Blog

Spicing it Up in France: the red pepper of Espelette

store@frenchtoday.com (Kathy Morton) — Mon, 13 May 2013 18:00:00 +0200

Flashes of red appear in the distance as M.Otxoa leads our small group out of town and into the green fields. We make our way down the narrow grassy path as the spicy aroma of dried peppers intensifies. M. Otxoa points out the drying house on our left. Don't worry, he tells us, we'll come back after we've visited my pepper plots.

How to wash your hair in a French style bathtub with a hand shower

store@frenchtoday.com (Camille Chevalier-Karfis) — Sun, 05 May 2013 18:00:00 +0200

This might seem like a weird subject, but many of my students seem baffled by the European style bathtub: a regular bathtub, with a hand shower at the end of a cord, and very often no shower curtain or glass separator. "How the heck am I supposed to wash my hair??" they often ask...

Today, I'll unravel the mystery ;-)

Le Théâtre du Bord du Champ

store@frenchtoday.com (Michel Denance) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 22:00:00 +0200

Je vis la plus grande partie de l'année sur une île bretonne, Belle-Isle en mer, que j'ai un peu décrite dans mes deux derniers articles. Parfois on me demande : « Comment pouvez-vous vivre sur une île toute l'année ? Vous ne vous sentez pas isolé ? »
En fait, nous avons beaucoup d'activités, les étés sont très occupés et même en hiver, il y a un cinéma, et il y a de nombreuses associations à travers lesquelles les gens créent des liens sociaux (par exemple, l'Université du Temps libre, qui offre des conférences hebdomadaires).

A casual journey through Normandy and Brittany - Part 5 - Les environs de Courseulles-sur-Mer

store@frenchtoday.com (Steve Oswald) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 22:00:00 +0200

Cinquième partie : Les environs de Courseulles-sur-Mer

Le lendemain matin, nous avons regardé par la fenêtre et nous avons vu qu'il pleuvait des cordes. Donc, on a décidé d'aller visiter un musée. Un des musées que nous souhaitions voir était le grand musée de Caen qui s'appelle « Le Mémorial de Caen ».

Le village de Sare et ses environs

store@frenchtoday.com (Myriam Rolando) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 22:00:00 +0200

Sare est une des destinations habituelles pour les excursions d'après-midi en hiver.

En revanche, dès l'apparition des beaux jours, j'associe la visite du village à l'escalade de la Rhune, montagne le surplombant et culminant à 905m.

Venez découvrir Semur-en-auxois, en Bourgogne

store@frenchtoday.com (Maryse Planel) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 20:00:00 +0200

Today, I'm happy to introduce a new contributor to French Today's blog: Maryse. Maryse is a French teacher who also speaks English and Japanese, and offers homestays immersion programs in her own home of Semur-en-auxois, in the beautiful region of Burgundy. Today, she'll tell us about her town.

What should you do if you are sick in France ?

store@frenchtoday.com (Camille Chevalier-Karfis) — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0200

It's never fun to become ill when you are traveling, but should you become sick in France, here are a couple of tips about French doctors, medicine, hosptials and pharmacies that should help you out.

Poisson d'Avril ! April's Fool in France

store@frenchtoday.com (Camille Chevalier-Karfis) — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0100

A "poisson d'avril" is a joke made on April 1st. In France, children try to stick a fish picture on their friends' back. When the joke is discovered, they shout "poisson d'avril !"

Le Gigot d'Agneau Pascal - Easter Roasted Leg of Lamb Recipe

store@frenchtoday.com (Olivier Karfis) — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 20:00:00 +0100

Today, we'll take a look at a very traditional French recipe: l'agneau Pascal. In case you were wondering, let's be clear: "Agneau Pascal" does NOT mean "Some guy named Pascal's recipe for lamb!" but rather the lamb that is traditional for Easter (called "Pâques") holiday. You'll find several variations of this dish in countries around the mediterranean (my favourite being the lemon based Greek one, but I'm biased with my ancestry).

The good news is that as far as holiday meals are concerned, this is probably one of the simplest and fastest to make. The whole recipe requires just 5 ingredients and less than 15 minutes of preparation!

Les traditions de Pâques

store@frenchtoday.com (Camille Chevalier-Karfis) — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 15:00:00 +0100

"Pâques" is an important holiday in France: a religious one of course, but also a traditional gathering for families, religious or not. Kids go egg hunting (you can see our daughter Leyla in action), but our egg providers are a bit different: magic bells!! And we traditionally cook a large meal with a leg of lamb, and set a lively table to honor the coming of Spring time.