Log
in or register
My Book
Recommendations
Other Websites
Amazon
Thalasso Balneo
Mac Games
Air France has special packages for a romantic getaway to Paris from the U.S. See details here.
Protect Nature / Respect the Environment / No Swimming Allowed
tags: signs, photos of france
From time:
“Perhaps nothing symbolized the American team’s efforts at the Bocuse d’Or better than its beef cheeks. At the world’s premier chef’s competition, which ended on Jan. 28 in Lyons, France, the Estonians transformed the cheeks — a required ingredient this year — into pot-au-feu, the Brazilians stuffed potatoes with them, and the Malaysians spiced them up into rendang. But the U.S. competitors, 28-year-old Timothy Hollingsworth and his assistant, Adina Guest, braised the meat until it was silky, set it on a tiny round of baby turnip, and topped it with a floret of broccolini. Smuggled through customs, the vegetables came straight from the garden of the famed French Laundry restaurant in Napa, California, where the two chefs work, and gave the presentation a delicious, locally grown flavor that could only be American. Sadly, in a context where extravagance and adherence to the rules of classical cooking take precedence, that might have been part of the problem.
From the heavy presence of seafood mousses to the cheesy compliments the MC paid the female judges, the Bocuse d’Or is nothing if not French. But because it is also a kind of culinary Olympics, with teams from 24 different countries competing over two days for a gold trophy that brings prestige and a $26,000 prize, the contest is imbued with national rivalries that extend from the fans in the bleachers to the flavors on the elaborate platters.
In fact, for the young chefs who compete in the contest — founded by revered French chef Paul Bocuse — navigating between the desire to demonstrate the glories of their national cuisine (to say nothing of their own creativity) and the wish to please a jury that tends to favor the classic French style is precisely the challenge. “If you’re playing soccer, you can’t use your hands,” says Antonio Saura, a Spanish filmmaker whose 2007 documentary El Pollo, el Pez, y el Cangrejo Real featured the competition. “The Bocuse is the same way: you have to play by their rules.”
Those rules are … ” continue reading
La Grève!
Just a heads up to those interested: There will be a huge strike on Thursday, January 29. Everywhere. Nearly Everyone. La Grève générale ! A general strike. I hope there will be a huge turnout. What is is about? Pretty much everything: the financial crisis, weak purchasing power, human rights, etc. It is basically the reaction of La rage du peuple! Be prepared to face some huge perturbations especially if you need to get anywhere. The syndicates are saying this will be absolutely immense, bigger than ever before.
La Grève!!!
From kotaku:
“Just as researchers in Scotland say Brain Age works, researchers in France say it doesn’t. According to data from University of Rennes, Brittany, Brain Age failed to show any significant jump in memory.
What’s more, the game apparently made memory worse.
The research had a sample of ten year-old children split into four groups: The first two groups did a seven-week DS memory course, the third group did puzzles with pencil and paper, while the fourth group just went to school as regular. Before and after started each program, the groups did logic tests.
The results? The DS control group did not do significantly better — save for a 19 percent increase in math. (However, the pencil-and-paper group also had the same increase in math, and the just-go-to-school group had a 18 percent increase in math.) However, the pencil-and-paper group showed a 33 percent increase in memorization, while the DS groups did 17 percent worse. The kid who just went to school showed a 20 percent increase.
According to Alain Lieury, professor of cognitive psychology at the University of Rennes, “The Nintendo DS is a technological jewel. As a game it’s fine, but it is charlatanism to claim that it is a scientific test… There were few positive effects and they were weak. Dr Kawashima is one of a long list of dream merchants.”
Professor Lieury is publishing his findings in a new book, Stimulate Your Neurones, which is out this month.”
Hmm. Speaking of M&Ms (the other day), they are holding a writing contest where the winner gets the grand prize of a getaway to Paris. Just in time for Valentine’s Day. See details here. But remember not to eat too many M&Ms.
I wonder if French 18-Years-olds even WANT subscriptions to any newspapers. Just wondering…
From theguardian:
“The French president Nicolas Sarkozy today announced €600m ($778.5m / £565m) in emergency aid for his country’s troubled newspaper industry and declared that every 18-year-old in France would get a year’s free subscription to the paper of their choice to boost reading habits.
