Each May, the south of France hosts one of the world’s most renowned and esteemed events in the movie industry—The Cannes Film Festival.  This year marks the festival’s 65th birthday and will take place from May 16 to 27, 2012. Le Festival de Cannes is organized into several sections, but the main event of the [...]

“The Artist” may be the best know French movie of the year here in America, but there is another movie that has taken the French public by storm. When it was released November 2nd, “The Intouchables” (also know as “The Untouchables”) seemed an unremarkable, lowbrow French comedy about a disabled aristocrat and the good-humored ex-con [...]

Easter is celebrated in France much as it is in America, with various religious ceremonies commemorating the rebirth of Jesus. The predominant religion in France is Roman-Catholic (90%).  No city, village or town is without a church.  Many of them date back to the twelfth century or before. Most churches have a bell, which is [...]

Yes indeed, the practice of eating frog legs is alive and well in France. While France is one of many counties (including Thailand, Vietnam, and the U.S.) in which frog legs are eaten, they have captured the imagination as one of the more infamous aspects of French cuisine Frenchmen eating frog legs remains a popular [...]

February is award season in the U.S.  From the Grammy’s to the Oscars, we all tune in to find out who was best new singer or which was the best film of the year.  The French too, have their own awards.  On February 24th, the French will award the Césars, the national film awards. The [...]

Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras. Whichever name you prefer, it all refers to an animated celebration right before the start of the Lenten season. Although not an official holiday, Mardi Gras enjoys a strong presence in the U.S. In the U.S., Mardi Gras is synonymous with New Orleans, where the first Mardi Gras celebrations [...]

Nestled in West Town, Mexique offers an upscale Mexican dining experience with an absolute, creative French touch. The minimalist and simplistic décor of neutrals and friendly staff creates an inviting setting that showcases Chef Carlos Gaytan’s creations, which are inspired by his French training and Mexican heritage. Starting with appetizers, the ceviche was elevated with [...]

As the snow finally starts to accumulate in the Chicagoland area, and the temperature is finally dropping to temperatures that merit a full ensemble of gloves, hats and scarfs, many of us may find that we didn’t miss the winter so much after all. Instead of warming up by the fireplace, you may find that [...]

In a somewhat eclectic setting, Oceanique in Evanston was true to its reputation and served some of the most deliciously prepared seafood I have ever eaten. Recently, my husband and I indulged ourselves in Chef Mark Grosz’s tasting menu, explained in great detail by our extremely helpful and knowledgeable waiter who provided impeccable service. Our [...]

The New Year always brings the customary predictions regarding the year ahead. A tasty way for making predictions regarding the new year is to do what the French do – celebrate La Chandeleur. With roots in ancient Roman times, la Chandeleur is celebrated on February 2nd and marks the end of the Epiphany season. It’s [...]