Feel free to let me know in the comments if you enjoy this monthly gazette, and perhaps what you would like to read about next month!

Daily morning walk along the Lorient harbor

September has finally arrived. A bittersweet month to some, as it marks the end of summer holidays, gatherings and backyard BBQs. It also marks for many, depending on where you live, back to school – or as we call it France, “la rentrée” (the return). Children and families pack up their beach towels, toys, picnic baskets and endless free spirit, and prepare for another rigorous 10 months of French education.

The arrival of colder-season produce on the stalls

In a strange turn of current events, September also marked “la rentrée” for the government, as after a lengthy delay, President Macron finally chose a new Prime Minister of France – Michel Barnier. France had somewhat been “governmentless” for several months after the stalemate election, but the appointment of the new Prime Minister saw the return of the State, and seemingly, a touch more calm (for now).

This election of a Prime Minister had quite an effect on our city of Lorient, as our Mayor, Fabrice Loher, was elected by the “new” government to head the Ministry of the Seas and Fisheries – which is very fitting, considering both the location of Lorient and fishing industries of this area. 

Mini “gâteaux” from the bakery: Gâteau Breton (yellow top), Gâteau Nantais (icing-topped)and Gâteau Basque.

In terms of weather, summer wasted no time in heading out on vacation itself, as the sun and warmth seemed to turn to immediate rain, clouds and coldish weather as soon as September hit. Autumn is definitely here, which Marc is absolutely thrilled about. “Stew season” he calls it. While I’m a little less enthusiastic about the warm summer months disappearing, I can’t help but celebrate the arrival of some of my favorite fruits, veggies and autumn dishes in general.

A vegetable Tian (top) and testing a walnut caramel tourte (bottom)

We also made another visit to the city of Vannes for the incredible market, to enjoy a stroll through the beautiful old center and to enjoy lunch at La Crêperie Sarra’Zen. This was our second visit to this crêperie, a place we’ve visited with my parents in the past. If you’re ever in Vannes and want some great crêpes, definitely stop in, but try your best to make reservations – they’re almost always filled, especially after the marketgoers try to find a spot to eat lunch!

Vannes city center

Vannes fish market

Vannes main square

Marc headed to Paris the same weekend as the “Journées Européenes du Patrimoine” on September 21st and 22nd – also known as “European Heritage Days”. This made Paris a little busier for him than it typically would have been for mid-September, as tourists flocked to the countless heritage sites, which open their doors free of charge to the public. I stayed behind in Lorient with Sophie, but was determined to try and enjoy the heritage weekend on my own.

Sophie is always happy to help out in the kitchen!

Several sites, whose doors are typically closed to the public, welcome visitors to experience a page from the history books. Last year, Marc and I visited an underground WWII bomb shelter located right in the heart of our city of Lorient. This year, I visited the “Réservoir de la Marine”. Built in 1875 and ceasing operation during WWII, this enormous underground 16 pillared concrete reservoir held up to 3105 m3 of water and was quite the site to behold. Covered over now by a green space, you’d never know it was hiding below your feet!

1875’s water reservoir

Oh, and looping all the way back to autumn talk, I recently got my hands on a big, delicious bag of “ugly apples”, to make the most delicious pots of apple compote (apple sauce). I absolutely love that apple farmers/vendors sell off the less attractive (yet equally as delicious) fruits for a fraction of the price, to use to eat as is, make baked goods, but especially to make apple compote. Compote plays an absolutely enormous role in this area of France (and seemingly France in general). It’s healthy, delicious, typically unsweetened and just makes for the perfect topping on yogurts and even toast.

Ugly apple bags for “compote” (apple sauce)

Marc was equally as excited for the return of dried prunes. Yes, dried prunes! Our favorite apple farmer also sells homemade vacuum sealed bags of prunes, which I have to admit, are the absolute best we’ve ever had. They’re so naturally sweet, juicy and delicious. Prunes are popular in Brittany and used in “flans”, a beloved local treat (picture below). Marc just pops one in his mouth every time he heads to the kitchen as a nice little treat. He loves adding them when he makes his middle eastern chick-pea stews, and I also started adding them when stewing my apple compotes for a little extra deliciousness. So good!

A typical Breton “Prune Flan” from our bakery. So tender and delicious!

What’s your favorite autumn fruit or vegetable? Let me know in the comments!

I have some delicious recipes planned for the coming months, which I can’t wait to share with you. Some real French classics and some lesser-known ones, as always. All of which I think readers will surely enjoy! I’ll give you all a little hint on one of the first recipe to come… It’s a wildly famous and rich French soup! Any guesses?

New recipes added to the blog in September:

• Grape Olive Oil Cake (Gâteau aux raisins)
• Braised Pork Loin with Prunes (Porc aux Pruneaux)

10 recipes to make in October: 

• Butternut Squash Soup
• Classic French Carrot Soup (Potage Crécy) 
• Red Kuri Squash Blue Cheese Gratin
• Chicken in creamy mushroom sauce (Poulet à la Forestière)
• Alsatian Onion Tart 
• Pork Chops with Apples and Cider Sauce 
• Braised Chicken Thighs with Garlic and onion
• Sweet Pear Almond Gratin (gluten-free)
• Chouquettes (French sugar puffs)
• Classic French Toasts (Pains perdus)

Favorite questions of the month

What are some of the biggest differences you find between France and Canada?

This question has a hundred answers. France and Canada are two very different countries, in terms of history and culture, food and well… a lot more! But since we’ve turned the page to autumn, I will theme my response to say that one of the biggest differences, and something I really miss, is the changing of the leaves in Canada.

Yes, leaves change color here, but only a few. Some trees hold on to their leaves, some just fall off early before changing color and some change after they’ve fallen. Autumn in Canada was a beautiful site to behold, and something both Marc and I really took for granted.

Were the Paralympics a big deal in France, after the Olympics?

I can honestly say there was a lot less media coverage of the Paralympics, but French television absolutely did show several events live and on replay.

As a newcomer to food blogging, is there any advice you can give to help me find my way?

There are a lot of things I wish the old me knew about food blogging, but learning them along the way is part of the growing process and in the end should make you a better blogger for it. If you’re serious about blogging, I definitely recommend investing some time and money in online courses like Food Blogger Pro (great resources!) or listen to their great podcast. I still listen to it regulary, and always learn a thing or two! 