The crisis-hit French press is among the least profitable in Europe, stifled by rigid communist print unions, a lack of kiosks selling papers and a declining readership far below that of the UK or Germany.
The public’s trust in the media is at an all-time low in a climate where politicians rewrite their own interviews for publication and the president’s powerful business friends, from construction to arms manufacturing, own several major papers or TV stations.
Sarkozy has been likened by his political opponents to Silvio Berlusconi for his recent moves to tighten state control of public TV.
But today he made no apology about turning his hand to print and online newspapers with a major speech instructing them to improve the content of their articles, bring in younger readers and transform business models in exchange for emergency aid worth €600m over the next three years.
He said the aid package was not an attack on press freedom. “I don’t understand how anyone could doubt the legitimacy of the state in this process,” he said, adding that without a good business plan, the free, independent press would disappear.
The French state gives €1.5bn in direct and indirect state aid to the press each year. Sarkozy likened the press to any other industry in need of aid, such as the automobile sector.
Sarkozy’s measures included a year’s free, state-subsidised newspaper subscription for all teenagers from their 18th birthday. He said: “The habit of reading a daily paper takes root at a very young age.”
He extended tax breaks for investors in online journalism and said the state would double its advertising in print and online papers. Rules would be changed to allow investors outside Europe to take higher stakes in French titles.
Papers in France are sold almost exclusively in a …” continue reading
From time.com:
“Call it the law that just won’t die. Six months after France’s ruling Conservatives voted to gut the nation’s famous 35-hour work week, anecdotal evidence suggests most companies are sticking with it. French corporations and smaller firms furiously denounced the Socialist’s 1998 work-week reduction, and last year’s law change allows employers to force staff to work longer hours. But most bosses appear to have stuck with the shorter week, to avoid disputes with leisure-loving employees, and, it seems, as a useful tool in dealing with the growing economic downturn.
It’s a classic example of what the French call a pétard mouillé — or soggy firecracker that fails to explode. Few of the expected changes to the 35-hour week have materialized since France’s Conservative government passed a measure in July designed to make it easier for bosses to force their employees to work more. The move retained the 35-hour week as the nominal legal reference to undercut union protest, but then rendered it nonsensical by giving employers a free hand to set far longer work requirements. So far, however, bosses haven’t seen fit to…” continue reading
photo courtesy of Presse-Océan
David Bernard and Marie Geffriaud, owners of L’Etage, a small restaurant in Nantes (Northwest France, Region: Pays de la Loire), are offering an exceptionally cheap lunch menu on Tuesdays. It’s a marketing tactic to get noticed but it’s also a way to address the financial crisis that has hit France and their clientele. So far, it seems to be working.
For 3.50 €, a sample menu would include thai curry chicken and rice and for dessert, a choice of custard or fruit salad.
I hope other restaurants will follow their example.
L’Etage
15, rue Beauregard
44000 Nantes
Tel: 02 40 12 10 04
[via]
tags: france, french, living in france, cheap eats
4:00pm – i>Télé – Investiture de Barack Obama : Petit déjeuner Obama-Bush à la Maison Blanche (1h45)
4:30pm – France 2 – Prestation de serment de Barack Obama (2h15)
4:55pm – TF1 – Cérémonie d’investiture de Barack Obama (2h15)
Some live online streaming coverage is here but note that you might need to set up a proxy to be able to view certain sites, like Hulu.
tags: france, inauguration, obama
When we first moved to France in 2002, I was a big snacker, as many Americans are. It was part of life and when I began searching for French snacks in Nice, it was a huge disappointment. In fact, I remember blogging about how we were able to find potato chips but only “au parfum paprika,” and other so-called different parfums, which in fact all tasted exactly like BBQ potato chips. Not knocking those, but I wanted different things to munch on, some variety in textures and flavors, artificial flavors and ingredients notwithstanding.
