Stories from France

Bonjour and Bienvenue! Want to hop on a plane and travel to France? Why not join me and indulge in a bit of “armchair travel.” As a writer and artist living full-time in Paris, I like to dive beyond the surface, past the elegant historic monuments and into what it is really like to live in France.

The daily life, the ups and downs, and the everyday moments, let’s go on a little jaunt, shall we? Bon voyage!

Living in France

Your guide to a traditional French Christmas Dinner

Wondering what’s on the menu at a traditional French Christmas dinner? Go behind closed doors…

12 French Christmas Songs to put you in the festive spirit

Countdown to the festive season with the most popular French Christmas songs and carols, with…

16 French Christmas traditions you will want to adopt

Christmas in France can be a bit unusual. Beyond the hot wine and oysters, here…

Vin Chaud: Warm up your winter with Mulled Wine (Recipe)

French Vin Chaud or German Glühwein, this classic mulled wine recipe is a perfect treat…

la cure gourmande - dessert and candy shop in provence

13 Desserts of Provence (French Christmas tradition)

Find out what is included in the 13 desserts of Provence, that famous Christmas tradition…

17 Amazing Souvenirs from Provence

Find out the top souvenirs from Provence, from lavender to soaps, candy to wine, toys…

continue reading about living in France

42 Best Souvenirs from France

One of the most visited countries in the world, France offers a multitude of beautiful cities, coastlines, and culinary delights. You can spend days wandering around Paris or wandering around the French countryside. And one of the things you will want to do is to pick up a few French souvenirs from your big trip!

More about souvenirs from France

French food

French Cake Salé: the Savory Cake Recipe

Easy to prepare, the savory cake is usually served as an appetizer during a French…

coquilles st jacques au pesto starter recipe

Coquilles St. Jacques (Scallops) in pesto sauce

Get the recipe for coquilles st. jacques (scallops) that is gluten-free with a pesto sauce…

French Brie en croute (appetizer)

Brie en croute is an easy and delicious appetizer recipe that is a party favorite….

16 Best French Chefs in the World

Get to know the most famous French chefs in the world, from their restaurants to…

Lyonnaise Quenelles in Cream Sauce (French Recipe)

A traditional French recipe from Lyon, quenelles are easy to prepare and serve as a…

A fancy dining table in France with chandeliers, a portrait of a man, and a model

What French people eat: a Typical French Dinner

Everything you want to know about French meals but didn’t want to ask. The main…

continue reading about French food

Illustration of Couple walking with baby near Notre Dame and the bouquinistes in Paris

Living in Paris: the Good, the Bad, the Ugly

It is called the Paris Syndrome: the severe culture shock that tourists experience upon realizing that the Paris of one’s dreams is not the reality. And that is for visitors, imagine if they lived here!

I don’t intend to dash all your dreams but the reality of living in Paris is that it is not all it is cracked up to be. After being in Paris for over 10 years, I have to bemusedly point out a few pros and cons…

More about living in Paris