Taste of the Terroir – Mayenne
This rural department of Pays de la Loire is characterised by wide open fields providing ample room for cattle to graze. Some poor cows live indoors all year round. Not here, where the beef is top notch In this…
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John Dory Normande
from Philippe Mouchel This recipe from renowned Melbourne chef Philippe Mouchel is an ode to his home of Normandy, featuring a medley of seafood, the best butter and cream, and apple cider, which Philippe describes as ‘Normandy champagne’. Philippe starts…
Property Hotspot – TREIGNAC, Limousin
Ready to make the move? The FrenchEntrée Property Services team reveals its top search areas – on and off the beaten track TREIGNAC, Limousin. Standing next to the Vézère river, Treignac is situated in the north part of Corrèze,…
French Country Living
Carolyn Westbrook is a designer known for her love of French interiors and in her book Through the French Door, she shares her romance with beautiful and inspiring interiors, and invites us into some beautiful homes, including her own. Photography…
Beef Stewed in Beer – Carbonade à la flamande
Serves 6 Preparation time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 3 hours 30 minutes 800g beef chuck or back ribs 3 tablespoons fat 3 large onions 30g flour 400ml beer 600ml stock 1 teaspoon sugar 1 tablespoon vinegar 1 bouquet garni…
Goat’s cheese Camembert salad with beetroot and artichoke
Preparation: 25 minutes Serves 4 200g French goat’s cheese Camembert 4 whole pre-cooked beetroots 400g cooked, marinated artichokes 100g pine nuts 150g podded broad beans or soya beans 2 large handfuls of fresh basil 2 lemons 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar…
Where to buy in France now! – MAGALAS
Ready to make the move? The FrenchEntrée Property Services team reveals its top search areas – on and off the beaten track MAGALAS, Hérault, Languedoc-Roussillon The charming village of Magalas, located just 15km north of the dynamic city…
Our Top Five Regional Parks
There’s nothing like a jaunt around France’s many parcs naturels régionaux especially in summer. Next time you’re in the vicinity, why not go and investigate the park life? 1 Vercors Straddling the départements of Drôme and Isère in the…
Spring tartines
Alain Ducasse is one of the greatest chefs of our time. His influence stretches across the globe, with more than 20 restaurants in eight countries, and he was the first chef to be awarded three Michelin stars in three different…
INSIDER INFO – Paris
With the news that Paris will host the Olympic Games in 2024, 100 years after France last staged the event, those with a keen eye on the property market have been paying close attention to the key sites. Unlike…
My Town Côte d’Azur
Nearly 30 years since she left her native United States for the sun-dappled shores of the Riviera, Lanie Goodman tells us why it’s the best decision she’s ever made Why did you choose to call Villefranche-sur-Mer home? The advantages…
Taste of the terroir – Franche-Comté
This mostly rural, relatively little-explored region abutting Switzerland is best known for its cheese and charcuterie yet boasts a unique of variety of wine dating back to the Romans. Florence Derrick investigates… One of France’s most underrated regions, Franche-Comté…
Saladier Lyonnais
Serves 4 Preparation time: 30 minutes Resting time: 1 hour This first-course salad is a marriage of diverse ingredients associated with the area around Lyon. It is found almost everywhere, from the smallest bouchon (a Lyonnais-style bistro which tends to…
A Vine Romance
Patrice Bertrand meets three expats who realised their dream of owning a vineyard in the south of France – and never looked back Amidst his ten hectares of vines overlooking the picturesque Provençal village of Le Barroux and…
Duck Breast with Morello Cherries and Roasted Baby Potatoes
Serves 4 to 5 4 x 350g duck breasts from fattened ducks 500g baby potatoes 25g salted butter 3 shallots, chopped 2 garlic cloves, crushed 15 sprigs flat-leaf parsley, chopped 50g pitted morello cherries Pinch caster or granulated sugar Preparation…
Make the most of your viewing trip
If you’re looking for houses in France, it pays to be prepared. Follow our handy bullet-point guide to making the most of your viewing trip. * Make sure you have appointments booked with agents – don’t expect to just…
Taste of the Terroir – La Côte d’Opale
