Where French Non-office Workers Go After Their Chores

Ordinarily, people directly go home after finishing their chores because they are tired to go somewhere else. But in France, you'll find French non-office workers in places that they call retreats--- bistros. Narrow and unpretentious, bistros offer economical prices for homestyle foods, which ordinary French workers truly love. Ordinarily located in Paris, these places have plain settings that are contrary to what you expect about Parisian restaurants. Aside from the incomparable setting, bistros offer palatable foods such the French local coq au vin, the favorite steak au poivre, and the famous French onion soup.

As bistros became celebrated among the French, so did a particular cooking fashion. Inspired from the set-up of bistros, bistro eating makes use of local yet fresh ingredients in creating nutritious but still luscious dishes. I must say that this fashion is suitable for the French, who are the epitomes of bodies sans the slow metabolism. It is also no wonder that this unique cooking fashion has become celebrated among celebrity chefs like Gordon Ramsey and Jamie Oliver.

Unlike in those high-rate restaurants where French cuisines ordinarily contain "experimental embellishments," foods in bistros are pure and really satisfying. Thus, I always find bistros more enthralling than overpriced French restaurants because for me, only bistros offer the best local French cuisines.

Discovering a Standard French Wedding

I have always been to France and got so accustomed with the French practice that I practically thought I could live there alone. But the moment a wedding invitation landed on my tabletop, I alleged there was one thing lacking in my French practice immersion—witnessing and taking part in an authentic French wedding. The good thing was that the invitation was from a French fellow who was to marry a childhood honey.

My fellow's wedding was a traditional French service, not so much like the Western practices. The groom, who was my fellow, met the bride at her shelter and walked with her to the church. For the service duration, the couple sat beside each other under a soft silk canopy, which is a symbolic protection from appalling omen. In the reception, the groom and the bride made use of the “Coupe de Marriage” or a cup exploited for toasting, which they would pass on to the succeeding generations. In some countries I know, the wedding cake is as significant as the bridal gown, so much so that each couple would spend a big amount. But in France, it is more usual to serve croquembouche, a pyramid-shaped velvety pastry, in place of lofty cakes.

Amidst the unconventional view of the entire world about weddings, I was delighted that one of my fellows chose to legitimize his partnership with his beloved, so, to the newlyweds, congrats and best wishes!

The History of the Dainty and Luxurious Mayonnaise

I just delight in mayonnaise and I have this habit of adding it in almost all sorts of munchies that I eat. Thank God, I came from a slim bloodline, hence, my enslavement to mayonnaise do not quite affect my weight. Until now, I can't leave the grocery store without purchasing jugs of this dainty thick sauce. When I went to France, after I graduated from college, I found out a lot about this cherished sauce of mine. Some people that I met in France told me absorbing information about mayonnaise and I am more than willing to share them to you.

In the 1700's, mayonnaise was prepared by a French chef who worked for the idolized Duke de Richelieu. When the Duke was winning the struggle against the British, the chef was already planning a grand victory party where a sauce out of eggs and cream was to be served. However, the chef noticed that there was no available cream so he used olive oil to prepare the cream. This scene was the official birth of the thick sauce called "Mahonnaise" and later, the dainty dip that I love was named mayonnaise.

I was so ecstatic when I learned about this score because I never thought that the ordinary sauce that I always see in the kitchen was a product of a historical event.

The Fantastic Legend Of French Couturier Yves Saint Laurent Lives On Through His Unparalleled Creations

The picturesque country of France, along with its well-acknowledged fabric industry, has been long considered as the fashion capital of the world, ever since the 16th century. In the 40's, 50's, and 60's, the French fashion was hurled into the spotlight through the sensational works of Christian Dior, Givenchy, Balmain, Guy Laroche, Pierre Cardin, Andre Courreges, and Yves Saint Laurent. Each of them had contributed outstanding works of art that has shaped the ever-changing fashion styles not just in France, but also worldwide.

One of the most innovative designers was Yves Saint Laurent because of his novel creations that have become legends in the world of fashion couture. Part of his notable creations include dresses largely influenced by Mondrian paintings and comic strips, and the "Left Bank Look." The "Left Bank Look" inspired a fashion era, were the most stylish outfit consists of narrow tops and skirts, and bold checkered patterns matched with chic beret hats. Laurent got the wonderful idea for this look from Paris students during the 1960's, enforcing a worldwide trend that lasted for several years. Today, Yves Saint Laurent is not an active fashion designer anymore, but walking through the stylish streets of Paris during yearly expeditions to France reminds me of how Laurent took the fashion world by storm.

A Varied but Equally Enthralling Side of France

France has always been seen as a rather sophisticated region mainly because of the high-profile image of its capital city, Paris. Admittedly, Paris is one romantic French region, but there are other towns within France that have a different romantic touch but can be equally touching.

Take the territory of Nice for instance, which is located in the southern end of France. It is a main French tourist destination largely because it has a blend of the old and the new in France, aside from having innumerable historic landmarks that perfectly capture its early evolution. Sightseers who prefer to spend a simple uncomplicated out-of-town holiday vacation will find Nice genuinely intriguing, especially when checking in at Hotel Medicis, set along the so-called musician's corner of the city.

Hotel Medicis is a common small-town French hotel tracing its roots back to 1926. It only has more or less 36 guest rooms that are nevertheless created with modern accommodations like satellite TV, air-conditioning system, and a safety deposit box, among others.

Old-fashioned sightseers will surely delight in the simple warm colors that envelope the rooms, especially those which feature a balcony as an added attraction. Modern-day tourists, meanwhile, will undeniably find the sofa bed truly inviting as this is available in the superior room models of the hotel.

Hotel Medicis does not have an in-house restaurant, but trippers need not really worry because just outside the hotel, there are many of these, led by the Bacchus Restaurant, situated right next door. In terms of local spots, there is the nearby beach, not counting the Promenade des Anglais, the Flower Market, and the Place Massena, which are all within walking distance.