Blog Archives - The French Magnolia Cooks

12 Old French Restaurants Not To Miss

by Missy | Jul 22, 2019

12 Old French Restaurants Not To Miss

France is home to many of the oldest restaurants in the world. Here are 12 Old French Restaurants Not To Miss. Ranked according to age.

We travel to far off cities and countries to experience new cultures. Museums, galleries and historical buildings capture our short attention span while more important questions dominate our mind. For instance, where are we eating? What are eating? When are we eating? Right? Mais, bien sur (but of course).

Why Do We Love Dining Outside The Home?

First, a region or country’s food tells its history, its wins and agonies of defeat. Its food speaks of romance, heartbreak, nature, wars and God’s call on a land. So, we connect to that place through its food. Second, we dine out to be fed. After that, we dine out to have EXPERIENCES and FEEL alive and connected!

Why chose one of France’s oldest restaurants?

Personally, I love tiny neighborhood restaurants when in France. However, I highly recommend steppin’ it up for one or two of the oldies for great food, but also for experience and a big slice of history. I have identified 12 Old French Restaurants Not To Miss.

Several are possible regardless of your budget. In contrast, a few might require a little bit of a splurge. Regardless, these 12 old French Restaurants all capture and embody history, romance, art, architecture, great smells and great food. In addition, you are with the right person — good conversation. Now THAT’S a memory I want to have!

7 Budget Friendly French Garden Ideas, The French Magnolia

Chef Missy, The French Magnolia, with hubby, Thomas at La Fouchette (no longer open).

Separating Fact from Fiction –

In case you missed it in one of my earlier blogs, A Magical Formula for Vegetable Provencal Soup. Let me set the record straight – AGAIN. You’re welcome.

Legend has it that the first modern restaurant was established in Paris in 1765 by Monsieur Boulanger (literally translates to Mr. Baker). His alleged restaurant served just one dish: sheep’s feet in a white wine sauce. Now, if you follow my blog here at The French Magnolia, you already know that Monsieur Boulanger’s history and reputation in Paris is indeed both folklore and fable.

To clarify, no one, including Larousse Gastronomic, presents any firm record of Boulanger’s existence. Rebecca Sprang was an expert on 18th and 19th century European history. She spent years buried in French archives while writing her book, The Invention of the Restaurant: Paris and Modern Gastronomic Culture. Subsequently, Rebecca found no record of anyone named Boulanger owning any business, let alone a restaurant. Furthermore, she found no direct sources that anyone named Boulanger ever existed in France. Many other French historians confirm.

To sum up, Monsieur Boulanger did not invent the word “restaurant” nor was he the first to use the word in a professional setting. Certainly, he was not the first restauranteur.

Why does France have so many old restaurants?

Prior to the French Revolution, France was home to many aristocratic families and fortunes. Their kitchens, culinary experiences and cellars were supreme with master’s chefs, chef de cuisine, wine makers, wine stewards and dozens kitchen workers employed.

Consequently, as the French Revolution loomed, aristocratic French families let go of their master cook and kitchen staff for monetary reasons. For that reason, master’s chefs, cooks, house bakers and butcher’s who survived the Revolution emerged looking for their own kitchens to hang their shingle.

Just before the French Revolution, there were only about 50 public dining establishments in Paris. By 1814, 3,000 restaurants, bake shops and butcheries were listed in the popular French travel guide Almanach des Gourmands (The Almanac of Food Lovers).

Hotel de Ville, Marais, 4th, during French Revolution, Paris, France.

12 Old French Restaurants Not To Miss

#1. La Couronne

opened: 1345

address: 31 Place du Vieux Marché, 76000 Rouen, France (Normandy)

website: contact@lacouronne.com.fr

TIPS: easy train from Paris and worth the journey; tons of history, romance and terrific food.

Authentic old world charm and romance, La Couronne, which translates to “the crown”, is truly the oldest living restaurant in France. Certainly, it predates the French Revolution and the mythical Monsieur Boulanger’s “first restaurant” by about 400 years. Perhaps, because La Couronne, which is located in the city of Rouen (Normandy), began as an inn. Many food historians claim La Couronne to be one of the oldest restaurants in the world.

7 Budget Friendly French Garden Ideas, The French Magnolia Cooks

La Couronne was founded in 1345 and is most definitely the oldest inn (auberge) in France. It is located in the Old Market Square (la place du Vieux-Marché) of Rouen, near where Jeanne d’Arc was burnt at the stake in 1431. Surely, it has been updated in the seven centuries since it was founded, La Couronne still boasts authentic wooden beams and the traditional Normand country style architecture of Rouen.

Creeping Fig, 7 Budget Friendly French Garden Ideas, The French Magnolia Cooks

La Couronne continues to get great reviews. Julia Child, in 1948, called it “the most exciting meal of my life.” In the movie Julie and Julia, Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci are shown dining there.

The menu features old classic French dishes. Most noteworthy, sole meunière, canard à la Rouennaise (pressed duck, or duck served in a blood and bone marrow sauce), and fromage blanc avec des fruits du bois (white cheese with berries). Touting one Michelin star, the history, architecture and journey out of the city makes La Couronne a must-do while in France.