Twenty-one miles from England lies France’s Opal Coast. For many school children, this stretch of coastline linking Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer provides their first taste of France. Eleanor Fullalove advises visitors of all ages to bring back plenty of yummy ‘souvenirs’…
DESTINATION GASTRONOMIQUE
Tim Matthews with chef Alexandre Gauthier In the pretty and petit hilltop village of Montreuil-sur-Mer, something foodie is afoot… Janine Marsh meets a British expat who teamed up with a local superstar chef to put this northern French town…
Taste of the Terroir – Marennes Oléron
Situated off the west coast of France, the island of Oléron is accessible via Marennes in mainland Charente-Maritime. Not surprisingly, seafood is the main culinary delight found in this beautiful outpost on the Atlantic, but that’s certainly not all…
Interiors – French Inspiration
A living room that is meant for living is essential to family life, and the relaxed style that this room represents, with slip covered sofas, dreamy pillows and fabulous treasures from the sea, sums up Carolyn’s ethos Carolyn Westbrook is…
Pigeon Supremes and Lobster with Coral Sauce
Georges Blanc, Burgundy Ingredients 2 lobsters (preferably Breton), each weighing 1lb. to 1lb. 5oz. (500–600g) 2 pigeons (preferably Bresse) 2 tablespoons (30g) butter 2 pinches each fleur de sel and freshly ground pepper Thyme flowers 3 garlic cloves 1…
Southern Comfort Provence Style
The Infantes tell FrenchEntrée how they transformed a beautiful stone mas in the Vaucluse into a tranquil, relaxed-looking home for their family FRENCHENTRÉE MAGAZINE: What brought you to France? ALISON INFANTE: We lived in Hertfordshire near Welwyn Garden…
Renovation in the Loire Valley – Shelter from the Norm
Dismayed by modern architecture, artist Jonathan Robinson tells Greg Cook how he fled to the sanctuary of a dilapidated 18th-century watermill deep within a forested enclave in the Loire Valley Should Jonathan Robinson ever find Prince Charles on the…
Gard vs Vaucluse
PROPERTY SHOWDOWN We consider the best reasons to buy in these neighbouring areas jostling for position in the sunny south of France… GARD The Gard, a desirable location in the south of France, is a geographically diverse département with varied…
Buying Property in France Post Brexit – Myth Buster 3
If you cherish dreams of buying property in France, Brexit should not be a factor in delaying or preventing you from taking the plunge BREXIT: Vrai ou Faux? We debunk some more of the myths swaying buyers’ judgement in…
Taste of the Terroir – The Vienne
Famous for its picturesque green pastures, for the majestic River Vienne, and as the land of Futuroscope, this beautiful department in Poitou-Charentes is perhaps less known for its gastronomy. However, there are many culinary delights to enjoy, as Nina Richards…
Easter in France
During Easter in France, chocolate eggs are just as popular as chocolate fish and bells, as you may have noticed from the irresistible displays in shop windows.
French Memories from French chef and baker Richard Bertinet
Eleanor Fullalove went to meet French chef and baker Richard Bertinet to find out what influence France has had on his career, and why a dressed crab is a lazy crab…. Having experienced both France and England’s attitude…
The most beautiful villages in France – AVEYRON
The département of Aveyron in the Midi-Pyrénées is blessed with a fine array of stunning villages. Here we present ten of the very best, each with its own unique atmosphere 1 – BELCASTEL Nestling on the banks of the…
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS – ASK THE EXPERTS
The FrenchEntrée Property Team answer more of your frequently asked questions Q – We would like to buy a property we can rent out when we are not there. What would you suggest? A – To optimise your return,…
France’s Five Best Beaches
House hunting is exhausting work. So why not stretch your legs or squeeze in a spot of sunbathing on the warm sand between viewings? Wherever your search takes you, a paradisical plage awaits 1 La Grande Plage, Biarritz It’s…
Five of France’s Sweetest Spots
La Belle France is home to a bounty of unique confectionery. So, if you’re house hunting in these areas, make sure you save some room to indulge in their signature treats… 1 Brittany: Kouign-Amann Pastry chef Thierry Lucas…
Everyday French Roasts
The bestselling author of Ripailles Stéphane Reynaud turns his attention to roasts for every day of the week. Here are three favourites with classic side dishes Rôti de boeuf en cocotte d’oignons Roast beef on a bed of…
Taste of the Terroir – Burgundy
