Emily in France 🇫🇷 Come to France! (Virtually, at Least)
How to see France, even now.
It's been months since many of you were allowed to visit France. Speaking as a tour guide, I can say with no question that we miss you! Luckily, while we continue social distancing measures (and undergo our second lockdown) many of my friends and colleagues here are making it possible to get a taste of France from the safety of home.
Here are some of my faves:
1. Take a virtual cooking class! From Nice's Les Petits Farçis to Paris' La Cuisine, it's easy to enjoy the flavors of France from the comfort of your home. Both also offer in-person classes, as does Lyon's Plum Lyon Teaching Kitchen, which is currently selling gift certificate vouchers good until 2022, perfect for flexible future planning.
2. If you want to Frenchify your living space, check out Faraway Places Vintage, which sells all sorts of French enamelware, glassware, and beautiful original maps (and while you're at it, subscribe to Diana's France-focused newsletter).
3. Wine teacher extraordinaire Caroline Conner has launched a host of exciting new wine tasting videos, including holiday pairing courses. Register here (and consider ordering your French wines from La Cuisine in collaboration with the Paris Wine Company).
4. Once you've chosen your favorite bottles, curl up with a glass and a copy of Ann Ma's The Lost Vintage – the perfect escapist read, best paired with French Burgundy.
5. If you'd rather some bubbles, you could always order a bottle of grower Champagne from Dilettantes, Paris' premier Champagne shop owned and run by fourth generation Champagne grower Fanny Heucq. Order now with code WELOVEYOU2020 for 10% off order price (not including shipping).
Things I'm Writing
1. If you're getting sick of your pantry, you're not alone. I delved into some new staples including Marmite, kimchi, and my current fave, tahini, for Eat This, Not That.
2. The gut and the brain are intrinsically linked. To care for your digestion, then, is to care for your mental health — and vice versa. Find out how in this story for AllRecipes.
3. A recent study seemed to show that the health benefits of intermittent fasting were bunk, but for some health experts, there's more to this protocol than meets the eye. Find out how to hack your body in this story for Organic Authority.
Things I'm Reading
1. The title of Deborah Levy's Swimming Home seems all the more poignant as folks debate whether or not to head home for Thanksgiving.
2. Despite strategic planning, one woman decided ultimately to cancel her family Thanksgiving this year in a decision I hope will resonate with more families than one. She explains her thinking in this piece for the Washington Post.
3. Independent bookstores are struggling, but Bookshop.org is attempting to bring them much-needed business, reports the Guardian.
A bientôt !