I’m a little bit excited because I just booked our tickets to the upcoming So Frenchy, So Chic music festival. Which got me thinking about French music… Given how much I love all things French, it’s taken me a little while to build up my French music collection. But I now have quite a few […]
The Distant Francophile Blog
445 posts
Autumn is my absolute favourite time of the year. And it is absolutely my favourite time of the year to visit France. The weather is (usually) still lovely, the trees turn to rich shades of russet and gold and the light is perfect for photography. The high summer crowds have thinned and savvy travellers are […]
I’m going to stick with this week’s photography theme in recommending a way to Frenchify Your Friday this week. When it came to learning how to compose shots, it took me a little while to work out what worked and what didn’t. Actually, it took me more than a little while to work […]
There’s an often repeated story of a photographer who goes to a friend’s house for dinner where the comment is made, “You take really good photos, you must have a really good camera”. At the end of the meal, the photographer thanks the host for the meal with “Dinner was fantastic, you must have a […]
One of the unexpected benefits of starting this blog is the fact that l am now in everyday contact with stacks of other francophiles who love France just as much as I do. Through Distant Francophile I’ve been asked to guest post and collaborate on a variety of sites. And recently, I was excited and […]
To Frenchify Your Friday this week, I’m going to recommend a little bit of shopping! One of the ways I love to bring a little bit of France into my everyday life is to surround myself with French inspired bits and pieces. To be honest, I’ve probably taken it to obsession levels. No matter where […]
One of the first meals we hunt down when we arrive in Paris is Duck Confit with Sarladaise Potatoes. Our favourite version of this classic dish is served at Le Bistrot du 7ème, a lovely restaurant not too far from the Tour Eiffel. We first visited this restaurant on the recommendation of our Hotel’s concierge and […]
Close friends of ours are heading back for their third visit to Paris. It’s been a little while since they’ve travelled to the gorgeous city, so they are keen to find out about our favourite spots to shop and to eat. Given they fly next week, I decided that I’d better get my act together […]
It probably goes without saying that French women are known for their seemingly effortless, somewhat understated style. Over the years, I’ve noticed that there are a few key elements to this style – skinny jeans, a quality t-shirt, a great jacket, a scarf (bien sûr) and flat shoes. Predominantly ballet flats. Yes, ballet flats – […]
What is it about Provence that makes it so compelling? It could be the views. The light. The art. The warmth. It may very well be the rosé. Regardless, everyone who travels there falls head-over-heels in love with the place. And if you want to get a taste of the best Provence has on offer, […]
I’ve mentioned before that I am a sucker for well known Parisian brasseries. Give me just the suggestion of dining in Paris during La Belle Époque and I’m there – no matter how touristy the restaurant. I’m even willing to overlook the sometimes less than great food and occasionally, the not so fabulous service just […]
Full of smoked meats, creamy pâtés and preserved veggies, sharing a French charcuterie board is one of my favourite ways to start a meal. And it’s also the way I’m recommending you Frenchify Your Friday this week. Now, I love the fancy charcuterie boards you get in restaurants, but you can easily whip up […]
A colleague of mine is lucky enough to be spending four days in Paris soon. She has asked if she can catch up with me as she’d like my advice on what she should do while she is there. I’ve been thinking about how best to answer her. And – believe it or not […]
Autumn is my absolute favourite season. The days are still deliciously warm, but the evenings are crisp and cool. The light is divine and the colours become all soft and golden as the trees prepare to shed their leaves. And I adore the flavours of autumn, as earthy mushrooms, pumpkins and fennel all come into […]
I’m about to start French language lessons again and I’m really quite excited about that fact. I love the actual process of trying to learn a second language. But, I have to tell you, I’m surprised – and perhaps a little disappointed – at how much I’ve forgotten since our time at the French […]
I can’t tell you how glad I am that September has finally arrived – mainly due to the fact that Melbourne has just suffered through the coldest winter in 20-something years. I know I am not the only one in this part of the world who has been not-so-patiently waiting for spring. To celebrate the […]
Although it seems almost too obvious, one of my very favourite soups is the classic French onion soup. Rich and full of flavour, it’s best when topped with croutons made from toasted baguette, which are dripping with melted cheese. But while French onion soup is fabulous, it can be a bit of a bother to […]
I’ve written before about the fact that half the fun of visiting France comes from the planning stage. I can happily spend hours researching all the details – where to stay, what to eat, what to do, how to get around and what to buy all feature on my list of things to research. And […]
It’s time for me to finish up our little series of Parisian gems. And today I’m keen to share the Basilique Cathédrale de Saint – Denis with you all. Like the Musée de l’Orangerie and the Musée Carnavalet, the Basilica of Saint – Denis offers visitors a different taste of Paris. Legend has it that […]
Welcome to this week’s Frenchify Your Friday! I don’t know about you but there are certain foods that I automatically associate with France. Steak frites, cassoulet and French onion soup all immediately spring to mind. And on the sweet end of the spectrum, I can’t go past crème brûlée. But why would you go past […]