That being said, the absolute best advice I can give is to simply be true to what it is you’re putting out there. Be authentic with your words and recipes to best of your ability, despite the demands of SEO and algorithms. Readers can absolutely get a sense of your authenticity, and engaging with them meaningfully will go a very, very long way!

Audrey, autumn is basically here! Are the French pumpkin spice crazy like we are here is the US!?

Not even a little bit, to be honest! This question made me smile and laugh to myself… Marc and I both love all things pumpkin and pumpkin spiced, but the French in general, not so much. As you may/may not know, the vast majority of our apple-based recipes don’t even include cinnamon, so the use of pumpkin and spice really is a foreign concept here.

Maybe that’ll change in the future, the more Marc shares slices of pumpkin pie with people… My parents absolutely loved it the first time he offered them a slice, so that’s a start! But as for Pumpkin Spiced Lattes, I haven’t seen one yet… but I’ll be on the lookout!

Loving the charm of Vannes city center

The post October 2024 Gazette appeared first on Pardon Your French.

Feel free to let me know in the comments if you enjoy this monthly gazette, and perhaps what you would like to read about next month!

Beautiful Summer basil at the market

August, oh August… Such a bittersweet month you might say. Mostly sweet, with its abundance of sunshine, but knowing September is just around the corner means the end of summer as well. Despite this, it was a wonderful month full of sun, family, food and discovery. 

Building in my hometown of Lorient

I’ve done some light complaining the past months about the weather here in Brittany, with an overabundance of rain and a heat wave, but I have to admit that August has made up for all of that. It feels like the weather has decided we deserved a near perfect month of sunshine, blue skies and perfect beach temperatures.

I like to verify how perfect the weather is by the reactions of my human thermometer – aka my husband – as he never lets a chance to complain about the heat, or rain, pass by. Surprisingly, silence from him!

Pedestrian street in Lorient

We’ve spent plenty of time at our favorite local beach, Toulhars, as did countless tourists, who flock to this area of Brittany every summer for its beautiful scenery, calm living and seaside adventures.

This area, especially over the past decade or so, has seen a real surge in tourism in the summer, and not only for the beautiful beaches and seafood, but for the FIL – the Festival Interceltique de Lorient.

Crowd at the Interceltic Festival

What is the FIL, you may ask? Well, known in the local Breton language as “Emvod Ar Gelted An Oriant” this festival which has been running for more than 50 years now, celebrates the Celtic nations and their varying histories and cultures, every August.

Did I just say that my region of France has a Celtic festival each year? Yes I did! Believe it or not, this region is in fact known as a Celtic region!

This typically 2-week long festival was cut short by a week this year, in part due to the Olympics in Paris, and hosts guests from Celtic nations all around the globe, which includes, but it not limited to, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, the Isle of Man, Cape Breton Island and Galicia.

Traditional Breton costumes

This super family friendly festival (a touch less so in the evening, when adults let loose to bands playing until 3 in the morning) welcomes well over 1 million visitors to the city of Lorient during its run.

Countless vendors line the shut down city centre, selling local delicacies, clothing, books, alcohols, beer and food, while the sound of bagpipes plays throughout the day.

There is truly so much to absorb about the Celtic community and history during this festival, and children and adults alike love to don the traditional Breton outfits, and pose for photos with tourists.

For me, the standout of the Breton costume is definitely the headdress worn by Breton women. It is so incredibly unique and gives me an instant feeling of comfort no matter where or when I see it. It takes me “home”, if you get what I mean. 

Delicious croissant from our local bakery

The ringing in of the festival also rings in the arrival of my nephew from London. He arrives each summer to spend around 3 weeks with my parents (his grandparents). He absolutely loves the beach and football (soccer, not American football) and there is plenty of that here for him! Of course, he also loves to spend time with his family, and he always has some special requests for us when he comes.

That included having a few BBQs and focaccias, which my husband Marc was more than happy to oblige to! So, as he requested, we had a couple BBQs, the first of which consisted of a medley of local caught seafood including tuna, swordfish, salmon and shrimps all grilled up by the Canadian chef. Of course, we started with a little apero of Champagne and foie gras on toast.

My nephew learnt how to make a typical Breton prune flan

Then of course, we had to have another BBQ as requested, with homemade burgers and fries. Not at all French, but still absolutely delicious. Funnily enough, some local bakeries here take custom orders for hamburger buns, made fresh for you the morning of if requested a few days in advance. While we definitely don’t specialize in this type of bread, Marc still says it was the best burger bun he’d ever had. High praise!

My husband’s focaccia with cherry tomatoes

On a completely different topic, you may have already seen some of my highlights from our weeklong trip to Basque country that we took this month. What a welcome vacation this was, and a little different from our usual “planning”, which normally entails flying to a destination and staying put for a few days.

Beautiful Bordeaux

This time around, we took a road trip and took our time. This included a one day/night stop in the beautiful city of Bordeaux, just a 5hr drive from our home. I created a “one day guide to Bordeaux” on my Substack, which you can find here. If you’ve ever considered stopping by this renowned wine region, I definitely recommend it.  You will not be disappointed.

The beach in Saint-Jean-de-Luz

The old center of Bayonne

We then took a few more hours in the car to land at our B&B in the town of Arcangues. This quaint, peaceful town was the perfect landing spot, central to all the destinations we planned on visiting throughout our trip.

We stayed at “La chambre d’Hôtes Lapitxuri”, a resort I cannot recommend enough. The hosts Jacques and Laure were very welcoming, attentive, knowledgeable, and served an absolutely delicious homemade breakfast each morning for all the guests.

The village of Sare

Every meal we had in Basque country was A+!

Each day, we’d visit one or several neighbouring cities which included Biarritz, Bayonne, Sare, Espelette and even San Sebastian in Spain, which was only 45 minutes away by car. Marc was surprised with how easily we were able to cross into Spain, with no customs nor border patrol – but this is the norm within the European Union! 

The old center in San Sebastian

The harbor in San Sebastian

I don’t want to reveal too much detail about these stops, as I’m in the middle of creating a detailed report on my Substack for readers. Just know that if you’re considering going, I highly suggest you do! Just be aware you won’t be the only visitor there in summer, to say the least!