Creeping confederate jasmine, 7 Budget Friendly French Garden Ideas, The French Magnolia Cooks

12 Old French Restaurants Not To Miss

#2. Bofinger

opened: 1864

address: 5-7 Rue de la Bastille, 75004 Paris, France

website: https://www.bofingerparis.com/en/

TIPS: go for dinner; have tower of homemade sauerkraut, pork and amazing sausages.

Unapologetically Parisian and located right next to the Bastille (4th), this place never disappoints! Walking distance(ish) from the Place des Vosges and the Place de la Bastille, the Brasserie Bofinger is considered the “most beautiful brewery in Paris”.

I have dined at Bofinger many times and I never miss it when in Paris. First, it’s beautiful but not haughty. The magical Belle Epoque architecture and decor takes you back in time; yet, unpretentiously delivers. For example, a beautiful, affordable wine list; yet they serve beer brewed on the premises. The food is largely inspired by the Alsace region. In short, think sauerkraut, sausages, ham, and other parts of the pig that are all fatty and fantastic. I highly recommend this Paris treasure.

12 Old French Restaurants Not To Miss

#3. La Tour d’Argent

opened: 1582

address: 17 Quai de la Tournelle, 75005 Paris, France

website: https://tourdargent.com/en/

TIPS: strongly recommend the famous La Tour d’Argent duckling

I have eaten at this beautiful restaurant and I would go back again (for the prix fixe lunch). The view of Notre Dame and Paris is stunningly impressive and deeply romantic. The wine cellar claims to be THE biggest and most extensive wine cellar in all of France. The wine menu (book) will blow your mind. While, the sommelier is unpretentious and makes the experience so fun.

hedge holly, 7 Budget Friendly French Garden Ideas, The French Magnolia Cooks

Similarly, the prix fixe lunch menu is not “inexpensive”, but makes dining here possible for a special splurge. The famous pressed duck (which is offered on the prix fixe) is special (and historic) as not many restaurants even make pressed duck anymore. Pressed duck is duck served in a blood and bone marrow sauce. It sources ducks from its own farm, having served more than one million of them. Additionally, you are also presented with the gift of a numbered certificate post card with your duck number – PHOTO BELOW.

La Tour d’Argent was a favorite of kings and emperors over the years. It was here that France’s King Henri III apparently used a fork for the first time in the 1500s, forever changing the way the French eat.

La Tour d’Argent, a one-star Michelin, was owned in the 1890s and 1900s by Frédéric Delair, who began the tradition of presenting a numbered certificate to each person who ate the restaurant’s signature dish, pressed duck.

In 1912, the Terrail family bought the restaurant. It was operated first by André Terrail, then by his son Claude, who died in 2006 at the age of 88, and then by Claude’s son André.

Every year, since 1986, La Tour d’Argent has been a recipient of the Wine Spectator Grand Award.

12 Old French Restaurants Not To Miss

#4. Le Procope

opened: ‘Cafe’ Procope opened in 1686

address: 13 Rue de l’Ancienne Comédie, 75006 Paris, France

website: https://www.procope.com/

TIPS: go for coq au vin, sole meunière and profiteroles; lunch has a surprisingly affordable prix fixe 3-course menu.

Le Procope, is a favorite among tourists, French tourists included, visiting the Saint Germain des Prés neighborhood and wanting a slice of history. Napoleon Bonaparte, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, La Fontaine, Voltaire, Danton, Marat, Robespierre, Balzac, Victor Hugo, Gambetta, Verlaine and Anatole France are on the long list of notable names that have passed through its doors. As a result, there is a lot written on the history of this establishment.

creeping hedge, 7 Budget Friendly French Garden Ideas, The French Magnolia Cooks

The Café Procope claims to be the oldest ‘café’ in Paris in continuous operation which is not entirely true. However, it was a major hub of the artistic and literary community in 18th and 19th century Paris.

In 1689, the Comédie-Française opened its doors across the street — hence the street’s modern name.By this stoke of fortune, the café attracted many actors, writers, musicians, poets, philosophers, revolutionaries, statesmen, scientists, dramatists, stage artists, playwrights, and literary critics.

Café Procope was always THE center for politicians, strategic political conversations and movements. During the Revolution, the Phrygian cap, soon to be the symbol of Liberty, was first displayed at the Café Procope. The original Café Procope closed in 1872 and did not reopen as Le Procope until the 1920s, so the claim of being the oldest “continuos” is untrue.

In the 1920’s, Procope was acquired by a woman by the name of Baronne Thénard, who leased it to a Théo Bellefonds, under the condition that he preserved the café’s atmosphere. Bellefonds opened a private artist’s club and established a political and artistic journal entitled Le Procope, neither of which were very successful.

By 1988-89, Le Procope was re-born with a refurbished 18th-century style. Le Procope became the recipient of Pompeian red walls, crystal chandeliers, 18th-century oval portraits of famous people who had been patrons, and a tinkly piano. The waiters dress in quasi-revolutionary uniforms.

With all this said, Le Procope is a true favorite for both American and French tourists — those seeking a big bite of history.

