Innholdsfortegnelse for November/December 2020 i My French Country Home

Dear Readers, Welcome to our final 2020 edition of My French Country Home Magazine. The end of the year has always been a prime time for reflection, and this one is no different. 2020 has been quite the rollercoaster, and I, for one, wish for some good news and positivity for the year to come. I hope that you are able to connect with your loved ones over the holiday period — if not in person, then digitally. For this issue, “Just Between Us” writer Tish Jett has dedicated her column to inspiring presents you can send to family and friends. And don’t miss our gift guide for more thoughtful picks. The holidays aren’t the holidays without a bit of snow. It’s destination Les 3 Vallées for our latest “Discovering…

1 • Chocolate | Pierre Hermé - Flammarion A unique homage to chocolate. Dubbed the “Picasso of Pastry” by Vogue, renowned French pastry chef Pierre Hermé pays tribute to the cacao bean in a book that includes 35 delectable recipes. From iconic desserts to lavish innovations, it features stunning photography and highlights the elegant simplicity and versatility of chocolat. 2 • Paris Chic | Alexandra Senes, Oliver Pilcher - Assouline Glimpse into real Parisian lives with this coffee-table tome. Journalist Alexandra Senes and photographer Oliver Pilcher share intimate portraits of French families, offering a look at some of the most sophisticated homes in the City of Light. From bustling bistros, to artists’ ateliers, to picturesque streets, it’s easy to see why Paris is known as the city of chic. 3 •…

For its premiere event after an extensive renovation, Paris’s fashion museum — Palais Galliera — will reopen its doors with the city’s first-ever retrospective highlighting one of the most influential French fashion designers of the 20th century: Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel. Throughout her rich career as founder and namesake of one the world’s most renowned Haute Couture houses, Chanel defied social norms, rejecting the stereotyped image of femininity in an age where the restrictive corset reigned supreme. A true visionary, she devoted herself to creating and perfecting a new, revolutionary style for women, one that favored freedom of movement over unrealistic proportions and extravagance. In an unprecedented move that would skyrocket her to fame, Chanel matched traditional tailoring methods — previously reserved for men’s clothing — with softer fabrics such as…

 What caught our eye this month * What’s New ? LE CHOCOLAT FRANÇAIS A passion for cacao and eye-catching design led three young Parisians to create Le Chocolat Français, a company that combines the savoir-faire of French artisanal chocolate makers with talented illustrators. The 100% made-in-France bars are as delicious as they are fun, with packaging that recalls French culture classics: Serge & Jane, the Mona Lisa, the Eiffel Tower, Napoleon and more. www.lechocolatdesfrancais.fr MATISSE: NEW DATES Rescheduled due to the global pandemic, the Pompidou Center has given new dates for Matisse – its retrospective to mark the artist’s 150th birthday. The colossal nine-chapter exhibition will retrace the artist’s life, career and various creative techniques (painting, writing, drawing, sculpture, literary illustrations, and more) from 1890 to the 1950s and includes…

For most of us, this holiday season will be like no other. Our festive tables, where we gather to celebrate, may have fewer friends and family members around it, and the presents we give might arrive in a delivery truck. Faced with this disappointing reality, it seems more important than ever to find a way to express the festive spirit with heightened creativity. Therefore, I suggest we embrace hygge (pronounced hue-guh) — the Danish art de vivre that continues to influence the world of decoration and entertaining — as our inspiration for the days ahead. Hygge marries serene, simple pleasures with aesthetically pleasing environments. The philosophy is all about enhancing the joys of the everyday by creating warm, cozy homes that heighten our feelings of well-being. Think mohair blankets, cashmere…

Her Pets Him Home Foodies…

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*Business Woman We sit down with Marie Sibuet, who — along with her brother — has taken the reins of their family-run company, Maisons et Hôtels Sibuet, and its unique collection of hotels, properties, villas and chalets. From the Alps to Provence to the Caribbean, the brand is a respected reference in the luxury hospitality industry. Marie tells us about preparing for this impressive, new adventure and how she juggles the work-life balance. You and your brother have recently taken over the family hotel business — a weighty responsibility for the start of your career! Did you have any doubts about doing this, or has it always been part of your trajectory? Our integration felt pretty natural, as we’ve been in a great position to watch the company grow and…

We are delighted to have the following talented writers and photographers contribute to this issue. Elise Dumas (1) is a chef, food stylist and photographer. She created, styled and shot our holiday wreath. Tish Jett (2) is an author on French lifestyle and our regular “Just Between Us” columnist. David Phillips (3) is one half of the photography duo Parisian Moments - a website showcasing their prints and tips for France. He contributed the text and photos for our “Portfolio” on Paris’s lesser-known passages. Emily Monaco (4) is an American journalist living in Paris who pens our regular “Living in France” column. Ruth Ribeaucourt (5) is an Irish antique specialist and photographer who wrote and shot the piece on Hôtel de Tingry. Eric Sander (6) is one of France’s most…