Famous Burnt Basque Cheesecake from La Vina

Our little Sophie (our dog, in case you’re wondering) once again spent the week with her visiting cousin from London and my parents at their home in Larmor Plage. Sophie had absolutely no complaints about her vacation and left a 5-star review as well! We received photos each day of Sophie going on adventures, sleeping and generally being smothered by my nephew. Lucky her!

We capped the month off with a little more R&R, spending time with family, and of course, one last summer stop at our favorite crêperie, as a family. As per usual, Marc enjoyed 2 savory crêpes, and in my usual fashion, enjoyed my savory crepe followed by a sweet one. Actually, all of my parents, my nephew and I (all French) took the same route of one savory and one sweet. Marc just always has to be different, I guess!

And now, c’est la rentrée ! (Back to school in French). I wish you all a wonderful month of September, whether you’re going back to school, work or just continuing to enjoy the good life. 

I am currently working on creating recipes and content for the holidays, which I will share with you here on the blog and on Substack. If you have any ideas fo recipes or content you would like to receive, please feel free to leave a comment! I’d love to hear all your ideas and how I can create valuable articles you’ll all actually want to read. 

Delicious grilled anchovies in Basque Country.

New recipes added to the blog in August:

• French Plum Tart (Tarte aux prunes) 
• Invisible Apple Cake (Gâteau invisible aux pommes)

10 recipes to make in September: 

• French Lentil Salad
• Classic French Carrot Soup (potage Crécy)
• French-style Stuffed Tomatoes (Tomates Farcies) 
• French-Style Cottage Pie (Hachis Parmentier) 
• Classic Stove-top Ratatouille 
• Apple Cinnamon Galette 
• Classic French Pear Cake 
• Apple Jelly 
• Normandy Apple Tart (Tarte Normande) 
• Roasted Hazelnut Financiers 

Favorite questions of the month

I noticed you started a Substack recently, but I’m not exactly sure what it is and why I can’t access some recipes, but others I can. Help!

This is just one iteration of the same question I have received plenty of times since kicking off my new Substack over a month ago.

In brief, Substack is an app/website that allows content creators to publish their work, in an ad-free environment, and to earn revenue by readers purchasing monthly or annual subscriptions. Substack allows subscribers to chat with other readers and the creators themselves and have access to exclusive content and recipes that are not available to everyone.

My website Pardon your French will always remain free to use (with ads) for everyone. It will continue to be updated with new and updated recipes. I am thankful to each and every visitor to my blog, but Substack allows me another outlet for my work, where I can earn revenue and provide an exclusive and ad-free experience to readers.

There is absolutely no obligation for anyone to join Substack, but if you’d like to help support my work and profit from some exclusive recipes, french city guides and articles, you can join us here. 

Audrey, we know you love food, but do you have any other passions that you enjoy?

I feel like an easy answer to this question would be photography, which is why my recipes always include so many photos (which thankfully, you all seem to enjoy!). But to be more candid, I have always loved the arts, and more specifically, drawing and painting.

I often find myself with a sketchpad just drawing objects or people around me (or my dog) whether I’m bored, anxious or inspired. 

Is there a region of France you haven’t visited yet that you’d love to visit?

There are actually many regions of France I haven’t been to, or visited when I was very young that I either don’t remember, or would like to revisit as an adult.

To answer your question more specifically, I definitely would like to make a trip down to Nice (pronounced Neece) in the South-East of France. Sitting comfortably on the Mediterranean Sea, this Italian bordering city is renowned for its immense beauty, history and charm. The city is also now a UNESCO world heritage site, which only added to its allure. 

We’re definitely hoping to visit there sooner than later!

The post September 2024 Gazette appeared first on Pardon Your French.

Feel free to let me know in the comments if you enjoy this monthly gazette, and perhaps what you would like to read about next month!

July, for the most part, felt very different around here. When we arrived back in France two years ago, that first summer was extraordinary, and not in a pleasurable way. We had abnormal and extreme hot temperatures that are very uncommon in this area, and had some seriously negative affects on farmers and the environment here in general. This summer, we’ve had rain, clouds and some generally colder weather.

That said, the month ended on a warm streak, with sun and heat – around 30°C, which is still warm for this area. But we were finally able to go to the beach, and suntan and swim! The ocean was a little colder than usual, but we braved it and once you were finally in it felt absolutely great!

The beaches closest to us for public use, are Toulhars, Port Maria, Kerguelen and Locqueltas, in the town of Larmor Plage (the city I grew up in, where Marc and I first moved to, and where my parents remain). It’s just a 5min car ride from us in Lorient, and we almost always visit Toulhars beach. It’s a busy, but beautiful beach, with some beachside houses and apartments along the coastline. A little further down, maybe a 5min walk, is Port Maria beach, where you’ll find some bakeries, cafés, restaurants and a delicious ice cream shop. It’s great for families!

Enjoying ice cream by the beach on Bastille Day

One thing I always appreciate about beach culture here is, despite the cliché that the French are very critical and judgemental – something we admittedly can be at times – you will find people of all ages, all sizes and of all backgrounds enjoying themselves, judgement free. If you’re alone, with a large group of friends, with family and children, topless or fully clothed, people are focused on themselves and the simple pleasures of the beach. It’s great for those who may be a bit self-conscious.

Along with the long-awaited wonderful weather, came us finally being able to grill! Marc absolutely loves grilling, as it reminds him of life back in Canada. French people aren’t the biggest grillers you’ll find, but we do still enjoy it on occasion. Despite this, we took the chance to have a lunch gathering with my parents where we enjoyed some grilled pork belly, Andouillette (Breton tripe sausage), chipolata sausages (very popular here!) and some chicken and veggie skewers, which we call “brochettes”.

To accompany the meats, we had a few delicious and refreshing salads – including a watermelon and feta salad, carrottes râpées and celery root remoulade. For dessert, we had a buffet of ice creams and sorbets from a local producer, Les Loups Givrés, all of which were absolutely delicious. The flavors included blood orange, passionfruit, lemon, cassis, dark chocolate, milk chocolate and pistachio. Spoiled!

Marc and I also took a nice, short road trip to the city of Vannes a few weeks ago, to visit their renowned Saturday market. I love the market here in Lorient and Larmor Plage, but the market in Vannes is just a whole different level. Countless vendors and stalls selling everything you could ever want or need from a market – meats, fish, cheese, fruits, veggies, multicultural delicacies, honey, flowers, baskets, artworks, clothing, shoes. It’s like you’re transported to another place.

