I just finished the book Entre Nous by Debra Ollivier. Ollivier tells women of the world how to acquire a certain “Frenchness” in many facets of life: family, fashion, love, interior design etc. I love that Ollivier explains the fallacy of certain French stereotypes. She also validates others. As an American woman the main lessons that I learned from this book were:

1.     1.  Less is more; from clothes and décor to close friends and gossip.

2.     2.  Stop the rush. Enjoy your time and make it worthwhile.

“When it comes to the French girl herself, we often fixate on the stereotype (you know her: the svelte Euro goddess in high heels.) The archetypal French girl is not the woman you see on the cover of fashion magazines or on the big screen. She is an essence, a way of being, a mindset-and she exists in us all. She is that part of us that is free-and not bound up by the joyless strings of Puritan morality or guilt. She’s that part of us that has a sense of continuity in life, that doesn’t rush, that feels sexy for no apparent reason. She is, more fundamentally, that part of us that does not want to live according to what others think she should be. She is her own woman. Entirely.” 

Today's post is an ode to the cheeses that I miss so much! The United States does not begin to compare to France when it  comes to the subject of cheese. The cheese selection in France seems almost unlimited! Le fromage est une joie de vivre! Learn more about my favorite cheese "Ossau-Iraty" by clicking here. 

I stumbled upon a wonderful website concerning all things French from a prissy American woman's point of view. She calls herself "Bardot in Blue." Bardot is from New York City and is now working in Paris. I have loved her photos, stories, and take on Parisian life. ENJOY!

Image from bardotinblue.com 

Check out this article written by Alexandra Tucci and Christy Boardman about the Alabama in France program.
http://www.cw.ua.edu/2010/06/10/alabama-in-france-students-adapt-to-french-culture/

In class last week I learned common terms that French lovers call one another. I thought it was very interesting and wanted to share the list of French “love names” and their translations.

1.       Ma biche- my doe

2.       Ma caille- my quail

3.       Mon canard- my duck

4.       Mon chaton- my kitten

5.       Mon loup- my wolf

6.       Mon poussin- my chick

7.       Ma puce- my flea

Last week I was able to take a wine and cheese tasting class from the institute. It was very interesting to learn the techniques for observing, smelling, and tasting wine. We also learned which wines pair best with which cheeses.

Here is a list of recommendations that we received:

• 1.      White wine goes well with goat’s cheese
• 2.      Chinon (red wine) goes well with Riblochon (cow’s cheese) Chinon is a “Cabernet Franc”
• 3.      Cotes-du-Rhone (Shiraz) with St. Nectaire  (cow’s cheese) or with Ossau-Iraty (MY FAVORITE CHEESE, I will miss it!) paired with black cherry jam.
• 4.      Bordeaux with Camembert

 When buying wine, note that the years 1989-1990 produced great wines due to good climate conditions.  Furthermore, when trying to tell the age of a red wine note that a younger wine appears more violet around the edges, whereas an older wine appears more orange. 

(La semaine dernière, j'ai pu prendre un vin et dégustation de fromage de classe de l'Institut.C'était très intéressant d'apprendre les techniques d'observation, l'odorat et la dégustation de vins. Nous avons également appris que les meilleurs vins paire avec laquelle fromages.

Voici une liste de recommandations que nous avons reçues:
1. Vin blanc se marie bien avec le fromage de chèvre
2. Chinon (vin rouge) va bien avec Riblochon (fromage de vache) Chinon est un "Cabernet Franc"
3. Côtes-du-Rhône (Shiraz) avec Saint-Nectaire (fromage de vache) ou avec d'Ossau-Iraty (mon préféré FROMAGE, va me manquer!) Jumelé avec confiture de cerises noires.
4. Bordeaux au camembert
Quand le vin d'achat, note que les années 1989-1990 produit de grands vins en raison de conditions climatiques bonnes. En outre, lorsque vous essayez de dire à l'âge d'une note de vin rouge que de vin semble plus jeune violet sur les bords, alors qu'un vin semble plus âgés orange.)

Today is la « Fête de la Musique » in France! It is a free nation-wide concert/party. Anyone who wants to play is welcome; and big names play on the street for free! Going out tonight is a must! It will be a night to remember!

Launched in 1982 by the French Ministry for culture, the Fête de la Musique is held in more than hundred countries in Europe and over the world. It takes place every 21st June, the day of the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere. To read more click here.

(Aujourd'hui, c'est la «Fête de la musique» en France! Il s'agit d'un concert gratuit à l'échelle nationale / fête. Toute personne qui veut jouer est la bienvenue, et de grands noms jouent dans la rue gratuitement! Sortir ce soir, c'est un must! Ce sera une soirée inoubliable!

Lancé en 1982 par le ministère français de la Culture, la Fête de la Musique a lieu dans plus de cent pays en Europe et dans le monde entier. Elle a lieu chaque 21 Juin, jour du solstice d'été dans l'hémisphère nord. Pour en savoir plus cliquez ici.)