One of Provence’s famous villages perchés (“hilltop villages”), Ménerbes is widely regarded as one of France’s most spectacular places, gracefully floating above the lush vineyards, cherry orchards and garrigue of the Luberon. Its winding streets are home to exceptional architecture, from the beautifully preserved Middle Age and Renaissance buildings; to the Hôtel de Ville, with its wrought iron bell tower; to the soaring citadel and the cemetery that dates back to ancient Rome. The town has attracted many artists over the years — Nicolas de Staël, Jane Eakin, Joe Downing, Picasso and Dora Maar all fell under its charm and settled there. In 1989, Ménerbes gained a certain notoriety thanks to Peter Mayle’s bestselling book, A Year in Provence, which was such a hit that thousands followed him to buy…

Bisous et Brioche is a collection of over 80 classic French recipes accompanied by personal anecdotes from author Laura Bradbury’s charming life in Beaune, Burgundy. Stunning photography by Rebecca Wellman — capturing lazy vineyard lunches, bustling markets and mouth-watering dishes such as Gratin Dauphinois, Honey-Glazed Brioches and Prune-Stuffed Pork with Prosciutto — will transport you straight to French countryside heaven as you try your hand at treasured family favorites and other rustic delights. Here, we share some exclusive recipes from this beautiful new title, perfect inspiration for end of the year gatherings or intimate meals at home. Salmon Rillettes SERVES 4-6 • ½ cup (120 ml) dry white wine• 1 shallot, peeled and halved• Thin slice of lemon• 8 oz salmon fillet (skin and bones removed)• 2 tbsp butter, softened•…

Petit Palais Avenue Winston Churchill, 75008 www.petitpalais.paris.fr Most Parisians (or visitors) have no idea about the urban oasis hidden inside the Petit Palais museum, just off the Champs Elysées. A good part of my book, Don’t be a Tourist in Paris, was written in this café, with its covered marble terrace overlooking an exotic garden. They have all the greats — Monet, Renoir, Cézanne — but here, you practically have the place to yourself, and it’s free! Caché 13 Villa Riberolle, 75020 www.cache-paris.com If you name a restaurant Caché (“hidden”), my interest is already piqued. An abandoned printing house has been transformed into this beautiful new restaurant, where you can eat outside in candlelight or cozy up inside on the stylish, velvet benches. La Crémerie 9 Rue des Quatre Vents,…

Natural wood, sheepskin, tartan, antlers… Of all the interior styles there are, fewer are trickier to successfully design than “the chalet.” With such a traditional look, it is almost impossible not to fall into the common clichés. In the village of Megève, situated in the heart of the Mont Blanc Massif, Le Chalet des Fermes de Marie surpasses most in grandeur, style and finesse. Jocelyne Sibuet, owner and co-founder of “Maisons et Hôtels Sibuet” — a prestigious hotel and rentals company she founded with her husband, Jean-Louis — has created an elegant, alpine world that marries classic with contemporary. Founded in 1981, today the group incorporates 11 properties, from Ménerbes in Provence to Saint Barts in the Caribbean. Le Chalet des Fermes de Marie, launched in 1989, marked the couple’s…

“A unique regional practice that was saved from extinction” Created in 1704, the Verrerie de Meisenthal is credited with founding the art of glassmaking. In 1969, after more than two and a half centuries of operation, Meisenthal was forced to close its factory doors due to repercussions from the wars and the rise of modern production processes. Over two decades later, in 1992, the Centre International d'Art Verrier (CIAV) relit its furnaces, sparking a new wave of this cherished and ingenious French savoir-faire. Along with glassware, chandeliers and decorative objects, CIAV is famous for its Christmas ornaments — festive, handmade baubles with intricate designs in magical colors that glisten like real-life gems. From that moment on, Goetzenbruck were trailblazers for the creation of ornamental glass baubles. In the 1950s, more…

A cozy Christmas in the South of France — what could be better? The air is crisp, but the days are bright, and nature is soaking up the sun’s last rays of the year. A far cry from the lights and commotion of big cities, the South celebrates the holidays at a slower pace. Nestled in a hillside in Grasse, a picturesque cottage surrounded by an olive grove offers the ideal Christmas for two. By using 18th -century antiques and fabrics and traditional Provencal techniques, vintage fanatic and local interior decorator Jean-Luc Charrier was able to restore the property without sacrificing any of its original charms. Like many of the area’s mas (Editor’s note: a traditional Provencal farmhouse), the flooring is a rustic stone calade (Editor’s note: a type of…