12 Old French Restaurants Not To Miss

#5. Au Chien Qui Fume

opened: 1740

address: 33 Rue du Pont Neuf, 75001 Paris, France

website: https://www.auchienquifume.com

TIPS: go for the seafood platters, crustaceans; anything from the sea. Good value lunch prices.

The chic, fun brasserie “The Smoking Dog” has plenty of old world charm and décor which is a smattering of kitschy dog statues all over the place. This restaurant was once the hangout for the market men who worked at Les Halles, the wholesale market that once stood just in front.

Today, it’s an unassuming place that many seek out to experience the Paris of yesteryear. Meanwhile, there is no lack of familiar French dishes and piles of crustaceans. The prix fixe is also a good deal for this part of town.

In 1740, beside the market town know as the «Halles au Roy», a small inn opened. The local tradesmen whose favorite haunt it was, still talked about a certain Molière, born a century earlier in the nearby rue de la Tonnellerie.

Almost one hundred years on, Haussmann decided to develop the area and the old inn disappeared. But a few years later, it reappared opposite the building designed by Baltard, the revolutionnary.

evergreen topiaries, 7 Budget Friendly French Garden Ideas, The French Magnolia Cooks

In 1920, a new owner arrived with his dogs: a cigar-smoking poodle and a pipe-smoking terrier, whom he showed off to his customers. Hence the name Au Chien Qui Fume.

Brokers and porters from Les Halles, bon viveurs and gourmets from all over the area flocked to the restaurant. Today, Les Halles is gone. It has been replaced by the Forum des Halles and the Centre Beaubourg.

Luckily, Au Chien Qui Fume remains – and still has its bar counter decorated with smoking dogs.

In convivial surroundings, a delectable pile of fresh crustacean and shellfish await you!

#6. Le Grand Véfour

opened: 1784

address: 17 Rue de Beaujolais, 75001 Paris, France

website: http://www.grand-vefour.com/en/

TIPS: If you can afford dinner, then splurge. But for a better value, go for 4-course prix fixe lunch menu for a very special day. Michelin Two Stars.

Le Grand Véfour celebrates early nineteenth-century neoclassical décor — large mirrors in gilded frames and painted supraportes. Classic history-infused French gastronomy in a sublime setting. Visited by anyone who was (or still is) anyone in Paris (think Victor Hugo and Simone de Beauvoir). This trendy café became the city’s first glitzy restaurant around 1820.

French table cloth, 7 Budget Friendly French Garden Ideas, The French Magnolia Cooks

Despite a brief lack of luster between 1905 to roughly 1945, when the restaurant fell into a ‘dive bar’ status. Subsequently, Le Grand Véfour went on to earn three Michelin stars in 1953. Though it lost one in 2008, who cares! Today, the food is outrageously priced, but a perfect Michelin experience.

Le Grand Véfour, was the first grand restaurant in Paris,France, was opened in the arcades of the Palais-Royal . As perviously mentioned, it opned in 1784 by Antoine Aubertot, as the Café de Chartres, and was purchased in 1820 by Jean Véfour.Jean Véfour was able to retire within three years, selling the restaurant to Jean Boissier (a noted French restuaranteur).

In 1983, the restaurant was destroyed in a bomb attack. It was then bought by Jean Taittinger (also a noted French restuaranteur). Taittinger restored and reopened this extraordinary dining establishment in 1984.

For additional history on Le Grand Véfour, click HERE.

#7 L’escargot Montorgueil

opened: 1832

address: 38 Rue Montorgueil, 75001 Paris, France

website: http://escargotmontorgueil.com

TIPS: for Burgundy region lovers; garlic and escargot; and the ‘snack menu’ makes this an affordable slice of history.

It’s all about the cuisine de Burgundy region at this 19th-century eatery. As a result, snails, butter and garlic galore. Yes, please!

It’s basically a given that you’ll order escargot while sitting inside a dining room trimmed with dark wood and a burgundy-red décor. The restaurant, like many on this list, is a historical monument. The prices reflect a dining experience in a sumptuous second empire establishment.

A big welcoming snail, hanging in all its golden-brass glory above the door, doesn’t let you forget that you’re presently in Paris, France.

barrel flower planters, 7 Budget Friendly French Garden Ideas, The French Magnolia Cooks

Fortunately, an affordable snack menu features various salads, egg dishes, and soups that are more reasonably priced. The interior had a makeover in spring 2014 so the interior décor feels refreshed though they maintained the restaurant’s old-world feel. The enclosed terrace dining in the colder months offers a welcoming view onto the pedestrian street for people watching.

metal flower planters, 7 Budget Friendly French Garden Ideas, The French Magnolia Cooks

12 Old French Restaurants Not To Miss

#8. Au Rocher de Cancale

opened: 1846

address: 78 Rue Montorgueil, 75002 Paris, France

website: http://www.aurocherdecancale.fr

TIPS: salads and Brittany oysters, oysters, oysters

Au Rocher de Cancale is still selling oysters just as they were back in 1846. Oysters were originally an amuse-bouche or hors d’oeuvre and were typically not on menus. The decor has most likely changed a bit, but the originality and energy remains.

