There is romance in the French way of life. Beautiful things, delicious experiences, and an inherent enjoyment of the present moment that permeates our daily rituals and routines. There’s no doubt that there are a lot of French girl clichés, but still, there are some that are undeniable. Je ne sais qui Every French woman I’ve ever met has a charm that goes beyond what they look like or what they wear. What makes her absolutely captivating is her presence, charm, wit, and sophistication.
At the heart of all this is food culture. The French have an almost obsessive love for food, and their ability to taste it is non-negotiable. My friend, renowned food writer and stylist Rebecca Pepler, has spent the past few years of her career living in Paris and traveling around France telling her story and sharing the secrets behind French cuisine. That’s why. her latest book, Le Sudshares the food, drink, and lifestyle of the South of France, a place that has long captured my imagination (and that I finally got to visit with my family this summer!).
“The truth is, all the clichés you’ve heard about the south of France are true,” Pepler says. “Light takes on new forms every hour, giving beauty to the simplest pleasures.
There’s also an open-air market filled with sun-ripened produce. Surprisingly loud and surprisingly soothing cicada surround sound at the end of summer. Acres of olive trees, lavender and sunflowers. A cliff drops into a salty turquoise cove. And what about food? Not overrated. Figs, ratatouille, aioli, crispy panisses, pizzaladiere, garlic braids, Provençal melons, an overwhelming variety of local cheeses, tapenade that is actually good, and everything else.
Pepler points out that this is the part of France where the French themselves spend their holidays. “It’s where Europeans come in droves in search of summer vacations, lounging in the sun, flirting, and having aperitifs while wearing their best French cosplay.” Living in Paris The South is no stranger to American expatriates, and I’m just one of them.
French girls toast to summer
If you think French cuisine is fancy and elaborate, these recipes are not. Instead, it’s a simple meal prepared from fresh ingredients in a Provence home or on a picnic blanket on the Côte d’Azur. It’s a place where the French themselves spend their holidays, “relaxing in the sun, flirting and having an aperitif.” So what better way to welcome summer than by cooking like a French woman on vacation? Whatever your travel plans are for the coming months? Le Sud The perfect way to escape into a golden reality. You may also want to invite a few friends to join you.
Click here for dinner party menus from the South of France. page of Le Sud— and be sure to pick up this book to add romance to your cooking all summer long.
This is the spritz you make when you’re at the beach (or want to go to the beach) and want something light, bitter, and bubbly, like a sunset in your cup.
“For the easiest way, ask your fishmonger to wash and scale everything fresh and make this version that’s neatly stuffed with lemon slices and a simple pistou,” Peppler says.
Bendita Entre Los Melones
The title of this recipe, which literally means “blessing among the melons,” is inspired by the Spanish proverb “bendito entre las mujeres,” or “blessing among the women.”