We took our time as we always do to explore and buy what we needed, checked out a few shops, then stopped for an absolutely delicious meal at Bistro Le Châtelet. Reservations are definitely required here in the summer, as we saw more than a handful of visitors get turned away due to being full. This is definitely a local hotspot, which tourists obviously want to be a part of.

Fish and chips from Bistro Le Châtelet

Marc was craving their fish and chips, which is a specialty of theirs. It was a French take on the dish, and was definitely “lighter” tasting, and the chips were phenomenal! I opted for a lighter dish and took a tuna tartare, which was full of flavor and super fresh.  We started the meal by sharing a herring and potato salad, which was super delicious and big enough to share, alongside some freshly cut baguette. Super yum!

Breads from the bakery, a mini-croissant and a praline brioche.

And, of course, we can’t forget the Opening Ceremonies and commencement of the Olympic Games in Paris. While I have absolutely no intention of going to the games, I am trying to follow along, especially in regards to the events I am interested in.

The day of the ceremonies was marred by a widespread outage of the rail system, which ended up being a coordinated attacked believed to be in protest of the games. The news stated that approximately 8 million travellers were left stranded by the outage, which has since been rectified. I personally expected a widespread strike of rail workers, but not this.

That said, Marc and I did manage to sit in front of the TV the entire evening to watch the ceremonies. Maybe I watched a little more intently than he did, except for when Gojira came on stage. If you watched the ceremonies, they were the (French) metal band that played alongside opera singer Marina Viotti, to perform the song “Ah! Ça ira” from the windows of the historic Conciergerie. This building was a former prison where Marie-Antoinette was kept, who you may have seen depicted in the scene without her head.

Delicious and utterly buttery “gâteaux bretons” at the market

There were ups and down during the ceremonies, plenty of clichés, and I know some of it was quite controversial to some religious groups. But overall, despite running for around 4 hours, it was all worth it to see the lighting of the Olympic Flame and to see Céline Dion put on an absolute spectacle from atop the Eiffel Tower.

For those who may or may not have seen it, Céline performed a flawless rendition of Edith Piaf’s “Hymne à L’Amour,” a song she wrote to her late lover Marcel Cerdan. Many think she sang it as an ode to her own late husband, René Angélil, but regardless both of us were amazed at the performance. And today, the news stated that the city of Paris wants to keep the Olympic Flame cauldron balloon as a permanent fixture. So, perhaps if you’re travelling there in the future, you’ll be able to see it in person!

What did you all think of the opening ceremonies? Are you excited for the games or any events in particular?

The peaceful Blavet river in Southern Brittany

New articles added to the blog in July: 

• Provençal Eggplant Tomato Gratin (updated)
• Authentic Niçoise Salad

Peak tomato season at the market!

10 recipes to make in August: 

• Fresh Tomato Velouté
• French style Zucchini Fritters
• Savory Tomato Corn and Gruyère Galette
• Stove-top Ratatouille
• French-style Stuffed Tomatoes (tomates farcies)
• Apricot Flaugnarde
• Blueberry Peach Galette 
• Alsatian Blueberry Tart
• Fresh Apricot Crisp
• Peach Crème Fraiche Streusel Tart

Favorite questions of the month

Are you for or against the Olympics in Paris?

I truly appreciate what the games represent, and seeing amateur athletes who spend their lives training for these events rewarded is a pleasure to see. But Olympic games come with a heavy environmental impact to cities, with immense financial and social costs. Money with which I think cities like Paris could put to better use, for infrastructure and social programs. I am neither for or against the games, as I appreciate both sides of the coin, but it does ensure I go nowhere near the city of Paris while it’s happening!

Is it common to pack a picnic or bbq on the beaches in France?

Yes and no. What a great and unexpected question. You will absolutely find people packing lunches, drinks and snacks to bring to the beach. But unlike what I’ve seen occasionally at Canadian beaches, I can’t say I’ve ever seen an open flame at a beach here. And typically, animals are also prohibited from the beaches during the summer months (not the other seasons, typically). So, yes, pack a basket with some things to eat and enjoy hours at any of our countless coastal beaches! Just make sure you clean up after yourself afterwards.

Audrey, I don’t often see or hear you discuss wine. Do you have a favorite style?

Wow, after all these years someone has finally asked! Believe it or not, I am not really a wine drinker. It’s not that I don’t drink alcohol (though I really drink very little of it), I just don’t enjoy it the way many others do, and neither does Marc. That said, Marc does typically have wine at a restaurant or if we’re eating with guests. But he prefers his beer or mixed drinks.

However, I will indulge in Champagne or Crémant d’Alsace, which is a protected sparkling wine made in the Alsace wine region of France, during special occasions. If you’ve never had Crémant d’Alsace, I highly suggest it as a more cost effective alternative to Champagne – in fact, I prefer it to Champagne!

Working on my foccacia recipe, which I will be sharing with you soon!

The post August 2024 Gazette appeared first on Pardon Your French.

Feel free to let me know in the comments if you enjoy this monthly gazette, and perhaps what you would like to read about next month!

June was a bit different this time around, and our home felt a little emptier than usual, as my husband spent 16 days visiting his family and friends back in Canada. That said, it was also nice to have a clean apartment for 16 days, ha!

Since moving back to France with my husband Marc (who’s Canadian), we agreed on a contract – that is, our move to France is officially permanent, but he plans to return to Canada for a visit every 6 months or so to see his family and friends. When I was living in Canada with him (for 12 years!), I always yearned to return to France to see those close to me and to just “recharge” in my homeland.

Being an expat is a life-changing experience. One that is both wonderfully enriching, yet brutally solitary at times. Being able to empathize with that, it was an easy decision to agree with this contract, and Marc’s needs to return to his (first) home twice a year.

While Marc was gone, I was busy with plenty of work and the welcomed arrival of much, much better weather here in Brittany! Sophie (our dog) and I did our best to take advantage of this by taking as many walks as we could, and eating as much watermelon salad as I could possibly ingest! Seriously, my addiction to watermelon salad in the summer is off the charts.

Flea market season is back!

A highlight of the month was the Olympic flame passing through our town! I am not much of an Olympics fan – and in true French fashion, most French people are complaining about the Paris Olympics (the cost, the environmental footprint, the hassle for the Parisians…)!

But it seems the Olympic flame passing through hundreds of French cities and villages before arriving in Paris brought a cheer and unifying feeling to all of us, which is always a positive thing.

