French la Vie

During the French la Vie retreats, we do more than just go to brocantes…

Not only do we fill our suitcases, boxes, and whatever else we can stuff antiques into, we dine, oh boy, do we dine! France has an abundance of everything and delicious food culture, but you know that.

 

Grand Marnier soufflé, chocolate eclairs, tarte Tatin, brioche, Opéra, Paris-Brest, macarons, pain perdu, apricot tartlette, mousse au chocolat…

 

 

One sweet thing after another.

 

Most of the time, the groups who come would rather shop than eat; I kid you not. Sometimes, going to a restaurant, which is planned, is changed by a group vote to grab a bite and go on to the next brocante.

How many brocantes can we stuff in one day?

How many delicious meals can we forego to do so?

None. We do it all.

 

 

Drinking rose while at the brocante.

 

When we grab something to eat, trust me when I say it is still delicious, remarkable, and worth every single little bit, even when it’s just pizza freshly made out of a pizza truck with a wood-burning stove.

 

 

The cafe scene is a must. Seriously, how can you come to France and not sit at a café? But there are cafés, and then there are cafés, and when you live here, you know which ones to go to. I like the ones that still have tablecloths on their tables and have that old romantic atmosphere or the straightforward, untouched ones that make you feel like you’ve gone back in time.

 

Yes, that is one of the most beautiful champagne buckets I have ever seen, filled with glass wine stoppers that look like ice cubes. So original.

 

 

The food culture in France doesn’t just stop with the food. It includes all the elements that go along with dining. The tablecloth, the grand serviettes, the faïence dishes, silverware, tabletop decor… The list goes on and on. The tabletop decor can be found at the brocante, just as I have said about the beaucoup, beaucoup French antique linens that could cover the planet if laid out. In France, it is not unusual to have an apéritif dish and entrée dish, dinner dish, a salad dish, a cheese dish, and a dessert dish, and that is for one meal. Then times that amount of dishes by centuries of French cuisine: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If laid out, antique French dishes could cover the solar system.

 

French antique blue confit pot.

 

You might think I’m exaggerating, but I think the tabletop decor and France could cover the universe. At least the Brocantes are loaded with dishes, glassware, silverware, and everything else that involves dining.

 

Food lovers in France go way back.

 

 

And stemware, I have to say something about French antique stemware…

At the Brocante, if you took all the stemware lined up, there might not be a wave left in the oceans.

And we won’t even talk about French wine.

 

We are fortunate to dine in private homes during the French la Vie. When I travel, I always wonder what is behind the door, if only I could go into someone’s house and see how they live —well, during the French la Vie, that comes true. Everyone who comes finds a highlight: To go into people's homes and share life, even if it’s just for a little bit with the French.

 

 

Am I tempting you to join me?