A former literary and artistic haunt, If you are into people-watching Au rocher de Canale doesn’t disappoint along Rue Montorgueil. This 19th-century timber-lined restaurant (first opened in 1804 at No 59) is the last remaining legacy of the old oyster market. You can feast on oysters and seafood from Cancale (in Brittany) as well as other plats du jour.

#9. Bouillon Chartier

opened: 1896

address: 7 Rue du Faubourg Montmartre, 75009 Paris, France

TIPS: open 365 days out of the year; yummy inexpensive food and wine; a great value for a lot of history.

Simply put, Bouillon Chartier is just plain, unabashed, century-old fun.

The bill (l’addition) is written directly on the disposable paper tablecloth at the end of the meal. HA! Regulars used to leave their own napkins in the drawers to the right of the entrance. Today, tourists (and a few indiscriminate locals) know Chartier for its French food and wine at rock-bottom prices.

Honestly, people don’t line up for the food. It’s really just a fun French experience, with brusque waiters writing your order on the paper tablecloth. Meanwhile, telling you what to order and hustling around the beautiful dining room with its wood paneling and globe lighting.

Bouillon Chartier (9th), or simply Chartier, is a “bouillon” restaurant in Paris founded in 1896,and classified as a monument historique since 1989.

The restaurant was created in 1896 by two brothers, Frédéric and Camille Chartier, in a former train station concourse. The long Belle Époque dining room has a high ceiling supported by large columns which allows for a mezzanine where service is also provided.

It opened with the name “Le Bouillon” (literally meaning broth, or stock). The restaurant has had only four owners since opening.

12 Old French Restaurants Not To Miss

#10. Auberge Provençale da Bouttau

opened: 1860

address: 10 Rue Saint-Antoine, 06400 Cannes, France

website: : http://www.dabouttau.com

TIPS: worth a train trip to Cannes, incredible charming, classic dishes such as traditional bouillabaisse, duck magret and crepes Suzette flambés.

The oldest restaurant in Cannes, founded by Alexander Bouttau in 1860 and on the road that climbs up to Le Suquet. White table cloths, classic dishes, strong service and intimate. Of course, many treasures from the Mediterranean Sea. Between courses, you can peruse a treasure of photos of a long list of celebrities and politicians who have dined here.

#11. Le Train Bleu

opened: 1901

address: Place Louis-Armand, 75012 Paris, France

website: https://www.le-train-bleu.com/fr/

TIPS: must have foie gras, beef tartare, roasted lamb, rum baba, petit pot de crème au chocolat. Worth saving for this culinary experience.

Iconic and unmissable sums up this jaw-dropping architecture and decor. This truly stunning establishment is your dress-up and splurge. When you think of train travel, good food rarely comes to mind. On the other hand, at the Gare de Lyon train station, this giant jewel box might change your mind.

Le Train Bleu was designated a Monument Historique in 1972 and the dining room entirely was renovated in 2014. It is the youngest on this list, but an experience of a lifetime. It’s no wonder Coco Chanel, Brigitte Bardot and long list of celebrities and politicians have been regulars.

The restaurant was originally created for the Exposition Universelle (1900). Each ornate dining room is themed to represent cities and regions of France and are decorated with 41 paintings by some of the most popular artists of that time.

Initially called ‘Buffet de la Gare de Lyon’, it was renamed ‘Le Train Bleu’ in 1963, after the famous train of the same name. Be a star in your own movie on this extraordinary set.

12. Le Grand Colbert

building: 1637

space built: 1828

opened: 1900

address: 2 Rue Vivienne, 75002 Paris, France

website: https://legrandcolbert.fr/index.php/en/

TIPS: GO for sure. Romantic and unpretentious; yet gorgeous. THE BEST chicken you will ever eat in your life.

In short, my favorite “special” restaurant in Paris for food. Quiet elegance, unpretentious, intimate, classic French beauty and decor. Above all, go for the food and price point.

My brother and I broke all American holiday rules and were there on Thanksgiving Day. Seems like, we ordered everything, including the Roast Truffle Chicken for two. I was shocked at the bill (comparatively). For the overall ambience, food, service and history, I thought Le Grand Colbert was an excellent value.

After Le Grand Colbert, my brother and I finished our evening off with a night cap at the Paris Ritz. As a result, our daily budget might have gotten slightly bruised. Overall, I don’t regret any of it. We sort of had the bar to ourselves along with a robust paino player and a couple of Arab Sheiks.

At the end of the day, I remember the experience…the feeling of that incredible evening. My baby brother — Paris — incredible food — a gorgeous setting — and memorable conversation. Forever in my heart.

Priceless!

I Appreciate Your Thoughts!

Let me know if you have dined at any of these fabulous restuarants. I invite you to leave your thoughts.

Want to love on me? Share on your favorite social media.

And remember to sign up for the BEST French party ever..and get your free eBook,

The NO DIETING Guide To Health and Joie de Vivre: 7 easy habits to adopt.

Thank You & Cheers!

Chef Missy

Fast French Cherry Pie

by Missy | Jul 13, 2019

Fast French Cherry Pie

The great thing about July is that it’s still cherry season! And with warm nights, a small bite or two of dessert quickly satisfies our sweet tooth. Enjoy your summer nights with this Fast Frech Cherry Pie.

