand. Don't forget to have a glass of warm spiced wine to take the chill off!
3. Do have "bad weather" plans. Have an idea of a warm cozy day, in case it rains or snows. What's your favorite small museum? What fabulous covered passageways haven't you seen? Which of the large department stores entice you? French theatre or film? Or simply bring your notebook and chill at a warm cafe and watch the world go by as you write your award winning novel.
4. Do save room for the best hot chocolate in the world! Paris is full of places where you can get "real" hot chocolate, from the well known Angelina's to some of the lesser known, but top notch quality hot chocolate spots. Explore!5. Don't forget there are exciting day trips outside of Paris! If the weather permits, Champagne is wonderful over the holidays --and so appropriate!6. Do bring an extra bag rolled up in your suitcase, for all the gifts you are going to buy!For more information or to join us on one of our holiday trips, visit us at: http://www.blisstravels.com/parisgetaways.html#ParisTripor write wendy@blisstravels.com
7 Easy Steps to a Bliss-ful Vacation in France!
1. Pack Light! It's hard to be adventurous when you're bogged down. Plus, everything's smaller in France (elevators, car trunks, closets...). And, the walks are longer. You can't catch a train on the fly if you're lugging around everything you own!
2.Think local! Sure, you should read some guide books or talk to a travel pro about what to see, but don't miss out on the "real" sites by keeping your head in the book. Look up! Get off the main arteries and find local haunts and authentic experiences.3. Talk it up! Find someone who has actually (and recently) been to France. Ask them where they went and what they liked and why!4. Eat authentically! Before picking a restaurant, walk the area. Don't go before 8pm (the start of the French dinner hour). Look and listen. Read menus. Avoid menus with long lists of dishes and translations into many languages. Those places are for tourists. Look for small menus, specialty places and market fresh blackboard specials. Then listen to the patrons (if there aren't any patrons, keep walking). Are many of the diners speaking French or are they tourists? The best food and the best deals are found in places that specialize in market fresh meals designed for locals.
5. Drink local wines! Don't order a bottle just because you recognize the name. Once upon a time, food was local, as was wine. They matched perfectly because of this. Order what's local to match your market fresh meal. That might mean ordering a carafe of local wine or a bottle from a nearby vineyard.6. Travel "off the beaten track"! Find towns and villages that aren't on the major tour routes. Spend some time wandering through their streets, sipping a drink at the local cafe, or watching the locals play "boules". Really soak in the experience of being in France.
7.Slow Down! Some Americans arrive wanting to go, go, go! They want to grab a quick sandwich at lunch so they can visit more sites, or they want to start each day at 7am so they can pack it all in. But life in France has a different rhythm. Many businesses don't open until 9-10am (especially in the countryside), and most businesses close for a couple hours during lunch. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy your time in France. Linger over your meals. Take an aimless stroll after lunch. And try to mimic the rhythm of a real French day. After all, you traveled many thousands of miles to be there!For a great selection of French travel off the beaten track trips, visit www.blisstravels.com or send me an email at wendy@blisstravels.com.