Innholdsfortegnelse for November/December 2022 i My French Country Home

Dear Readers, Our last magazine of 2022, is here! It’s hard to believe that the holiday season is just around the corner, as yet another eventful year trails away behind us. Here at MFCH, the colder months provide the perfect moment to spend downtime with family and friends — relaxing, cocooning, trying out some of our winter recipes and decorating suggestions… Our latest “Discovering Guide” takes us southwest of Paris to fabulous Fontainebleau, a destination deeply rooted in French history, from its royal Château to its famous forest. We also tour a luminous, 18th-century apartment in Bordeaux, a sublime 17th-century Norman mansion near Deauville and a charming, antiques-filled home just west of Toulouse. Outdoors, we visit the garden of Michel Bonfils, who transformed his family’s property in the Dordogne into…

The Paris Apartment Lucy Foley Lost and Found Books Ltd. Every dwelling in Paris has a story, some more intriguing than others. In search of a fresh start, Jess leaves her past behind to visit her half-brother, Ben, in the captial. But when she arrives, he is nowhere to be found. As she investigates his disappearance, she finds out that the neighbors in his haunting building know something they’re not saying… Happiness: The Art of Togetherness Inès de la Fressange - Rizzoli New York Author of NYT bestseller Parisian Chic, Inès de la Fressange has returned with a reflection on the art of relationships. This pocket-sized book is filled with fun photos, whimsical illustrations and personal notes that reveal how the model-designer nurtures her most intimate connections to achieve what…

Dépaysant is one of those French words that defies literal translation, yet evokes an emotion or sensation that is universal: the thrill of being transported from your day-to-day pays to an unfamiliar world. To find oneself in the Dordogne, ambling through a grove of towering bamboo — a plant more commonly found in the tropical climes of Asia and South America — certainly meets the definition of an out-of-country experience. Over the course of three decades, Michel Bonfils transformed his five-acre family property from a struggling walnut orchard into a haven for more than 240 varieties of bamboo and 100 other exotic grasses and plants. Bonfils lived and worked in southern and equatorial Africa for more than 30 years. But it wasn’t until he returned to France, in 1989, that…

Jamie has now added writing to her resumé with An American in Provence, her first book, which focuses on her artistic journey and adaptation to a new, foreign culture. We sat down with her to learn more about living in the South of France, her writing process and how it feels to share her life so openly on social media. Jamie, thank you for joining us, and congratulations on your new book! To start off, where did you grow up, and what inspired your move to France? I grew up in Texas, between Dallas and Fort Worth. I spent most of my childhood in my grandmother’s garden: growing tomatoes, picking peaches and watching caterpillars transform into butterflies. After I graduated high school, I moved to New York to study fashion…

It is 7:15 a.m. in early November, and the days have shortened substantially. The morning sun, now lower on the horizon, has shed its golden gown for a new soothing, silvery cloak. The first frost has arrived… I bravely head out my kitchen door with a steaming cup of coffee and a woolly sweater. The rays of sunlight are just beginning to warm the grass under my bare feet. I am staring at the end of my garden, and I can see the part of the lawn that is still in the shade is sprinkled with silver dust. I run to my dahlia beds to see if the frost has hit them. The plants are wilting and turning black. “Overwintering” — when plants go through the year’s final season —…

Pan-Seared Scallops with Peas & Lemons A real treat to serve up à la minute! Much of the recipe can be prepared in advance, so you won’t need to worry about abandoning your guests for too long the day of. Serves 8 Preparation time: 25 min Cooking time: 25 min • 8 large scallops, corals removed• Generous 1 ½ tbsp (25 g) butter (for the pan)• 2 cups (300 g) fresh or frozen peas• 2 tbsp (30 g) butter• 2 tbsp (30 ml) double/heavy cream• 2 tsp grated lemon rind• 1 tbsp preserved lemon, finely chopped• Salt & pepper Steam or boil the peas, until soft. Drain and blitz them in ablender with the heavy cream and butter, then add one teaspoon of the grated lemon rind. Press the purée…

