France

Discover here all the articles of the site which speak about the whole of France

What is Bastille Day in France ?

Jérôme Prod'homme

Jérôme Prod'homme

July 14th ,the Bastille-day, has been France's national holiday since a law passed in 1880. It doesn't specify why it's July 14th. In fact, the date was decided to celebrate the memory of July 14, 1790. On that day, delegates from all over France gathered on the Champs de Mars in Paris, one year after the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789. A moment of concord, then, that the Third Republic celebrated by declaring July 14 France's national holiday. Rediscover this history and our traditions with Monsieur de France.

How to make waffles ?

Jérôme Prod'homme

Jérôme Prod'homme

Waffles: a tasty dessert as old as Northern France, where "walfres" were already being made in 1185 by sliding dough between two hot iron plates, leaving patterns. The word "waffle" appears as such in "le ménagier de Paris" in the 14th century, one of the oldest cookery books in French history. With Monsieur de France, discover an easy waffle recipe to enjoy with the whole family.

Mamie Simone's tips for successful jam-making

Jérôme Prod'homme

Jérôme Prod'homme

There's nothing better than a good homemade jam. But you've got to get started, and make them! So, if you'd like to make your own jam, here are some tips from Mamie Simone, my grandmother. With these tips, it's easy to make jam and please the whole family.

What is praline?

Jérôme Prod'homme

Jérôme Prod'homme

Praline is a hazelnut-based sweet (the best-known is Lyon's pink praline), praline is a kind of crunchy slab made from hazelnuts and sugar, and praline is the delicious paste that flavors chocolates. A delicious culinary invention that we owe to France and whose recipes we give you here.

Typical French pastries

Jérôme Prod'homme

Jérôme Prod'homme

What a delight French pastries are! You can enjoy them for breakfast, a snack, at the end of a meal, or just for pleasure (yes, we're allowed to indulge!). Find out here which are the best known and what's in them. I'll also tell you where they were born. Here are the top 20 French pastries to try on your trip to France

Mustard as we like it in France

Jérôme Prod'homme

Jérôme Prod'homme

Foreign tourists are often surprised by mustard as it is consumed in France. It's more pungent and much less sweet than that usually found on tables around the world, particularly in Germany and the United States. Burgundy mustard, Dijon mustard, Meaux mustard... Find out more about French mustards and how to use them in the kitchen.

What are the French people's favorite flowers?

Jérôme Prod'homme

Jérôme Prod'homme

France is also the land of flowers. Numerous species have been created in the country, and can be found in private homes or in France's famous gardens, from the châteaux of the Loire to Versailles and public parks. But what are France's favorite flowers? Here are 10 of the 15 best-selling flowers in France

How to make the best rhubarb tart?

Jérôme Prod'homme

Jérôme Prod'homme

It's never better than at the beginning of the season, in spring, but it's just as delicious at the start of summer: rhubarb tart. Here's the secret of my Grandma Simone's rhubarb tart. Enjoy!

The secrets of a good strawberry tart

Jérôme Prod'homme

Jérôme Prod'homme

It's one of France's favorite desserts: strawberry tart. With good southern or Brittany strawberries, it's a real delicacy, easy to make and delicious with a little whipped cream. Here's the recipe for a good strawberry tart.

How to choose cider?

Jérôme Prod'homme

Jérôme Prod'homme

Made by fermenting apple juice, cider has long been the 2nd most popular drink in France, and is still very popular in Normandy and Brittany. This is to be expected, given that, along with the Basque region, these are the French regions that produce the most apples. So: corked? brut? off-dry? How do you choose your cider? What to drink it with? Here are Monsieur de France's ideas.