As a food writer and chef for The French Magnolia Cooks, I am always developing dishes that are seasonal and simple, but rich in flavor. For instance, Fast French Cherry Pie.

First of all, cherries usher in the perfect Provence flavor profile. Second, cherries are both tart and sweet with earthy undertones. Third, this tiny little pie is fast, easy and not too sugary.

Fun French Food Facts

In case you missed last weeks blog on cherries….

Cherries (cerises) are simply miam miam (which is French for yum yum). Cherries are a paramount in French culture and cuisine. After all, French culture is joie de vrivre. And as we know, life’s a bowl of cherries. Yep, I had to say it.

The first Sunday of June begins the cherry season in France. For that reason cherries say ‘summer’!

Particularly, Languedoc, Roussillon, a major player in the French cherry market. Languedoc is a vertical shaped region in the middle of the South of France between Toulouse and Marseille. Most noteworthy, towns like Nimes and Montpellier. In addition, Languedoc is home to dozens of small, romantic towns like Ceret and Mons-La-Trivalle who celebrate with annual cherry festivals.

Furthermore, some of the world’s most celebrated wines come from Languedoc, Roussillon. So, it’s only natural that the wines have cherry undertones. In other words, you can’t throw a quarter in Languedoc without hitting a cherry tree. Another major cherry player is the Loire Valley, also in the South. Cherries grown in this region are primarily used for Guignolet, a French cherry liqueur.

Finally, cherries are packed with tons of antioxidants and vitamins, especially vitamin C. In short, eat up!

Fast French Cherry Pie

YIELDS: 6 generous portions

TIME: prep: 10 minutes. Cook: 20 minutes. Cherry mixture can be made 3 days ahead and then re-warmed.

NEED: cherry pitter (see photo); found easily in most kitchen wares departments.

KNOW: when dealing with pepperidge farm pastry cups. they can go straight from freezer into oven. As a side note, when dealing with pepperidge farm pastry sheets, they need to thaw for 40 minutes before dealing with them.

FAST FRENCH CHERRY PIE

Ingredients

(1) pepperidge farm pastry cups
pull 6 / box back in freeser
1 cup fresh pitted cherries
4 tblsp real butter
1/2 tbsp cracked black pepper
1 teaspoon Herbs de Provence
5 tbsp of sugar
2 tbsp of port (not fancy port)
1 lemon (zested)
the juice from that lemon
6-8 basil leaves
1/4 cup French chevre goat cheese

Fast French Cherry Pie

3 Steps!

Step 1

DO AHEAD OF TIME. If you are making this dish all in one day, go ahead and preheat the oven to 400 degrees. De-pit and wash cherries. Be sure to double check each one. You could seriously injure a guest’s tooth if you aren’t careful.

Step 2

In a cooking pot, add cherries, add a generous 4 tbsp of real butter, 2 tbsp of port, 1 generous tbsp of cracked pepper, 5 tbsp of sugar, the zest of one whole lemon and the juice of whole lemon. While you are bringing mixture to a boil, pop the pastry cups in oven on a dry cookie sheet. Be sure to take the little circle caps out of the middle. Set timer for 20 minutes. Keep cherry mixture on a heavy simmer. Reduce for 20 minutes.

Step 3

Stuff cups with 2-3 cherries. Be as generous as possible without making a mess. Sprinkle generously with French Chèvre goat cheese. Stack basil leaves and roll and chiffonade cut. Sprinkle with fresh basil. Basil and cherry together are fabulous! Serve immediately.

I Appreciate Your Thoughts!

Please leave a comment because I want to hear from you!

Also, please share on your favorite social media.

Remember to get your FREE eBook, The NO DIETING Survival Guide to Health & Joie de Vivre: 7 easy habits to adopt. CLICK BOX BELOW.

Thank You & Cheers!

Chef Missy

Country French Pork with Cherries

by Missy | Jun 29, 2019

Country French Pork with Cherries

Tis the cherry season! Yippee! The tart, sweet, earthy perfection of fresh cherries. Enjoy your summer nights with this make-ahead recipe of Country French Pork with Cherries.

As a food writer and chef for The French Magnolia Cooks, I am always developing dishes that are seasonal and simple, but rich in flavor. For instance, Country French Pork with Cherries.

First of all, cherries usher in the perfect Provence flavor profile. Second, pork tenderloin, a non-fatty protein (perfect for warmer nights) with earthy herbs and spices. Third, sweet caramelized shallots. Finally, the bright not-too-tart fresh cherrie embodies acid undertones. In addition, balance the plate with crunchy roasted potatoes and a big glass of red wine!

Fun French Food Facts

The first Sunday of June begins the cherry season in France. For that reason cherries say ‘summer’!

Finally, cherries are packed with tons of antioxidants and vitamins, especially vitamin C. In short, eat up!

Country French Pork with Cherries

YIELDS: 2 generous portions; 4 moderate portions.

TIME: prep: 30-40 minutes prep. Cook: 15-20 minutes. Cherries can be made 3 days ahead. Entire dish can be prepped for oven 1 day ahead.

QUICK NOTE: Take advantage of this make ahead recipe. Easy and elegant for a busy people who love to entertain. Bring dish to room temperature before cooking.