In the U.S., we’re used to variety, so much of it, that’s it’s hard to decide what to snack on. Having choices is good. It’s great for someone who must have a full spectrum of junk food, whether it’s good for zee health or not. Wasn’t I relieved to find Roasted Chicken Flavored Chips in France? Anyway. Another thing I’m used to, as an American, is volume. Gimme some tortilla chips, not just individual lunch bag sizes, but JUMBO, heaps of mega amounts of genetically modified corn substances and oils pressed together in the shape of triangles. Throw some in the oven with cheese and add salsa, guac, black beans, jalapenos, sour cream, onions and more cheese and voila: yummy nachos. I can eat an entire pan in one go, whereas in France, this portion would be served to at least 10 people.
On the sweet side of junk, I also needed volume. An example: I was very much a M&Ms with peanuts kind of person. Gobs and gobs and gobs of them, I would munch all day if I could.
During the early years in France, the biggest bag of M&Ms with peanuts held approximately 15.3 M&Ms with peanuts. PFFFF! I was like, “don’t make me laugh, France. I could eat 100 bags of those itty bitty things. Gimme more!” Where was the humungous bag to fill my ginormous American belly???
Recently, we saw some XL bags of M&Ms in Auchan. My sweetie noticed them and squealed XL! So, yeah, it was pretty big for French standards considering these didn’t even exist a few years ago. I was mildly impressed, but this French EEKSelle was a mere 500 grams (about 1 pound). Frenchies would probably say, “Ouah. Enorme!”(wow. enormous!) while ogling the outrageousness of its packaging. I say, “PFFF! That’s a Barbie portion.”
Last month while shopping at Costco in L.A., we saw some bags of M&Ms. Each weighed 1587.6 grams (3 pounds and 8 ounces)! Now, THAT’S what I’m talkin’ ’bout! To be honest, even I was shocked at the magnitude of the bag. But! In the back of my mind, I was thinking, “I bet there’s one that’s EVEN bigger!” I’m so American. I’ve probably watched way too many episodes of The Simpsons. (You know what episode, I’m talking about.)
We bought several. Not for me because these days I don’t eat as much junk (remember junk food is BAD for you!), but rather, for a few of our French friends who we know are ravenous M&M addicts. They were all shocked and happy with their supersized gifts, exactly what we were hoping.
But just afterward, it all made me a little worried. I hoped those M&Ms last a while and aren’t eaten right away…
While I complained about the dinkiness in size of M&Ms bags and other snacks, and the lack of variety in France, I was, at the same time, relieved that I would not have the challenge of resisting eating these as well as other junk in grand quantities. Like many people, I can’t eat just 1, or 10 or even 15. The French were known to be bafflingly skinny for many reasons, but namely because of a lack of junk foods and specifically a lack of large quantities of junk foods, or food in general – with the exception of meat at BBQs.
Sadly, times are changing in France. We found these M&Ms in the store the other day. They were size “Maxi” (whose name would obviously NOT work in the U.S.). The maxi bag is 1000 grams, just over 2 pounds. France, you surprise me sometimes. So, it’s big but there’s still a difference of about 587.6 grams, about 1.2 pounds, to catch up with their American counterpart. But 2.2 pounds is fairly large for previous French standards.
I know! This is what I was hoping for, but not really.
M&Ms is just one example but there are thousands of products that can also apply here to the obvious conclusion: an increase in product sizes will lead to an increase in consumption, which leads to obesity. This happened in the U.S. which is partly why one third of Americans are obese.
Obesity is rising already in France but I’m afraid it will only increase exponentially with the supersizing of portions and with the imports of industrial foods. In 2002, when we first moved to France 9.4% of the French population was obese. Just four years later, that percentage increased to 12.4%. That’s nearly 8 million obese people in 2006. I don’t know more current stats on obesity in France but I’m fairly positive that it’s more than 12.4%.
tags: france, french, obesity, m&ms
From iht.com:
“Two months after America’s 44th Presidential election, Obama-mania is as palpable as ever in the City of Lights. So, fittingly, there are several good options for those who want to watch live as Barack Obama is sworn in on January 20th (at around 6PM Paris time).
