Tag Archives: Food and Wine

Gluten-Free: France vs USA

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I was diagnosed two years ago with celiac disease, which is a severe gluten intolerance. No more croissants, baguettes and pain au chocolat — bummer! But life goes on and there are still plenty of wonderful things to eat.

Having become experts on eating gluten-free in both France and the US, my wife Val and I were interviewed recently by The Celiac Project. We talked about shopping for food, eating in restaurants, and tips on things to look for and things to avoid. If you know someone with a gluten problem, they might find the interview helpful. It’s 30 minutes long and you can listen to it here.

I’ve also written an article about eating gluten-free in France, which you can find here.

Bon appétit !

Franco-American Cultural Differences: An Insider’s Perspective

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For the last ten years, my wife Val and I have split our time between California and France. And we’ve observed a great many cultural differences between the two countries…

I recently gave two talks on the subject – one to a French group and one to an American one. Four of these cultural differences generated a lot of discussion.

You can read my article on the subject at My French Life.

Vive la différence !

Ask the French: Sex, Food and Conspiracy Theories

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Which politician would you like to have a beer with? It’s a typical survey question. And as you would expect, a recent French poll named president Emmanuel Macron the winner.

Less typical was when French pollsters asked, Which politician would you like to have a summer fling with? French women responded with enthusiasm. (If they asked that same question here, American women would take one look at our politicians and immediately book a flight to France.)

The French love their polls and they cover every subject imaginable. Sure, there are the usual questions about political parties, potential legislation, and the state of the economy. But then there are the fun ones…

Read all about it at Frenchly.

Gluten-Free in France

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France is famous for its breads, like crusty baguettes, flaky croissants, and rich pain au chocolat. The best! But what if you live a gluten-free life? Can you still visit la belle France?

Bien sûr! France has plenty of gluten-free (GF) options, whether you are dining out or cooking in. Here are some pointers to get you started.

Read about how to live GF in France at Frenchly.  Bon appétit !

The Best Restaurant in Provence?

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There are a lot of great restaurants in Provence, with Michelin stars galore, like Le Petit Nice in Marseille and Baumanière in Les Baux. But for my money, the best fine dining in Provence is at L’Atelier de Jean-Luc Rabanel in Arles. Val and I go there every year to celebrate her birthday and it’s always great.

Find out all about L’Atelier at The Provence Post.

9 Reasons Why Provence is the Best Part of France

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Everyone wants to go to Paris when they go to France. It’s one of the world’s great cities, with the Eiffel Tower, romantic cafés, great museums… what’s not to like? (Okay, the Parisians not so much, but the rest is great.) But you’d be wrong to put Paris at the top of the list. Instead, you should follow the insiders who know better and head south to Provence. Here’s why.

Read the rest of the story at Frenchly.

 

Secrets of Bouillabaisse

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Bouillabaisse is one of those magical dishes that seems to capture the spirit of Provence. So when our friend Pascal, a retired chef, invited us over for homemade bouillabaisse, we came running.

Besides serving us a magnificent meal, Pascal shared some of his secrets. Like where the name comes from. And what kind of spices to use. And what to NEVER do when preparing bouillabaisse.

You can read my story about our dinner on page 106 of The Good Life France Magazine’s Autumn Issue.