NEED: cherry pitter (see photo); found easily in most kitchen wares kitchen departments. Also, wax paper, cassoulet or glass pyrex and skillet.

KNOW: when cooking meat, resting time is most important. To clarify, your meat will continue to cook as it rests. Do not slice meat until fully rested (15 min).

Country French Pork with Cherries –

SIMPLE MENU SUGGESTIONS

Menu #1

Braised rainbow chard in garlicky bacon bits and roasted micro potato. Country French Pork with Cherries. Small cheese platter with nuts for dessert.

Menu #2

Steamed artichoke with lemon butter for a starter. Steemed haricot vert (baby French green beans) and Country French Pork with Cherries. Small cheese platter with nuts for dessert.

Country French Pork with Cherries

Ingredients

(1) 1.25 lb or 1.5 lb pork tenderloin
2-4 shallots (1 shallot per person)
4 cups fresh pitted cherries
3 tbsp French Dijon mustard
2 tbsp good salt
2 tbsp cracked black pepper
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tbsp smoked paprika
1 tbsp garlic powder
2 tbsp Herbs de Provence
2 tbsp of sugar
2 tbsp of port (not fancy port)
4-6 tbsp unsalted butter
1 lemon (zested)
3 tbsp fresh thyme

Country French Pork with Cherries and Shallots

Step-by-Step!

Organization Leads to Simplicity

This dish will be even better if you can make the first two steps 2 or 3 days ahead. The entire dish can be prepped, assembled and put in fridge a day ahead of time.

Step 1

DO AHEAD OF TIME. De-pit and wash cherries. Be sure to double check each one. You could seriously injure a guest’s tooth if you aren’t careful. If you are making this dish all in one day, go ahead and preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Step 2

DO AHEAD OF TIME. In a bowl or directly in a cooking pot, add 4 tbsp of real butter, 2 tbsp of port, 1 generous tbsp of cracked pepper, 2 tbsp of sugar, and the zest of one whole lemon. Bring it to a quick boil. Then, turn down heat and let it simmer for 10 minutes. Set aside. Hold in fridge for 3 days.

Step 3

Pre-heat oven to 400, if you havent already. Rinse tenderloin and pat super dry with paper towels. Certianly, trim fat. On a piece of wax paper, liberally coat all sides and ends of pork tenderloin with French dijon mustard. Don’t bother with a brush. Just use clean hands.

Country French Pork with Cherries and Shallots

Step 4

Still on the wax paper. Liberally coat pork tenderloin with herb/spice mixture. Salt, pepper, cumin, garlic powder, smoked paprika and Herbs de Provence.

Step 5

Cut shallots length wise. 1 whole shallot per person. NOTE: If the cherries have been in the fridge, pull them and warm them slightly in a small pot (2 minutes).

Step 6

Get skillet very hot at a low temperature and put shallots face down in skillet with a little butter. Maybe 5 minutes. Flip and simmer another 5 minutes.

Step 7

Place tenderloin in cassoulet or glass pyrex and arrange shallots around outside.

Step 8

Spoon cherries and juices around the sides. Spoon a little juice over pork.

Finally, cook at 400 degrees for 15 minutes for 1.25 lb. Cook for 20 minutes for a 1.5 -1.9 lb. REST for solid 15 minutes.

To sum up, slice thin and arrange on platter. Sprinkle with 2-3 tbsp of fresh chopped thyme. Serve cherry broth on side in a little pitcher or with a small ladle.

[mv_create key=”1″ type=”recipe” title=”Country French Pork with Cherries” thumbnail=”http://thefrenchmagnoliacooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Country-French-Pork-with-Cherries-and-Shallots.jpg”]

I Appreciate Your Thoughts!

Please leave a comment because I want to hear from you!

Also, please share on your favorite social media.

Remeber to get your FREE eBook, The NO Dieting Survival Guide to Health & Joie de Vivre: 7 easy habots to adopt. CLICK BOX BELOW.

Thank You & Cheers!

Chef Missy

25 French Themed Movies To Watch This year

by Missy | Jun 22, 2019

25 French Themed Movies To Watch This Year

In the mood for a little French culture and romance? Me too! Here are 25 French Themed Movies To Watch This Year. As a writer and chef with The French Magnolia Cooks, I draw inspiration from the environment and culture. Gardening, fashion, color, landscape, music, terroir…and movies. In other words, the plate is more than food. That is to say, the plate is an expression of our voice at a particular time and in a particular place. To clarify, it’s valuable to pay attention to everything around us.

Movies are more important to our culture because they respect and reflect the past while inspiring our futures. A great movie evokes emotions, whether good or bad. Most importantly, they make us think.

Personally, I love movies because they take me on a journey away from my daily routine and challenges. Even more, a great movie makes me feel relaxed, grateful and inspired.

As I have said before, The French are all about pleasure. These 25 French themed movies embody wit, history, style, love, and fashion. Hopefully, they will bring you joy.

Warning: these movies may cause you to book a flight to France.

Certainly, there are worse things in life.