Democrats Abroad France is sponsoring a “President Barack Obama Inauguration Celebration,” a two-part event starting at the cocktail bar Le Queenie at 8:00 pm. Hang out here for a few hours before moving on to nearby danceclub Queen, (doors open at 10pm) to watch the inauguration live on big screen TVs and dance till the sun comes up. Le Queenie is free, but there is a 15 Euro cover charge to enter Queen after midnight. You don’t have to be a registered member of Democrats Abroad France in order to attend– but they do request that anyone who plans to come RSVP to obama.obamaparisinauguration.p@gmail.com. (Le Queenie, 5 rue des Berri, 75008 Paris, Metro George V. Queen, 102 Avenue Champs Elysées, 75008 Paris, Metro George V).
Bar, exhibition space and concert venue Bizz’ Art is open from 6pm to 2am for “Obama Day–Yes, We Can!.” This is a multi-media event featuring a display and sale of Obama clothing silkscreened by designer Xuly Bet, as well as a photo exhibition, and soul music concert by several groups including Chicago musician Sean Haefeli. The inauguration will be replayed on a big screen throughout the night. (Bizz’ Art, 167 quai de Valmy, 75010, Metro Louis Blanc, http://opusclub.free.fr/).
On the casual end, a selection of Paris’ s Anglo pubs and restaurants are, as on Election Day in November, hosting coverage. The inauguration can be viewed live from 5:30pm at The Highlander Pub (8, rue Nevers, 75006, Metro Pont Neuf or Odeon) and 4:30pm at Carr’s Irish Restaurant and Bar, (1 Rue Du Mont Thabor, 75001, Metro Tuileries, parking at Place Vendome). American-style diner Breakfast in America will turn on its TVs at 4pm to catch the pre-inauguration festivities, just ahead of American restaurant Joe Allen, tuning in at 4.30 pm (BIA, 17 rue des Ecoles, 75005, Métro: Cardinal LeMoine or Jussieu. Joe Allen, 30 Rue Pierre Lescot, Paris, 75001, 014236 7013).
For those looking for something calmer (or cheaper), the American Church in Paris may be the place for you. Starting at 7:30 pm, the American Church will host a special 30-minute worship service–with a gospel choir–followed by a live viewing of the inauguration. A free reception with music, food, and drink rounds out the evening (The American Church in Paris, 65, quai d’Orsay, 75007, Metro Pont de l’Alma or Invalides). The American Library is open as well, with live coverage of the inaugural address starting at 5:30 and, at 7:30, a discussion led by political analyst Thierry Leterre on ‘The 2008 election viewed from Europe: A world ballot?’ (The American Library, 10, rue du Général Camou, 75007, Metro Ecole Militaire or Alma-Marceau).
The French capital’s most formal inauguration event is also the hardest to get into. The Mairie (Town Hall) of Paris will be hosting its Inaugural Celebration of the 44th President of the United States at the Hotel de Ville, from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. Tickets are required in order to attend– and Democrats Abroad have already run out of theirs. However, there may still be some available through Republicans Abroad. Email Stuart.Haugen@RepublicansAbroad.fr as soon as possible for further information.”
Since we’re on the subject of Obama, I thought I’d mention these very cute T-shirts created by Chris Bishop, who is based in the DC Metro area. The T, called “Barack O’Unicorn” features Obama riding a white unicorn. They are only $17 plus $3 shipping in the U.S. until Obama takes office officially. After that, the price goes up. We ordered some and they took only a week to get to France. Get yours now!
tags: inauguration, obama, t-shirts, cute
From smh.com.au:
“Frenchman Lluis Colet broke the world record for the longest speech after rambling nonstop for 124 hours about Spanish painter Salvador Dali, Catalan culture and other topics.
The 62-year-old Catalan and local government worker spoke for five straight days and four nights to set the record in the southern French town of Perpignan.
Three notaries were on hand to recognise the feat which allows Colet to enter it in the Guinness Book of Records.
The previous record was held by an Indian man who delivered a 120-hour speech.
Colet began speaking at Perpignan’s railway station on Monday by reciting the works of famous authors or using some of his own writing. He also spoke profusely about Dali, a painter he admires, and Catalan culture.
Large crowds turned out in support of Colet, who received a rapturous applause at the end of his speech.
“This is a big day for me and I dedicate this record to all those who defend Catalan language and culture,” he said, his voice fainter after five days of nonstop talking.