The Olympic Flame in Lorient

Some friends and I went early (8 am) to be in the front rows to watch Laura Cobigo, the founder of a local NGO, running down the street carrying the torch, surrounded by no less than 10 bodyguards and a slew of police cars preceding and following her.

At that moment, it felt like the whole town was outside cheering in the streets, and I have to say it was quite moving.

Fava bean season is huge in France!

In some far less exciting news, you probably heard that June was a chaotic month in French politics. During the European Union elections, the far-right surged in France and won 32% of the votes, which prompted our President, Emmanuel Macron, to dissolve the national assembly, calling for rapid legislative elections. We (the French) are called to re-elect our new legislative members in the coming weeks.

So why would Macron dissolve the assembly, you may ask? His strategy is to show that the European election results don’t mirror the wider political sentiment within France. By calling the French to vote again, he aims to counter the prevailing narrative that the far right is taking over France. Will his risky strategy work? That’s all the media frenzy these days! No one knows if his bold move will pay off, or if a far-right government will lead one of the EU’s largest members by the time of the Paris Olympics… The results will be in on July 7.

Lots of recipe testing this month!

June was also a very big month for me personally and professionally, as you may already know. After years of deliberation and planning, I finally launched my Substack newsletter, “A Table in France”.

This was not at all a decision I took lightly. Working a fulltime job and running the blog already takes an enormous amount of my energy, but with all the wild changes happening with SEO (search engine optimization) and all the strings attached to keeping your blog “compliant”, I yearned for an outlet where I could just be me. My words, my stories, my photos and ideas as I want to share them. This doesn’t at all mean that my blog is disappearing! Promise! The blog will remain and will still be updated with recipes, and will remain free to use.

Eating the sardine croquettes just posted on the blog!

“A Table in France” simply allows me to grow my audience and share my work while avoiding having to follow the rigid structure and demands placed on it by external powers. And, of course, if people are willing and/or able, it’s also a source of revenue for me. I hope you’ll join along!

Lunch with a view!

Last weekend, when my husband Marc returned from Canada, we went back to one of our favorite restaurants in all of France – Dégustation Saint Guillaume, in the nearby city of Plouhinec. St. Guillaume is renowned for their incredible seafood platters (it’s all they serve!), as fresh as fresh can be. Everything on their platters (shellfish, crab, lobster, shrimps) are all sourced super locally. Whether you’re seated inside or out, you’ll have a beautiful oceanic view, which makes the food taste all the better.

If you’re ever close by, make sure to make reservations ahead of time, and come enjoy an absolute feast. And in case you’re wondering, our platter consisted of the following: oysters, mussels, shrimps (both large pink shrimp and tiny grey ones), bulots (whelks), bigorneaux (periwinkles) and clams! 10 out 10, always!

Finally, we are wrapping up the month with an event I have been waiting for, for 11 months… the start of the Tour De France! I am a huge fan of cycling and the Tour de France is the epitome of this sport! Plus, the fact that it’s a French event makes it even more exciting. Every year, I try to convince my husband to rent a van and follow the Tour for 3 weeks in July, but I haven’t managed to convince him yet, ha!

The Tour started in Florence, Italy this weekend and roams for 3 days through Bologna and Torino, promising for some epic panoramas! The tour will then enter France and finish 3 weeks later in the city of Nice! This is the first time in the history of Le Tour that the finishing sprint won’t take place on the Champs Elyssées, in Paris – impossible this year, because of the Olympics. Any other Tour de France fans here?

A walk amongst the sheep in Carnac, Southern Brittany

New articles added to the blog in June:

• French-Style Cherry Cake (Gâteau aux cerises)
• Best strawberry recipes to make this Summer
• French Lentil Salad with Tomatoes and Cucumbers
• Starting a Substack newsletter
• Sardine White Bean Cakes (Croquettes de Sardine) (updated recipe)

10 recipes to make in July:

• Roasted Red Pepper Dip from Provence (Poivronade)
• Tomato Bread Salad with fresh herbs
• Crustless Quiche with Summer vegetables
• Chilled Zucchini Soup with Goat Cheese
• Cucumber Salad with Crème Fraiche
• Classic Stovetop Ratatouille
• Wine Braised Chicken with peaches
• Classic French Cherry Clafoutis 
• Apricot Frangipane Tart
• Olive Oil Dark Chocolate Cake

The famous “menhirs” (prehistorial upright stones) in Carnac

Favorite Questions of the Month

How often do you get to visit the beach in summer?

I wish I could say 7 days a week, but unfortunately life gets in the way. That being said, at least 1 day per weekend, if not both. If I take some summer vacation, then I’ll sneak in a few more beach sessions. We’re blessed to have some beautiful beaches really close-by, and it would be an absolute shame not to use them! 

What’s the temperature like over there?

Don’t ask my husband, it brings up some bad memories (from an incredibly bad heatwave when he first arrived). But a typical Brittany summer ranges from 22-27 degrees, I’d say. We do have some warmer days in there at times, but nothing like the stifling heat and humidity we’d get in Niagara, Canada.

What’s new on the market stalls this month?

Local Brittany Strawberries are in full force now, even though they came out a little earlier than usual this year in May. Beautiful, fresh and big cherries are always in my kitchen as well. Melons – both watermelon and cantaloupe – are a definite staple in this home, and basically make up my dinner for most of summer. If not that, then the best tomatoes and cucumber are also bursting on market stalls, so fresh Greek salad is another go-to for us. They’ve started already, but sooner than later the stone fruits will be all over the place, and I couldn’t be happier about that either!

What do the French people typically do over Bastille Day?

Great question!  Bastille Day, which is France’s national day, is on July 14 and a public holiday. For most it is a day spent enjoying time with friends and family, at the beach, in the park or watching the Champs Elyssées military parade on TV. Unlike Americans, the French won’t typically barbecue and celebrate all day – most of the festivities happen only at night. Most cities and villages host fireworks starting around 10pm, followed by “Le Bal des Pompiers” (firemen’s ball) – music and dancing hosted by the local firestations, typically happening in the the main plazas. 

I myself spent most of my Bastille evenings in France watching the amazing fireworks seated on my hometown beach while eating an icecream – and I fully intend to keep this tradition alive again this year. 

The post July 2024 Gazette appeared first on Pardon Your French.