25 French Themed Movies To Watch This Year

Number 25 of 25

#25. An American in Paris

Jerry Mulligan (Gene Kelly) is an American ex-GI who stays in post-war Paris to become a painter, and falls for the gamine charms of Lise Bouvier (Leslie Caron). However, his paintings come to the attention of Milo Roberts, a rich American heiress, who is interested in more than just art.

Release date: November 11, 1951

Director: Vincente Minnelli

Music composed by: George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, Saul Chaplin, Conrad Salinger, Johnny Green

Number 24 of 25

#24. Funny Face

Dispatched on an assignment, New York City-based fashion photographer Dick Avery (Fred Astaire) is struck by the beauty of Jo Stockton (Audrey Hepburn), a shy bookstore employee he’s photographed by accident, who he believes has the potential to become a successful model. He gets Jo to go with him to France, where he snaps more pictures of her against iconic Parisian backdrops. In the process, they fall for one another, only to find hurdles in their way.

Release date: February 13, 1957

Director: Stanley Donen

Costume design: Edith Head, Hubert de Givenchy

25 French Themed Movies To Watch This Year

Number 23 of 25

#23. Gigi

Gaston (Louis Jourdan) is a restless Parisian playboy who moves from one mistress to another, while also spending time with Gigi (Leslie Caron), a precocious younger friend learning the ways of high society. The platonic relationship between Gaston and Gigi changes, however, when she matures, but the possibility of something lasting seems unlikely since he won’t commit to one woman. Gigi refuses to be anyone’s mistress, however, and Gaston must choose between her and his carefree lifestyle.

Release date: May 15, 1958

Director: Vincente Minnelli

Number 22 of 25

#22. Le Mepris

Experience Brigitte Bardot in this odd but beautiful vintage film. A philistine in the art film business, Jeremy Prokosch (Jack Palance) is a producer unhappy with the work of his director. Prokosch has hired Fritz Lang (as himself) to direct an adaptation of “The Odyssey,” but when it seems that the legendary filmmaker is making a picture destined to bomb at the box office, he brings in a screenwriter (Michel Piccoli) to energize the script. The professional intersects with the personal when a rift develops between the writer and his wife (Brigitte Bardot).

Release date: December 18, 1964

Director: Jean-Luc Godard

Music composed by: Georges Delerue, Piero Piccioni

Number 21 of 25

#21. Les Demoiselle de Rochefort

Delphine (Catherine Deneuve) and Solange (Françoise Dorléac) are twin sisters who each want to find romance and leave their small seaside town of Rochefort, France. Soon they befriend a couple of visiting carnival workers who frequent their lonely mother’s (Danielle Darrieux) café and hire the girls to sing in the carnival. Wanting a career as a songwriter, Solange falls for an American musician, Andy (Gene Kelly), while Delphine dumps her beau and searches Rochefort for her ideal man.

Release date: April 11, 1968

Director: Jacques Demy

25 French Themed Movies To Watch This Year, The French Magnolia

Number 20 of 25

#20. Before Sunset

This movie will make you want to book a flight to Paris! A sequel to “Before Sunrise,” this film starts nine years later as Jesse (Ethan Hawke) travels across Europe giving readings from a book he wrote about the night he spent in Vienna with Celine (Julie Delpy). After his reading in Paris, Celine finds him, and they spend part of the day together before Jesse has to again leave for a flight. They are both in relationships now, and Jesse has a son, but as their strong feelings for each other start to return, both confess a longing for more.

Release date: July 2, 2004

Director: Richard Linklater

Featured song: Just in Time

Film series: ‘Before’ Trilogy

Screenplay: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Richard Linklater

Number 19 of 25

#19. The Artist

In the 1920s, actor George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is a bona fide matinee idol with many adoring fans. While working on his latest film, George finds himself falling in love with an ingenue named Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo) and, what’s more, it seems Peppy feels the same way. But George is reluctant to cheat on his wife with the beautiful young actress. The growing popularity of sound in movies further separates the potential lovers, as George’s career begins to fade while Peppy’s star rises.

Release date: November 23, 2011

Director: Michel Hazanavicius

Screenplay: Michel Hazanavicius

Number 18 of 25

#18. Coco Before Chanel

Young Coco Chanel (Audrey Tautou) works as a seamstress by day and a cabaret entertainer by night, then she meets a wealthy heir (Benoît Poelvoorde) and becomes his lover and fashion consultant. Tired of the flowery hats, tight corsets and yards of lace that define women’s fashion, Coco uses her lover’s clothing as a starting point to distill an elegant and sophisticated line of women’s clothing that propels her to the top of Parisian haute couture.

Release date: September 25, 2009

Director: Anne Fontaine

Based on: Chanel and Her World; by Edmonde Charles-Roux

Number 17 of 25

#17. Les Miserables

Heavy but painfully beautiful. After 19 years as a prisoner, Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) is freed by Javert (Russell Crowe), the officer in charge of the prison workforce. Valjean promptly breaks parole but later uses money from stolen silver to reinvent himself as a mayor and factory owner. Javert vows to bring Valjean back to prison. Eight years later, Valjean becomes the guardian of a child named Cosette after her mother’s (Anne Hathaway) death, but Javert’s relentless pursuit means that peace will be a long time coming.