Colet had set the record once before in 2004 when he spoke for 48 straight hours.” [source]
Medieval Tombstones in the courtyard of the Rolin Museum, Autun
Should I just be happy with the fact that this isn’t pink PQ (papier cul / toilet paper) that we usually see stocked along the aisles in French supermarkets? Sorry, no. Some marketing executive okayed the copy on this toilet paper packaging, and I have issues with it, namely, that it’s called “Just 1″ because “1 piece is enough.” (ok, literally: 1 can suffice.)
This is baffling. Yea, it’s super epais (super thick) and all but still. On what planet does one square of toilet paper suffice??
tags: france, french, toilet paper, 1 isn’t enough
From iht:
“When the sommelier in the overpriced Paris restaurant started to refill the glass without asking, François Simon stopped his hand in midair before a drop could fall.
“I like to control the temperature of my wine,” he announced. “In a restaurant, I am horrified by having to obey. I want to be indulged.”
Simon may be the most feared and most read figure in France’s culinary world, an ordinary looking man with a fountain pen as razor-sharp as a butcher’s slaughter knife.
As food critic for the right-of-center Le Figaro newspaper for more than two decades, he has skinned, sliced, grilled and roasted his subjects, indifferent to the impact of his words on them, but can be thin-skinned when they hit back.
He once described a meal at the restaurant Guy Savoy, a Michelin favorite, as “a three-star crucifixion,” faulting Savoy for serving his signature artichoke and truffle soup out of season. Marc Veyrat, who enjoys an unheard-of perfect 20-20 score in the Gault-Millau guide, is for him a “clown” and “a fake peasant” with megalomaniacal tendencies.
He has extended his reach with books, a weekly cable television show in which he hides his face and a blog that includes his secret video recordings with a hand-held camera of some of the great and not-so-great tables of France.
Not content simply to pass judgment on others, Simon claims to be an accomplished cook himself. His blog, in both French and English, boasts that he can cook a chicken 200 ways.
Last month, though, he took a step that few of his colleagues would have dared. He closeted himself in the kitchen of the tiny, mural-tiled bistro Le Cochon à l’Oreille and cooked five nights in a row, each night for 20 or so diners who had won the free meals in a first-come-first-served Internet sign-up.
Simon’s debut as a chef occurred during the annual “Le Fooding” week, sponsored by a French gastronomic movement that he strongly supports and that promotes an egalitarian, irreverent approach to dining. He announced his kitchen stint on his blog and in his column, and by the time he was ready to cook, much of the French media world had taken note.
The meal was barely adequate, according to five diners one night. The pumpkin soup, seasoned heavily with ginger, vanilla and black sesame oil, was grainy, undercooked and so dense it stood up in stiff peaks.
“I’m disappointed,” said Julie Demarest, an administrator in a water purification company. “It’s thick — like oatmeal. I don’t like it.”
The spiced chicken with pine nuts and golden raisins filled the dinner plate, but was…” continue reading
Pretty cool news: Beginning April 4, visitors under 25 years old, as well as professors, will be admitted into the French National museums and monuments for free. This includes Paris’ Louvre and the Musee d’Orsay. The normal admission fee for adults at the Louvre, for example, is around €9 ($12). [ via]
We were lucky to stumble upon a charming, 14th century, fortified medieval village called Villeneuve les Avignon (Region: Languedoc-Roussillon, Department: Gard), which sits atop Mont Andaon and is situated just a couple of miles outside of the city of Avignon, across the Rhône River. Instead of passing by it, we decided to see what was within the walls. No regrets because inside those walls we found a hidden gem, particularly the abbey and the Italian style gardens of Saint André.
During the same time as the Avignon festivals (July/August), Villeneuve has its own festivities, Villeneuve en Scène, with over 20 groups performing concerts, musicals and plays. Here’s a quick slideshow of some photos I took.
Saint André Abbey in Villeneuve-lès-Avignon
tags: france, french, villeneuve les avignon
Generate your own set of questions and answers with Jean Pierre Foucault on Qui veut gagner des millions. This is a fun generator from Remixto.
tags: france, french, who wants to be a millionaire?, generator
[via]
We seem to be running into strange product names lately, and these licorice candies are no exceptions. As an English speaker, an edible product called, “Rotella” just does not inspire consumer confidence, even though I do really like black licorice candy. In French, I don’t think it works either but what do I know. All being said, I would still rather eat these Rotellas, (rotten sounding and all) than this licorice stick.