Feel free to let me know in the comments if you enjoy this monthly gazette, and perhaps what you would like to read about next month!

May is a special month, when the weather finally starts to turn from the heavy rains, and the sun starts to shine a little more. There was still rain, no doubt, as France is still seeing near record amounts, but the sun has peeked its head in, and we got to enjoy some very beautiful days.

I definitly love this time of year, when days get warmer with the promise of Summer still to come! 

We’re seeing the return of beautiful strawberries on market stalls and the first summer produce like cherries, stone fruits and even cantaloupes! 

The first cherries at the market!

We started the month off with a trip down memory lane for my parents and I. We headed out to the neighboring town of Guidel and enjoyed a delicious lunch at Crêperie La Laïta, a crêperie that my parents, brother and I used to frequent when I was a young child. It’s been running for more than 50yrs, churning out classic crêpes, as well as some more unique and abundant crêpes, that my husband vowed to try the next time we’re there.

Savory buckwheat crêpe of ham, mushroom and egg

I started with a savory crêpe of ham, mushroom and egg and finished with a sweet crêpe of cooked strawberries and banana, while my husband, as always, opted for 2 savory crêpes instead. His first came with a whole pork sausage, cheese and egg and the second with andouillette and cheese. You may recall from a past gazette, andouillette in France is a smoked pork tripe sausage that is very, very popular in this region.

And, of course, we washed it all down with delicious and traditional local cider and a cup of lait ribot (a fermented cow milk beverage).

Crêpe complete with egg, cheese and sausage.

If you’re ever in France and want to try a crêperie, my best advice is to start with a Crêpe Complète: jambon, œuf, fromage (ham, egg and cheese). This is without doubt the pinnacle of savory crêpes in France. The “complète” part of the order always means a main ingredient plus egg and cheese.

My husband typically opts for the andouillette complète, while I opt for the jambon. Your server will also ask you how you like your egg, and my honest advice is to ask for it “au miroir” – which means lightly fried on the crêpe with a runny yolk. You can also ask for it “brouillé”, which means scrambled. 

The beach in Larmor-Plage, southern Brittany

We were also lucky enough to spend a long weekend at my parents’ home this month, while they were in Marrakech, on vacation. While we love our apartment in Lorient, the nearby town of Larmor Plage is where I was born, and where my parents still live. And despite it being right next door, it always feels good to be sitting right next to the beach.

Sophie particularly loves it at my parents’ as it was the first home she came to when we first moved to France. She loves frolicking in the garden, beachside walks, and of course visiting the Sunday market where she remains a bit of a local celebrity!

Sophie loves sunbathing on the patio

Sophie is a miniature golden doodle, and she happens to be even smaller than a typically mini. This breed is extremely rare to find in France, and so everyone loves to see her, and she is equally as happy to see them!

The local market vendors often slip Sophie a little sample of their offerings, and last weekend Sophie was spoiled with a slow-cooked piece of pork that she gobbled up quicker than lightening.

We couldn’t help but wait in line there and order a beautiful thick cut piece of local slow cooked ham and a small container of caramelized onions on the side. 

We were also lucky enough to get a ticket to La Filleule des Fées’ “la Fête du thé” (festival of tea), in the nearby city of Languidic, to visit their private 2-hectare tea farm.

This small piece of heaven is operated by a tea-passionate Franco-Chinese couple, Denis Mazerolle and his Chinese wife, Weizi. After years of living in and studying tea culture in China, they first planted this beautiful tea farm in 2006, alongside the beautiful and famous Blavet river. It’s actually not well known that Brittany has a perfectly humid and mild climate for growing tea.

We were taken on a very informative tour of the grounds, which explained how the farm came to be, how the tea is grown and the benefits of growing tea in this specific area. It was also wonderful to find out they grow all their tea trees without the use of pesticides, meaning wild plants and herbs grow freely around the tea trees.

The grounds were so peaceful, so calm and almost like stepping into another world. The sounds of the river, the birds, the insects and the smells of teas and herbs filled the air. We were lucky enough that the rain held off just until our tour finished, so we were able to really enjoy the grounds and sample some of their small-scale tea selections.

As for the tasting part, we weren’t fans of the black tea, but we appreciated the tastes and aromas of the white and green teas that they specialize in. If you’re ever visiting Morbihan, or happen to come across any teas from La Filleule des Fées, I highly recommend trying some!

The month of June is set to be a touch lowkey, as my husband Marc leaves for 2 weeks to visit his family in Canada, and I intend to work hard to complete as many projects as possible before taking some time off this Summer.

Although, the Olympic flame is coming to and passing thru our city next week, so that’s something to look forward to!

Typical Gâteaux Bretons at the market

New articles added to the blog in May:

• Classic French Salad Recipes (recipe round-up)
• Strawberry Oat Bars (Carrés aux fraises)
• Eggplant Caviar Dip (Caviar d’aubergines)
• French-style Rice and Tuna Salad

It’s peak artichoke season in Brittany.

10 recipes to make in June:

• Watercress Soup (Soupe de Cresson)
• Cucumber Salad with Crème Fraiche 
• French Grated Carrot Salad (Carottes Rapées)
• Olive Ham Cheese Bread (Cake Salé)
• Cod Provençal with Tomatoes, Capers and Olives
• Classic French Tomato Mustard Tart (Tarte à la tomate)
• Classic French Fruit Tart 
• Fresh Strawberry Moelleux Cake
• Strawberry Flaugnarde
• Almond Blanc-Manger with Strawberries

Links I am liking: 

• The Guardian launched FEAST, a new recipe app with over a thousand recipes from a great line-up of chefs like Yotam Ottolenghi and Nigel Slater. You can browse recipes by categories or ingredients, and it features a nifty cook mode which prevents your screen from always locking while you cook (I love that!). The app isn’t free, but you can try it for free for the first 14 days if you would like.
• I have been following Brooklyn-based cook Justine Doiron on Instagram (@justine_snacks) for a while. I love her plant-forward cooking with a very seasonal and fun, approachable style. She will be releasing a cookbook “Justine Cooks” in October 2024, which is already available for pre-order!
• We booked our next vacation in Basque Country for August (so exciting!). So I have been completely enthralled by Caroline Chamber’s “So into Northern Spain” article, sharing her itinerary and recommendations for what to do in San Sebastian, a city I cannot wait to discover. Have you ever been to Basque Country? Let us know if the comments if you have recommendations, I’d love to hear them.
• A Fruity Almond Cake to Make Before Rhubarb Season Ends.
• Will you be visiting Paris soon? Here are a few links you might like: Finding the best cheese in Paris, the best baguette of 2024 and 8 best wine-tasting in Paris.