Historic Burgundy has long been a thriving agricultural region. This has influenced the Bourguignons to create rustic and hearty meals from locally sourced ingredients, as Nina Richards reveals Burgundy is home to some of the finest jewels of French…
Crêpes Normandes
Wickedly indulgent and loved by anyone with a sweet tooth, this is my variation on simple pancakes with butter fried apples, pears and caster sugar. This is delicious served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. PREPARATION: 15…
Sole aux épinards
Fresh from the sea, wonderful sweet-tasting sole, pan-cooked with fresh spinach make this a treat both for the cook and the friends at your table. PREPARATION: 10 MINUTES COOKING: 25 MINUTES SERVES: 6 Ingredients 50g (2oz) butter 2…
Buying Hotspots – LUBERON, Provence
LUBERON Provence The Luberon attracts more and more international home-owners, seeking both main residences and holiday homes, not least because of its crystal-clear blue skies, countless pretty villages perched on hilltops and magical landscapes of lavender fields, olive groves and…
PARIS – The Property Boom
Boosted by the Macron Effect, confirmation of the 2024 Olympics and the last-minute Brexit rush, the capital is in the midst of a housing boom. So now is the time to buy, says Caroline Harrap… Paris is always a good…
Buying Hotspots – DOMFRONT, Orne, Normandy
Ready to make the move? The FrenchEntrée Property Services team reveals its top search areas – on and off the beaten track DOMFRONT Orne, Normandy Located in Orne, Domfront really captures what the more verdant side of Normandy has…
Taste of the Terroir – Provence
From the Med to the foothills of the Alps,Provence is blessed with some of the most delicious natural produce in the whole of France, with vegetables, fruit and harbour-fresh fish. Not to mention the newly invigorated wine scene that’s causing…
Cook Like a Masterchef
Want to cook like a Michelin-starred genius of cuisine? Now you can, with these fabulous yet eminently do-able recipes from some of the country’s most esteemed chefs. As the French say, “bon courage et bon appétit!” Wild duck with girolle…
Buying Hotspots – MARCIAC, Gers, Midi-Pyrénées
Ready to make the move? The FrenchEntrée Property Services team reveals its top search areas – on and off the beaten track MARCIAC Gers, Midi-Pyrénées Marciac is located in the south of the Gers département, an area encompassed…
Easy (and very lazy) Cassoulet
For 20 years, Belfast-born Trish Deseine has been cooking in her fabulous French kitchens, from a city pad in Paris to her country kitchen in the Vallée de la Vaucouleurs, between Paris and Rouen. In her book, she explores the…
Taste of the Terroir – Corsica
With its culinary traditions and proud local heritage, few French places stake a claim to the importance of terroir quite like Corsica, the “Île de Beauté” in the Mediterranean. Justin Postlethwaite makes his selection of the best food and…
Lifestyle Case Study – A Lot of Love
When Dutch couple Theo and Ellen wanted a lifestyle change for their family, they found their perfect new home in the Lot. Justin Postlethwaite finds out more For anyone considering a move to France, the relaxed way of…
Regional Property Guide: Aquitaine
Despite its long and rich history, not many people know of Aquitaine, although many will be familiar with place names such as Biarritz, St.Emilion and Arcachon, or have probably consumed its most famous exports, wine, cognac, and foie gras.
Magic Moments – Memories of France
We catch up with Liz Rodgers, managing director of Holiday France Direct and confirmed Francophile since youth… What is your earliest memory of visiting France? My earliest memory of France is taking part in a school exchange trip…
Buying Property in France Post Brexit – Myth Buster 2
BREXIT: Vrai ou Faux? We debunk some more of the myths swaying buyers’ judgement in a post-Brexit world… MYTH: “British buyers should put off their move to France until a firm deal has been agreed with the European Union”…
Where to Buy in France Now – Loudéac, Brittany
Ready to make the move? The FrenchEntrée Property Services team reveal their top search areas – on and off the beaten track… Loudéac, Brittany This traditional, pretty market town lies at the heart of Brittany, in the campagne…
Where to Buy Now! – Bourg-Saint-Maurice, French Alps
Ready to make the move? The FrenchEntrée Property Services team reveal their top search areas – on and off the beaten track Bourg-Saint-Maurice, French Alps Nicknamed the ‘Capital of the Upper Tarentaise’, Bourg-Saint-Maurice is a town in the Savoie…