Difficulty:
Advanced
France
Alessandro visits with some chefs on the occasion of the launch of their book, "Les Grandes gueules et leurs recettes" (Big Mouths and Their Recipes). They take their profession very seriously and are perfectionists like the famous Vatel, King Louis XIV's chef, who was so distraught when a seafood delivery was delayed that he ran a sword through his stomach. Modern chefs need to keep their sense of humor. They are, thankfully, no longer at the mercy of a powerful king, but the Internet can be just as unforgiving.
Difficulty:
Advanced
France
Alessandro becomes a pique-assiette (freeloader, literally "plate-stealer") for a day with his friend Marc Antoine who takes him to rue Montorgueil in the second arrondissement of Paris. What's the big attraction? Friendly shopkeepers give out free food and wine samples daily.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
Alessandro goes to the Autumn Fair, a craft show that takes place every October at Porte de Versailles, near Paris. He is not afraid to voice his opinion and pokes gentle fun at the artistic attempts with his clever word play and good-humored insults, which elicit a few chuckles.
Difficulty:
Adv-Intermediate
France
Cannes is known for its film festival and its La Croisette promenade... But there's so much more to see. Watch this video and discover the arts neighborhood of Le Suquet.
Difficulty:
Adv Beginner
France
Guy Bouard, a house painter by trade, also happens to be the official double of President Nicolas Sarkozy. Among his duties: balancing the budget (in a coin jar) and meeting with agricultural experts (some sheep). He may be more popular than the President!
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
Did you ever think you could drink champagne while kayaking? You can with “Rando Bulles de Champ’ et Canoë” (“Outing, Champagne Bubbles, and Canoeing”), a kayaking service which will take you along the Seine in the Aube department in the region of (where else?) Champagne-Ardenne.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
Nowadays, even monks need to make a living. These five pious men, from the parish of Mesnil-Saint-Loup, make theirs by selling beautiful handmade pottery and ceramics for anywhere between five and two-hundred euros. They even maintain a website.
Difficulty:
Adv Beginner
France
In order to find out more about the common quail, this team of technicians is capturing some male members of the species to track the birds' migratory patterns, reproduction rate, and total population.
Difficulty:
Adv-Intermediate
France
France's Aube department has the highest concentration of wind energy in the country, which makes it the perfect place to experiment with new wind technologies and create a model for all of Europe.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Canada
Montreal is famous for hockey, but who cares about hockey when you can have chocolat? Edith Gagnon, owner of La Maison Cakao, shows us the magic behind her charmants chocolates.
Difficulty:
Adv-Intermediate
France
The price of butter has skyrocketed in the past year. It's a concern for French people, bakeries, and supermarkets alike. As you may know, butter is a basic and indispensable ingredient in French cuisine. Multiple reasons are cited in this video for this sudden increase. Let's hope it's only temporary!
Difficulty:
Adv-Intermediate
France
Bicloune is a unique bicycle shop in Paris with a wide variety of models, from antique bikes from 1905 to contemporary foldable ones. Audrey Hepburn supposedly used to ride a bicycle like one found in this store.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
The village of Saint-Valentin lives up to its name, as it is an attraction for couples from all over the country on Valentine's Day. People come to get a special lovers' certificate issued by the mayor himself.
Difficulty:
Adv-Intermediate
France
France bids farewell to singer, actress, and fashionista Jane Birkin, who died on July 16, 2023 at age 76. Find out more about her remarkable career in this video.
Difficulty:
Adv Beginner
France
Remember Bertrand Pierre, the smooth crooner of “Si vous n’avez rien à me dire”? He’s back to tell us about his background as a musician, and how he stumbled across the Victor Hugo idea…
Are you sure you want to delete this comment? You will not be able to recover it.