Ready to make strawberry jam!

Favorite Questions of the Month

Hi Audrey, I’ve always wondered… On average, from start to finish, how long would you say each recipe takes to develop, test and then post online?

This is a great, but very difficult question to answer. But I’ll try! Some recipes I have been making for nearly my entire adult life, so they were easier for me to complete. That being said, even an “easy” recipe could take anywhere from 10-15hrs of intense worktime, between photographs, photo editing, writing the article, uploading everything onto the blog and ensuring all the coding is correct, generating the newsletter etc. Some of the more difficult recipes, or recipes that I haven’t cooked quite as often and have to remake a few times, can take anywhere from 3-5 days.

It’s definitely a labor of love!

Does your family have any traditions that they celebrate?

Aside from having family gatherings for the usual “big” holidays, such as Christmas, Easter and New Year’s, we tend to gather and either have a meal or just apero (drinks and finger foods) on days such as the Ascension, or Bastille Day.

One “tradition” that I found to be quite different between when I lived in Canada and here in Europe, is that here on your birthday it is typically YOU who invites friends and family out for a meal (or over for a meal), as opposed to your friends/family taking you out. The reversal of roles threw me for a loop the first few years abroad!

Is there one kitchen item that you wish you had? What is it?

Oh, this one is a bit easy for me now…

The first, is a Vitamix. We had one in Canada, and due to its weight (they are really heavy!) and the electrical component difference, we didn’t bring it with us. I really miss my Vitamix, and finding them in France isn’t so easy and they’re very, very expensive! But my husband and I really miss our super smooth shakes, and making our own nut butters and dips with them. It’s a convenient device, but not so much at the price point around these parts.

The second is a KitchenAid mixer. Yes, believe it or not, I do every recipe on the blog by hand! I do have a hand mixer that I’ll sometimes use if I have to beat egg-whites to a stiff peak, or for whipped cream… But for everything else, I use good old elbow grease! While I’m still young, I’m starting the feel the burn more than I used to, and so getting a mixer might be something to look at sooner than later. I know Marc would really appreciate one for making his pizza doughs too.

I love seeing you share photos of Sophie occasionally, she’s adorable! Do you have any other animals?

Thank you so much, I couldn’t agree more about how cute she is! Sophie is our one and only… For now! Marc and I have discussed on occasion getting her a little sister, of the same or similar breed. Problem is, her breed (Miniature Golden Doodle) is quite rare in France, but similar breeds exist and aren’t as tricky to locate. Getting a rescue dog would be great too. 

That said, we’re still a bit undecided. Sophie is so loving, but also quite timid and we worry another dog, especially a puppy, might really amplify her nerves. I think in a few more years, when she’s nearing the 10yr mark, we might get her a little friend.

Happy Sophie playing in the park

The post June 2024 Gazette appeared first on Pardon Your French.

Feel free to let me know in the comments if you enjoy this monthly gazette, and perhaps what you would like to read about next month!

First off, Happy May 1st! Today is Labor Day in France, or “Fête du Travail”, which is a public holiday originally created for political parties and trade unions to protest and demonstrate in the streets. You will often find road blocks in many French cities today, which doesn’t really bother the French, as all offices, shops and restaurants are closed today anyways. Having a rest day in the middle of the work week feels very nice I must say! 

Another May 1st tradition in France, is buying and offering small bouquets of Lily of The Valleys to your loved ones as a sign of affection and good luck. You can find little stands held by kids, friends and families all down the streets and plazas, selling these little bouquets for 2.50 to 3 euros; it is such a lovely tradition.  We got one for us this morning, and a few extra to offer to my relatives this afternoon. 

My husband baked this wonderful brioche for my birthday breakfast.

As you may recall April started on a good note, as the 1^st was my 37^th birthday! I’m not one to really be fussy about this day, but it is nice to get out and do something a little different, so my husband and I decided to go for something we used to eat quite often back in Canada – Indian food! Just a few minutes from our home is Rajasthan a nice little place where we indulged in both lamb and vegetable biryani, which they prepare with a mix of 25 spices! We also ordered a mango and a salty lassi, which are yogurt-based drinks to help cut through the spices. If you’ve never tried a lassi, I highly suggest it!

The plates were huge and neither my husband or I could finish them, so we took a doggy bag and ate the leftovers the next day. Doggy bags… For those of you who may not know, these are a very recent addition to restaurant culture here in France, and still not widely adopted. Typically, we serve smaller portions in France, so leftovers aren’t all that common. Even still, taking food home after a restaurant meal is highly atypical here, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find places that allow it.

The weather in Brittany continued to be completely unpleasant for the first two weeks of April, but then suddenly took a turn for the better. We’ve had mostly sunny skies and 15°C (59°F) degree weather since, and it really does wonders for the soul. Going for long walks, soaking up the sun and just having daylight until 9pm feels so good. It’s also a huge relief for little Sophie, who loathes going out for her bathroom duties when it’s raining – what a princess!

Our little Sophie celebrated her 6th birthday this April.

In “big” local news, the official farmer’s market of Lorient since 1960, “Les Halles de Merville”, officially closed its doors… Well, kind of.

Les Halles (which you can see as the last photo on my March Gazette) were in serious need of a makeover, and the city has decided to do just that. A temporary – but still very lovely – hall was built to house all the artisan butchers and vendors, while the old hall is destroyed and rebuilt. The majority of fruit and veggie vendors will still be located outdoors, but the new temporary spaces are much larger and so much more vibrant.

I will definitely miss the old Halles, as I have built many memories there. I remember going there as a kid and picking up huge crabs and fresh bags of oysters and clams for lunch. That being said, a new and fresh Halles will also be very welcome. The plans for the new hall look wonderful and much more luminous than the old one was. It will also include a nice indoor seating area for people to enjoy coffee and treats – something the old hall did not have.

The new Halles de Merville is expected to be built within the next 2 years… But my husband says “in France, that means 4 years”. He might be right, we’ll see. In the meantime, the temporary home for Les Halles, just a few meters away from the old one, will more than suffice!