Related: Buttella, French Lesson Fail, Restaurant Name Fail, Marriott Champs Elysees Fail
tags: france, french, licorice
From france24.com:
“America’s most famous French bookstore will close its doors this year after 73 years in business, unable to bear a staggering rent increase in New York’s Rockefeller Center.
Outside the Librairie de France, hordes of tourists take pictures of the Center, its ice-skating rink and tree, but inside one of the first retail tenants, the shelves are slowly emptied of books.
The reason for closing this venerable institution located at one of America’s most cherished retail addresses is a simple, albeit familiar one: the rent, which is due in September, is rising, from 360,000 dollars to a million dollars per year.
Online book sales at bargain prices and declining interest in foreign-language books have also affected the landmark Fifth Avenue business.
And in another sign of the times, most shoppers these days come to the area in search of clothes, cosmetics or electronics.
“Of course, we sell for 20 dollars a book that costs five euros (seven dollars) in Paris, but there are also shipping fees for online orders,” says Emmanuel Molho, who manages the family-run bookstore with his two children.
“No, what changed is the whole bookstore culture and the Rockefeller Center has become no more than just a commercial center…”
tags: france, french, sad, french bookstore, new york
(more…)
Telephone Booth Aquarium in Lyon
Fish!
This incredible aquarium, made from an old telephone booth in Lyon is a beautiful study in recycled arts. Made by Benoit Deseille and Benedetto Bufalino, the project came about from le festival Lumières de Lyon, the annual arts festival. It’s been around for a couple of years, apparently. I just stumbled on it via technorati. Now I want to go see it myself. I wonder if they are frozen right now. I wonder if they removed the fish before it started getting too cold…
tags: france, french, cabine téléphonique aquarium, telephone booth aquarium, lyon
Air France is having a special “Winter Wonder Fares” with very affordable travel fares from major U.S. cities to Paris and back. For example, from LAX to CDG it’s only about $265 one way, New York to Nice $260 one way, Seattle to Nice is $268 one way. You must figure in the extra fees like the government imposed fee and the 911 fee, which comes out to be about $150.
You must purchase your tickets by 11:59PM EDT January 8, 2009 and they require a seven day advance purchase. A minimum Sunday night stay is required and a maximum one-month stay is permitted. If you travel on a weekend, you will be charged extra $20-$30 each way. Travel must be completed by March 25, 2009. As always, inquire about restrictions on this fare.
Even with all Air France’s nickel and diming, the price is still pretty good. Be prepared to visit a chilly winter in France, however.
For more information, click here.
tags: france, french, cheap flights to paris
Some time during the 90s, Europe passed legislation that alllowed driver’s license holders, experienced with at least 2 years of driving, to also legally drive scooters up to 125 cc. If the scooter was less than 80 cc, you didn’t need a license or training at all (So it was very common to see 14-year-olds driving these scooters on the road…). This is about to change because of the non-negligible percentage of traffic death due to scooters (scooters and motorcycles account for 10.1% of all traffic accidents and 18% of all traffic deaths.) I believe the number of scooter drivers increased particularly in the last few years because of the sudden inflation, rising gas costs and exorbitant price of getting a car driver’s license.
Strangely, a new law was passed during the wee hours of the night on Christmas eve 2008, and just a few days later, the law became in effect January 1, 2009. That’s probably one of the quickest passed laws in France, ever.
So, here’s the result: The Ministry of the Interior has enforced that car drivers (with Type B permit and 2 years of driving experience and driving a scooter 51 cc to 125cc) either get a motorbike license (Type A) or follow a specific, 3-hour scooter training, involving emergency breaking and balancing alone and with a passenger – which costs between €110 to €180 depending on the moto école.
The 14-year olds+ driving scooters less than 50 cc are obligated to follow a different training called Le Brevet de Sécurité Routière (BSR).
If you are caught without a permit you risk a fine of €135 and a retraction of 3 points from your driver’s license.
Will the Ministry of the Interior follow with imposing a mandatory training for bicyclists? We wonder…
tags: france, french, scooters