There are many different styles of antiques stores in France — from the tiny brocante tucked away down a narrow street, to the stalls of the famed puces de Saint-Ouen, filled to the brim with high-end vintage statement pieces. Max Tetelin’s warehouse is at the end of a residential cul de sac with no sign to indicate that he sells some of France’s most covetable treasures. You just have to know… Max is an old school antiquaire, in a league of his own. He’s been in the business for more than 40 years and only buys what he genuinely loves. While his taste is far-reaching and eclectic, his buying style is straightforward: he only purchases from other dealers and private sellers. Pick out any object, large or small, within his…

PRINT Delivered to your door, enjoy the magic of French living in a beautiful collector’s-quality magazine. US$79.95 for one year (6 issues)* US$14.95 for one issue* Yearly print subscribers get FREE access to the digital version of the magazine. DIGITAL Enjoy the same beautiful My French Country Home features, photography and delicious recipes - wherever you are. Ideal for commuting or holidays, read the latest issue of MFCH on your smartphone and escape to France with the click of a button. Yearly digital (and print) subscribers get issues conveniently stored within the Bookshelf, accessible from your My French Country Home account. US$39.99 for one year (6 issues) US$7.99 for one issue Enjoy easy reading with adaptable viewing modes, interactive live links for online shopping and a personal library of back…

Tish Jett is an author, journalist and former editor at the International Herald Tribune and American ELLE. She pens our regular “Just Between Us” column. www.tishjett.com /@tishjett Franck Schmitt is an author, photographer and journalist. He shot our tablescape feature at the Château de Baronville, as well as our “Artisans of France” piece on weathervanes. www.franckschmitt.fr /@franckschmitt.fr Jérémy Pritchard is a Paris-based photographer who specializes in rooftops, luxury hotels and lifestyle. His photos grace our latest “Portfolio” — "Les Toits de Paris." @jezza.pritchard Edoardo Grassi is a self-taught gardener and the founder of Gaspard à Table, a site specializing in rare French bulbs. In this edition, he teaches us how to prepare our gardens for winter. www.lephotographeducoin.com @gaspardatable Eve Cardi is a professional chef who trained at Chez Catherine in…

As soon as you step through the grand entrance at the Château de Baronville, a 19th-century estate in the Eure-et-Loir, the history is omnipresent. It is in the warmth of the castle’s grand library that our Christmas tablescape is laid, using unique vintage pieces from Maison Fête et Cie. Maison Fête et Cie’s founder, Miranda Uechtritz, sharpened her discerning eye and gained a passion for antiques and creative table décor growing up surrounded by her mother’s collections. She turned this, plus her particular appreciation for 18th-century wine goblets and 1950s table linens, into Maison Fête et Cie in 2020 — a collection of cherry-picked European antique table and glassware, readily available online. A table tucked into the towering bookshelves, with a tapestry tablecloth, cascading to the floor, sets the scene…

While vacationing nearby, the now-owners’ ears perked when they heard in passing that a coveted local manor house was up for sale. The couple organized a visit, simply out of curiosity… and the rest is history. How could they resist the building’s typically Norman structure and magnificent grounds? It turns out, they couldn't. The pair signed on the spot and got in touch with the esteemed Parisian architects, Isabelle Juy-Lott and Matthieu Lott, for restoration work. With their respective agencies, Atelier d'Archi and Plugin Studio, the complementary duo manages 360° renovation projects: Isabelle taking care of the aesthetics and Matthieu, the technical side of things. The house, built in 1610, was partially renovated by the previous owners but deserved a complete renewal. The façade’s restoration was entrusted to local craftsmen…

HER HIM HOME FOODIE FURRY FRIENDS…

When I think of Paris, a series of unconnected words slips into my mind: lights, happiness, romance, history, elegance, refinement, mystery… and Noël! So much has been said and written about Paris, that I do not know quite how to explain my love affair with the city. My words simply express, as best they can, the sentiments and sensations that reflect my decades of living in France and my life-changing Parisian experiences. I am convinced that no matter who we are, once we have spent time in this extraordinary city, it changes us in some way. Sparkling with hope and possibilities, it makes la joie de vivre seem uncomplicated, obvious and attainable. We just need to be open to its undeniable magic. And at no other time does Paris glow…