The temporary Halles, for the next 2 years or so.

In my never-ending quest to learn more about the food of France, as well as the people that create, grow and prepare it, I attended a little conference with Francois-Regis Gaudry, one of France’s most well-known food critics at the Théatre de Lorient.

The main topic of the forum was the food of our region, but more specifically of Lorient and its surrounding cities and towns. He invited local chefs to participate in conversation, as well as to cook a quick dish at the end of their talk for some lucky members of the crowd to enjoy. I expected a small handful of people to be in attendance, but the theatre was sold out and attended by people of all ages. It was a fun and information evening, detailing the history and importance of the cuisine of this area, notably the importance of various seaweeds and algae that grow along our coastlines and how they’re utilized by chefs.

François Régis-Gaudry and his crew at the end of the show.

Do you have a product or ingredient from your area that is important for local (or national) cuisine? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

One other local product that was mentioned often during the conference, is a product known as Kari Gosse. Do you know what it is? Kari sounds a lot like what it is, believe it or not… Curry! Created in the 1800s by a local pharmacist, Mr Gosse, this Indian inspired curry powder is a huge hit not only in my hometown of Lorient, but throughout France.

Kari Gosse is a balanced, but very unique mix of spices such as ginger, clove, spicy red peppers, cinnamon, black pepper, coriander, cumin, cardamom and fenugreek… Not exactly what people think of when they think “French cuisine” – but it tastes absolutely amazing, especially in a sauce with our local lobster, yum! 

“Gâteau Breton” sold at the local market.

New articles added to the blog in April:

• Classic Parisian Salad (Salade Parisienne)
• Lemon Poppy Seed Sablé Cookies 
• French Grated Carrot Salad (Carottes Rapées) – updated recipe

10 seasonal recipes for May:

• White Asparagus à la Grenobloise
• How to Make French Vinaigrette
• Radish Leaf Soup 
• Classic French Roast Chicken (Poulet Rôti)
• Bordeaux-Style Fish Gratin (Poisson à la Bordelaise)
• Chicken Fricassée with shallots and bacon
• Buckwheat Chocolate Chip Cookies 
• Classic French Strawberry Tart 
• Strawberry Rhubarb Crip 
• Strawberry Rhubarb Galette

It’s peak strawberry season in Brittany!

Links I am liking:

• I am currently reading Joel Dickers’ new novel, “Un Animal Sauvage” and I am loving it. Joel Dicker is the author of New York Times bestseller “The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair”, a thriller I absolutely loved when it came out in 2014. He has published several books since then, which I have read and enjoyed – but not loved. I am so pleased to find this newest one, Un Animal Sauvage, as highly-addictive as The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair. If you love twisty thrillers with a European flair, this one’s for you. The novel is only available in French for now, but I am sure it will be released in English very soon.
• Have you heard about the new Crookie craze? After the Cronut (half donut, half croissant), the Crookie – a croissant filled with cookie dough – has become the new Tiktok obsession. The crookie was invented in 2022 by Parisian pastry chef Stephane Louvard, “just for regulars”, until a video of his creation was posted on Tiktok. Today many bakers and amateurs recreate the crookie, and I have seen it pop into my instagram feed many, many times these past few months. Have you ever tried it? I tried one from my our local bakery last week, and it was quite rich and sweet, haha ! 

The Crookie from our local bakery.

• CNBC’s Why The French Love American Fast Food is quite an interesting watch, although, I am still on the fence about this… On one hand, yes, I would say that American fast foods have become a “norm” today in France, with big fast-food chains (McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, Five Guys, and now Krispy Kreme and Popeyes too!) multiplying in French cities. The influence of American pop culture plays a huge part in it, but so are the attractive prices of fast-food menus offering people convenient and affordable lunch options in times of inflation. But on the other hand, I am really feeling the younger crowds are more and more wanting to go back to the old-school, nostalgia-filled French food too. French bistros and cafés are popping up around my city offering classic French dishes (Omelettes, stews, quiches, etc.) which seemed a bit outdated just a few years ago – but they are back being uber popular today. On a final note, I would add that the quality and quantity at fast food chains in France is different – ie. The burger’s meat applies to stricter rules and a large size in France usually equals a small/medium size in the US.
• I love following British chef and farmer Julius Roberts on Instagram. Alongs with bits of life as a farmer, he shares lots of beautiful, seasonal recipes that put vegetables at the center stage. I am now coveting his newly released cookbook The Farm Table, which is already a Sunday Times Bestseller.
• James Beard Foundation announced its 2024 Book Award Nominees, which is always a great opportunity to discover or rediscover great cookbooks and authors. 

An outdoor art exhibition in the “ria d’Etel” river valley in south Brittany.

Favorite Questions of the Month

I’m not sure if you’ve answered this before, but what is your favorite cheese?

Great question, and a difficult one to answer! As many of you may be aware, France has an incredible variety of cheeses, both soft and hard. There are days where I absolutely crave a slice of ripe camembert (a bit on a smelly side), while other times I prefer the hard, salty bite of a Comté.

All that being said, my absolute favorite cheese is…. Bleu d’Auverge. Literally translating to “the blue from Auvergne”, this soft, stinky, moldy cheese is the best of all the bleus in my opinion, as it’s slightly creamier and a bit milder. Great for salads, crepes or just a hunk on its own!

I had made lamb, chicken, beef and pork recipes from your blog and enjoyed them immensely… Which meat is your go to?

Another great question and one that I can answer pretty easily. Beef is something I crave pretty rarely, but when I do, I want it bad! Lamb is delicious but not something I crave for often, and pork is the same.

For me, if I have to have a meat, it’d be chicken above the rest! So versatile and really takes on the flavor of what you’re cooking it with. You can see a roundup of all my favorite chicken recipes from the blog here. 

How often do you buy bread?

Bread and France go hand in hand. Within a 5min walk from our front door, I can find 3 or probably 4 bakeries making beautiful fresh breads and pastries. My husband is an absolute bread fanatic, and so I’d say anywhere between 3-4 times per week I’ll buy la “Baguette tradition” (pronounced trad-iss-yon), which costs 1.30 euros. 

And every Saturday, I’ll buy a loaf of “Pain Lorientais”, which contains raisins and nuts and is absolutely delicious.

Thank you for reading this gazette, happy May ! 

The post May 2024 Gazette appeared first on Pardon Your French.