Ingredients • 5 soft fir branches (30 cm)• 3-4 eucalyptus branches (two 20 cm, two 10 cm)• 12 mimosa branches (or foliage in different shapes and shades of green than the fir and eucalyptus)• 6 wild clematis (or cotton) branches• 2 medium-sized magnolia grandiflora branches• 3 white phalaenopsis orchid branches (2 with larger flowers, 1 with smaller flowers)• 3 snowberry branches (two 30 cm, one 20 cm)• 1 straw wreath (40 cm diameter)• Pruning shears & scissors• Raffia-covered bind wire• Green cotton thread• Thin, green iron rods (to fix the leaves & branches)• 3 metal skewers• 3 water tubes Step 1 Start by covering the wreath with the fir branches and securing them with the wire by winding it as you go (don’t knot immediately, so that you can freely…

For the unfamiliar, Jacques Garcia is one of France’s most successful architects and interior designers. The Louvre, The NoMad Hotel in New York, Le Royal Monceau and Hôtel Barrière Le Fouquet’s in Paris, Le Danieli in Venice and Château de Versailles are just a few highlights from his prestigious and colorful curriculum vitae. He has dedicated his life to creating and reimagining spaces; his work is capable of plunging visitors back into a 16th -century French court or an exotic Morrocan palace. Jacques’ gift took hold of him early on — he was only 8 years-old when he designed, built and decorated a cabin in his grandparents’ garden. Fate finally came calling in 1992, when Jacques purchased the Château du Champ de Bataille and quickly set about his dream of…

If anyone knows how to lay the perfect table, it is Pierre Sauvage — owner of Parisian interior design firm Casa Lopez. Pierre purchased the company back in 2014 and has since transformed it from an oriental carpet specialist into a global lifestyle brand that offers chic and eclectic dining accessories, furniture and home decor. In his latest book, Be My Guest: The Art Of Entertaining, Pierre gives us exclusive entry into the coveted and creative homes of 25 different stylish tastemakers from the art, beauty, fashion and interior design worlds — including Aerin Lauder, Jacques Garcia, Terry de Gunzburg, Jamie Creel, Robert Couturier and Christian Louboutin. From country mansions to sprawling châteaux to discreetly hidden houses on Paris’s Left Bank, each chapter is a door into a unique and…

First impressions are important. As guests discover a dining tablescape laid with flickering candles and delicious treats, they feel welcomed and look forward to sharing intimate holiday moments. Greenery is a wonderful way to make the atmosphere just a touch more magical. Be it a simple garland or a fully dressed fireplace, the natural hues soothe and add ambience. A mixture of foliage accessorized with trimmings — clusters of pine cones, a few flowers — lends a luxurious, cozy feel. A sprig of your choosing on each napkin is another simple, pretty way to decorate place settings. “Nature’s finest comes together in a beautiful, seasonal tablescape” Allow seasonal fruit — grapes, clementines, pears, apples — to recall a Baroque masterpiece. Stacked into vintage silverware or placed around the table, on…

Push open the door to 48 rue Madame — with its bottle green facade and jaunty, white and green striped awning, and a true voyage through time awaits you. What lies inside is just as eye-catching as its exterior. In June, artist and creative entrepreneur Marin Montagut opened up his first boutique in the heart of Paris’s Saint-Germain-des-Prés — a place to display his own artful creations and vintage finds picked up along his eclectic travels. Growing up in a family of artists and antique specialists gave Marin a taste for the rare and beautiful. After studying at London’s acclaimed Central Saint Martins university, he returned to Paris to work as a set designer before becoming assistant to cinema decor expert Christian Sapet at the Puces de Saint-Ouen (this is…

Garnished Oysters SERVES 6 Preparation time: 30 min (+ 30 min chill time) • 36 oysters• 7 oz (20 cl) apple cider vinegar (or red/white wine)• 5 shallots• 1 pomegranate• 1 green apple• 1 bunch of chives• 1 tsp ground pink peppercorns• Freshly ground pepper Two hours before serving, peel and chop the shallots. Add them to the vinegar and leave to infuse. Shuck the oysters and chill in the refrigerator for 30 min. Cut the pomegranate into quarters and remove the seeds. Peel the apple and remove the core, cutting it into quarters before finely chopping. Chop the chives. Remove the oysters from the fridge, divide all the ingredients among the shells, then cover each with the shallot vinegar. Finish by seasoning with the ground pepper and serve immediately.…

Thibault Nossereau was always destined to work in antiques. Trained in the film industry and having worked as a photographer, he has spent his life surrounded by beautiful objects. His parents were well-known dealers at the famous antique mecca of Isle sur la Sorgue. He grew up watching them source, restore and resell precious, vintage pieces — becoming an avid onlooker of France’s history, traditional savoir-faire and artistic talent. With some luck, he secured a spot in the reputed Allée 3, where each stand enjoys a prime position for visitor walkthroughs. To this day, Thibault has not forgotten his creative background, and sees himself as both an art gallery owner and an antique dealer. Selling at Puces de Saint-Ouen means more than just having a stand - it is also…