My diary of a classic French weekend away in the Champagne region. A stay at Château de Courcelles, one of France’s many beautiful châteaux that have been transformed into world-class hotels.
Sometimes you just need to get out of the city, even a beautiful one like Paris. We were looking for a place with sun, great food, charm and a less than 3 hour drive: Bonjour Le Touquet!
Despite what anyone says, you don’t HAVE to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower or eat a Ladurée macaron to really experience Paris. Trust me, plenty of French people aren’t taking Mona Lisa selfies.
When eating at a fine restaurant in France, there is a silent code diners use with forks and knives to talk to waiters. A sort of sign language via le couteau and la fourchette.
We all know (and love) macarons, eclairs and pain au chocolat, but there’s a whole world of French pastries out there waiting for you to discover. An introduction to some lesser-known, but just as mind-blowing French desserts.
The French are big on seasonal eating, and winter means lots of special meals heavy on the cheese, meat and carbs. Raclette, tariflette, croziflette…I hadn’t heard of these dishes until I visited France in winter. So allow me to introduce you to my favorite winter…