Jérémy Pritchard is a man who is willing to take risks. In love with his city, he had always taken photos of Paris’ architecture, but a few years ago, he upped his game — literally. Tired of shooting from street level, he took to the skies, discovering that photographs taken from the capital’s rooftops lent an entirely different perspective. But just as Jérémy got into the swing of his skyline shooting, the global pandemic hit, and along with it, the confinements. This offered the advantage of beautiful, empty streets… his for the taking. Two years on, with an established and growing audience, Jérémy reached out to hotels, restaurants and museums interested in being seen through his unique lens. He went on to shoot Paris' blue-gray, zinc rooftops — from every…

Tourne, tourne, belle girouette (Turn, turn, beautiful weathervane)! In the quaint village of Le Mage, artisan Thierry Soret specializes in custom-made weathervanes. His clients hail not only locally, but from all four corners of France and around the world. Thought to have originated in the Viking era, weathervanes were traditionally mounted on ship masts to facilitate navigation. Later, in the Middle Ages, knights were rewarded for the Crusades with the honor of installing one on their home. The religious clergy also enjoyed this coveted right with weathervanes in the form of a rooster, which could be spotted atop church bell towers in communes all across France. A precious privilege reserved for high society, these heroic symbols allowed visitors to distinguish nobility from afar. “I make sure that the drawing is…

Two-Potato Bake with Smoked Tofu Serves 6-8 Preparation time: 45 min Cooking time: 20 min • Roughly 8 (1.5 kg) potatoes (floury varieties work best)• Roughly 8 (1.5 kg) sweet potatoes• Scant cup (20 cl) full cream• Scant cup (20 cl) milk• 4 tbsp (60 g) butter + 2 tbsp (30 g) more for the top• 17 oz (500 g) smoked tofu• 3 large onions• 2 thyme sprigs, leaves removed• 1 tbsp (12 g) powdered sugar• Salt & pepper• Splash of olive oil Peel, rinse and cut both the sweet and regular potatoes into large chunks. Put the sweet potato chunks in a large pot and the regular potato chunks in another. Add cold water. Set on a medium heat (covered) for 20 minutes, until tender. Strain all the potatoes…

* What’s new? Repetto Vegan Ballerinas The iconic Parisian accessories brand Repetto (which also does athleisure) — beloved by dancers and French women alike since the 1940s — has just introduced a classic ballerina flat in vegan leather. Flexible, comfortable, chic and now environmentally friendly, they’ll be your go-to grabs, no matter the season. www.repetto.fr Frida Kahlo at Palais Galliera Until March 5, 2023, the Palais Galliera museum is celebrating the legacy of Frida Kahlo. For the first time in France, the exhibit, titled “Beyond Appearances,” features more than 200 of the artist’s personal effects (clothes, letters, makeup and more) from Casa Azul — the house where she was born and raised. A fascinating and intimate look into the life of this extraordinary woman. www.palaisgalliera.paris.fr Bonnie Opens in Paris Paname’s…

When Chloé Battesti and Grégory Saramite first laid eyes on their 18th-century apartment in Bordeaux, it was far from perfect, but they saw its potential. “Although it wasn’t love at first sight, it certainly got the creative juices flowing,” said Chloé. “I knew I could transform it.” The French couple moved to San Francisco ten years ago, but they wanted to have a home base in France to return to. They were particularly attracted to the energy of the hipster neighborhood filled with shops, restaurants and bars in Bordeaux, and when the pair found their new project, they set out to create a zen space in the thick of it. Among the main draws were the stunning arched windows and French doors that open up onto a balcony that wraps…

Accessories Designer Marie Martens Can you tell us how you started your business and why? When I was younger, I was rather idealistic and wanted to have an impact on the world. I studied Political Science and had a job as a Parliamentary Assistant in Brussels. Later, I moved to Paris to continue my studies, which led me to a job in finance. It was a fulfilling career, despite the strict dress code! After the birth of my second daughter in 2012, I decided I wanted to launch my own brand to satisfy my creativity. Fashion accessories — particularly leather goods — were an obvious choice, as I’d always been in love with beautiful materials and shapes. My two mentors were my grandmother, who was a seamstress, and my mother,…