French word of the day: La cuisine américaine
Published on May 14, 2026
“April showers bring May flowers.” Well not in Paris this year apparently, because it has been raining off-and-on just about everyday now for the past couple of weeks. (It was 5°C (40°F) the other day in the early morning, I was quite ready to pull out my winter jacket again.)
All this time spent indoors under the rain has me contemplating my kitchen. Or rather, how much I don’t care for it…? We are seriously considering a full kitchen remodel, so I’ve been busy scouring the internet for inspiration and I thought I would share my ponderings with you.
To explain, I have a cuisine américaine, aka an open kitchen with an island in the middle. (Cuisine française may refer to the type of food, but cuisine américaine is all about the layout.)
Yes, the HGTV trend of knocking down all the walls for an open concept kitchen/dining/living has made its way across the Atlantic, and in French it is named after the trendsetters.
Gone are the closed-off small kitchens at one corner of the home, I can now see my fridge the minute I walk through our front door. (No, there is no French version of HGTV but there are plenty of episodes on youtube, and why is this the layout on every show??)
I don’t usually leave dirty dishes in the sink, but with this layout I wouldn’t anyway. I know open layouts make rooms look bigger which is great on tv and in real life, but surely kitchens are for actual cooking?
As you may have realized, I like to cook and experiment a bit, and sometimes you just need privacy to make a mess. I suppose what I actually need is an arrière-cuisine aka a separate butler’s pantry, but those are not so common in France unless you live in a manor or château. (No, I do not live in a manoir.)
And I’m not the only one. Home and Gardens magazine wrote an article a few months ago about how closed kitchens were making a comeback in 2026.Also, isn’t it really annoying to be watching tv and someone else banging around in the kitchen or turning on the kettle?
There are more differences between those old-school French kitchens and the newer trends in kitchen design.
We are big fans here of induction cook-tops in France, with apparently more than 50% of households owning one instead of gas or electric. If you haven’t tried it, I find it is pretty much the same as cooking with gas but soooo much easier to clean. (Which is highly appreciated if you have an open kitchen, no?)
Another Parisian layout favorite is having the washing machine in the kitchen, although that is usually in apartments not houses.
There is one appliance though that many people here love: the robot-cuiseur. I guess the name is supposed to imply that it cooks and does everything by itself. (It is no Rosie from the Jetsons though.)
The most famous one in France is the Thermomix which “sautés, blends, chops, slices, emulsifies, and steams”. Prices start at around €900 so it is relatively expensive for a kitchen appliance. (It looks like a mix of an Instant pot and an Air fryer.)
But there are cheaper models like the Moulinex Cookeo, that supposedly do something similar. I’m not entirely convinced by those, but the one thing I do really miss and wish we had is garbage disposals in the sink. Sadly this technology has not crossed the Atlantic.
The ice dispenser in the fridge, on the other hand, well who needs that when it is continually raining all the time anyway?
In the news:
- The family of WWII French General Charles de Gaulle is auctioning off their family manor, called La Boisserie. Located in the Grand Est region (about 3.5 hours drive from the French-German border). The historic home was built in 1810 and is surrounded by 2 acres of land. There’s little chance that a private owner will walk away with it though, in 2025, nearly 350 items belonging to the General were sold at auction for 5.6 million euros. But the French govt. intervened by exercising its right of pre-emption, and will likely do so again. (It is currently open to visitors, so let’s hope it stays that way as I haven’t made my way there yet!)
- Three of the historic buildings in the town of Honfleur are structurally unsound, and so shops are closed and the city’s iconic quais are in danger. This is one of the few towns in Normandy that was not as damaged during WWII, so when I say historic buildings, they really are historic (and not rebuilt).
The polling company Ipsos asked French people what dish was emblematic of France, and the big winner is (drumroll): the Boeuf Bourguignon! The top five is made up of:
- Boeuf Bourguignon (slow-cooked beef stew)
- Cassoulet (a bean stew)
- Blanquette de Veau (creamy beef dish)
- Escargot (snails)
- Raclette (a cheese and potato party dinner)
And in the blog:
Ancient Gaul and their Celtic tribes
Get to know the history of Gaul (France), its Celtic tribes and traditions, famous Gallic leaders, the conquest by the Romans, interesting facts and more.
17 French superstitions for good and bad luck
Find out the most interesting French superstitions and what people in France use to ward off bad omens and bring the good luck spirits home. If you are superstitious, that is!
A classic with a twist, this salmon spinach quiche is easy to make in advance and serve any time of the day.