Discover here all the articles of the site which speak about the whole of France
Gingerbread is one of our favorite Christmas treats. Gingerbread has a long history, dating back to the Middle Ages. One of the earliest references to it dates back to 1372 in France. It was a way of preserving expensive spices by mixing them with flour and, above all, honey. You can make it yourself in cake form, thanks to a simple recipe that Monsieur de France has found for you.
It's THE family dish par excellence: shepherd's pie (hâchis parmentier in french). A good purée and minced meat, plus a few extra ingredients, make it a delight to enjoy with friends and family. The shepherd's pie can also be made with duck or chicken, and allows you to recycle leftovers into a really tasty dish. Discover Monsieur de France's recipe.
Invented by a Frenchman from Savoie, chocolate truffles can be enjoyed all year round, but the best time is during the festive season. Discover our recipe for chocolate truffles.
Quinces are a little-known fruit today, but our grandmothers loved them. They used to make delicious quince jelly in autumn. Here's the recipe from Monsieur de France.
Quince is an autumn fruit that can be used in many recipes, including the famous quince paste, the recipe for which is given below.
French expressions
France
what does "à vos souhaits" (to your wishes) mean in French?
Jérôme Prod'homme
"A vos souhaits!" (to your wishes" is what we say in France to someone who sneezes in our presence. It's an old expression from the Middle Ages, and Monsieur de France tells the story.
French expressions
France
What does "on n'est pas sortis de l'auberge" mean in French?
Jérôme Prod'homme
Overwhelmed with work, or not seeing the end of a problem for a long time to come, French people sometimes say "on n'est pas sortis de l'auberge" We didn't get out of the inn to say "we're not out of the woods". The expression has a long history, dating back to the 15th century. And the inn is not at all, but not at all, a hostelry. In fact, it's a prison.
Mulled wine is a must at Christmas markets. It can be famous when it's well made, and Monsieur de France will give you this recipe, along with tips and tricks for making a good mulled wine to enjoy at home.
"Etre en grève" means to be on strike, so not to work in order to protest and make demands. This expression is very old, but it didn't have the same meaning in the beginning. To be on strike was even to look for work.
You and me, when we meet a man we don't know, we call him "monsieur". But why? With Monsieur de France, discover the origins of commonly used French words and expressions...
