Not in France? Not a problem!
Bring some joie de vivre into your life, no matter where you are.
Bonjour friends & welcome, new subscribers!
Did you watch the Paris Olympics opening ceremony? What did you think? We caught a few minutes of the very French ménage à trois vignette and the awful Lady Gaga performance, but I need to go back and watch the whole thing.
By the way, A Good Vintage is now part of #GiveBackStack, a directory of substacks that donate part or all of their proceeds to charity. I’m donating 100% of the net proceeds from paid subscriptions to two animal welfare organizations I love and support: Arlington Animal Welfare League and Woodstock Farm Sanctuary. For just $5 a month, paid subscribers get:
Access to the full archive of posts
Access to my frequently updated French Faves
A free 30-minute Zoom or phone call to pick my brain about planning a trip to France (where to stay in Paris and beyond, when to go, what to avoid, day trips, etiquette, and more).
My undying gratitude.
xo,
Sacha
P.S. Why did I start A Good Vintage? Read more here.
France may be nearly 4,000 miles away, but it’s still very much in my heart and on my mind. Since I won’t be returning until late fall, I’m doing all I can to immerse myself in French culture, food, wine, art, and shopping here at home. If you also long to be in France but are stuck elsewhere, I hope these suggestions will help bring a bit of la vie française into your world.
Host a French-themed dinner party or apéro dînatoire. Break out Le Cruset and cook up a French feast for your friends. Ask everyone to bring a bottle of French wine or bubbly, a French dessert, or their favorite French cheese. Want something easier? Try an apéro dînatoire (French aperitif party) like this one from Food & Wine.
Listen to French tunes. Break out some Serge Gainsbourg, Édith Piaf, or Sylvie Vartan; mix yourself a Hemingway daiquiri; and pretend you’re in a sexy little Parisian speakeasy, like 1905, my favorite one in the Marais.
Frenchify your home. Rebecca Plotnick, the founder of Everyday Parisian, wrote an excellent blog post about how to “Frenchify” your home by maximizing small spaces, outfitting your kitchen with iconic French brands like Le Creuset and Staub, and adding thoughtful touches like flowers and antique mirrors. I also like French candles from Diptique and Trudon, fresh flowers, and stocking my bathroom with French beauty and skincare products from SVR and Caudalie.
Get lost in a book about France. Emily Dickinson said it best: “There is no frigate like a book” to transport you to other places. Here are some of my favorite books about France, along with a few on my summer reading list.
My Life in France by Julia Child — The bestselling story of Julia Child’s years in France and the inspiration for Julie & Julia with Meryl Streep and Amy Adams.
From Paris to the Moon by Adam Gopnik—I read this 50 million years ago and remember it as an evocative and inspiring tale of an American family in Paris.
Mastering the Art of French Eating by Ann Mah — The memoir of a young diplomat's wife who reinvents her dream of living in Paris--one dish at a time.
The Art of French Cooking by Julia Child — The definitive cookbook on French cuisine for American readers.
A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle—For many Boomers and GenXers, this book sparked a million expat fantasies. It’s a bit dated, but it's still a fun read.
The French Ingredient by Jane Bertch — This new book tells the story of Bertch, a former banker who started a cooking school in Paris.
Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris — Funny and relatable essays about living in Paris and Normandy, including the famous title essay, which you can read here.
I’m Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself by Glynnis MacNicol — All about one woman’s adventures exploring pleasure in Paris. I haven’t read it yet, but it’s getting good reviews.
The Food Lover’s Guide to Paris by Patricia Wells —The "book that cracks the code” to Paris includes 500 of Paris's finest gastronomic addresses, loads of recipes, and beautiful black and white photographs of Paris.
The Sweet Life in Paris by David Lebovitz—From shopkeepers who work so hard not to sell you anything to the etiquette of working the right way around a cheese plate, here is Lebovitz’s story of how he fell in love with Paris.
The Bonjour Effect by Jean-Benoît Nadeau and Julie Barlow — Perplexed by how the French communicate? In this clever book, authors Julie and Jean-Benoit explain why, culturally and historically, conversation with the French is not about communicating or being nice. It's about being interesting.
What French Women Know by Debra Ollivier—What gives French women their allure? Well, it’s complicated. Ollivier offers a fresh perspective on stale stereotypes and takes a deeper look at what makes French women so fascinating.
Buy French treats online. I’m still looking for a place that will ship those crazy good Lait Rocher chocolate bars from Lindt (seriously, I’ll pay you to bring some back for me!), which I’ve only been able to find in France. Fortunately, there are a few places like MyPanier where you can find all kinds of French foods (French butter, preserves, mustard, and these fabulous Au Biscuit Rose), and they ship to the U.S. It’ll cost you, but maybe it’s worth it?
Take French lessons. You’ve probably heard this before, but if you truly want to immerse yourself in French culture, you must learn the language. I’m taking an online class with the Alliance Française and supplementing it with Duolingo. It’s a slog, but I am making very, very slow progress.
Netflix & Chill…in French. Browse movies that will transport you to Paris or try this list of top 100 best French films of all time. Short on time (or brainpower)? Check out The Parisian Agency, a “reality” TV show about a close-knit French family that runs a luxury real estate company. For those looking for a silly escapist romp that bears very little resemblance to reality, Emily in Paris returns on August 15th. Pairs well with Champére and cheesy storylines.
Dine at a French restaurant. These days, you can’t swing a crusty baguette in DC without hitting a French restaurant. There are casual patisseries and cafes like Boulangerie Christophe, Maman, and Patisserie Poupon for croissants, omelets, tarts, and quiche, as well as plenty of upscale spots, including L’Avant-Garde, Chez Billy Sud, and Bistro Lepic and Wine Bar. New on the scene are Le Petite Cerise, La Bonne Vache, and Pastis (from restauranteur extraordinaire Stephen Starr).
Indulge in French retail therapy. Many beloved French brands, including Sézane, Saint James, Soeur, Maje, and Veja, are available in the U.S. In Georgetown (in DC), we now also have Zadig and Voltaire, and Sézane boutiques. If you are in DC in April, you can also check out the yearly Georgetown French Market.
Love this! Bonne continuation avec ton français. It's true, it's a slog, especially at the intermediate level, mais ça vaut la peine ! (it's worth the trouble!)
I'm so glad I found this Substack! Last year, I was invited to do a writers residency in Noyers, France, about a 2-hour train trip southeast of Paris, and really loved it! France is magic. Thank you for sharing your tips and insights here.