Release date: December 25, 2012

Director: Tom Hooper

Story and Novel: Victor Hugo

Music composed: Claude-Michel Schönberg

Number 16 of 25

#16. The Rules of The Game

In this melancholy French social satire, André (Roland Toutain) is having an affair with Christine (Nora Gregor), whose husband, Robert (Marcel Dalio), himself is hiding a mistress. Meanwhile Christine’s married maid, Lisette (Paulette Dubost), is romantically entangled with the local poacher. At a hunting party, trusted friend Octave (Jean Renoir) also confesses his feelings for Christine, as the passions of the servants and aristocrats dangerously collide.

Release date: April 8, 1950

Screenplay: Jean Renoir, Carl Koch

Number 15 of 25

#15. Messenger, The Story of Joan of Arc

Mystic, maiden, martyr – whatever you choose to call her, it is difficult to dispute that Joan of Arc led a remarkably accomplished life for a peasant girl who never went to school … and never saw her 20th birthday. It all began in 1429, when a teenage girl from a remote village in France stood before the world and announced she would defeat the world’s greatest army and liberate her country.

Release date: October 18, 1999

Director: Luc Besson

Number 14 of 25

#14. Julie & Julia

Frustrated with a soul-killing job, New Yorker Julie Powell (Amy Adams) embarks on a daring project: she vows to prepare all 524 recipes in Julia Childs’ landmark cookbook, “Mastering the Art of French Cooking.” Intertwined with Julie’s story is the true tale of how Julia Child (Meryl Streep) herself conquered French cuisine with passion, fearlessness, and plenty of butter.

Release date: August 7, 2009

Director: Nora Ephron

Screenplay: Nora Ephron

Story by: Julia Child, Julie Powell, Alex Pud’homme

Number 13 of 25

#13. Sabrina

Although the original Sabrina with Audrey Hepburn is superb. This flawless remake with Julia Ormond as Sabrina Fairchild is a HIT! Sabrina Fairchild is a chauffeur’s daughter who grew up with the wealthy Larrabee family. She always had unreciprocated feelings for David (Greg Kinnear), the family’s younger son and playboy. But after returning from Paris, Sabrina has become a glamorous woman who gets David’s attention. His older, work-minded brother Linus (Harrison Ford) thinks their courtship is bad for the family business.

Release date: December 15, 1995

Director: Sydney Pollack

Featured song: Moonlight

Music composed by: John Williams

Number 12 of 25

#12. The Valet

Pierre Lavasseur (Daniel Auteuil), a wealthy tycoon, faces disaster when a paparazzo snaps a picture of him with his longtime mistress (Alice Taglioni). Since Pierre’s wife (Kristin Scott Thomas) owns a majority share of their corporation, Pierre must avoid a divorce at all costs. At his lawyer’s suggestion, Pierre hires Francois Pignon (Gad Elmaleh), a parking attendant who is also in the photograph, to pose as his lover’s “real” boyfriend and thus hide the affair from his wife.

Release date: April 20, 2007

Director: Francis Veber

Screenplay: Francis Veber

Number 11 of 25

#11. La Parisienne

In this romantic comedy, Brigitte Laurier (Brigitte Bardot), the beautiful daughter of the French premier, falls for the womanizing Michel Legrand (Henri Vidal), one of her father’s aides, and attempts to get him to settle down with her. When Michel can’t curb his flirtations with other women, Brigette makes a play to seduce the married Prince Charles (Charles Boyer), resulting in an entertaining battle of the wills between the gorgeous girl of privilege and her beau.

Release date: July 30, 1958

Director: Michel Boisrond

Story by: Henry Becque

Number 10 of 25

#10. Something’s Gotta Give

When aging womanizer Harry Sanborn (Jack Nicholson) and his young girlfriend, Marin (Amanda Peet), arrive at her family’s beach house in the Hamptons, they find that her mother, dramatist Erica Barry (Diane Keaton), also plans to stay for the weekend. Erica is scandalized by the relationship and Harry’s sexist ways. But when Harry has a heart attack, and a doctor (Keanu Reeves) prescribes bed rest at the Barry home, he finds himself falling for Erica — who, for once, may be out of his league.

Release date: December 12, 2003

Director: Nancy Meyers

Screenplay: Nancy Meyers

Number 9 of 25

#9. French Kiss

When Kate (Meg Ryan) learns that her fiance, Charlie (Timothy Hutton), has become smitten with a young Parisian woman, she boards a plane for France. She is seated next to Luc (Kevin Kline), a small-time crook who uses her to smuggle a stolen necklace, leading Luc to the hotel where she’s staying to confront Charlie. As Kate and Luc get to know each other, their sarcastic rapport grows warmer, and Kate must decide where her heart truly lies as Charlie tries to win her back.

Release date: May 5, 1995

Director: Lawrence Kasdan

Screenplay: Adam Brooks

Music Composed: James Newton Howard

Number 8 of 25

#8. Amelie

“Amélie” is a fanciful comedy about a young woman who discretely orchestrates the lives of the people around her, creating a world exclusively of her own making. Shot in over 80 Parisian locations, acclaimed director Jean-Pierre Jeunet (“Delicatessen”; “The City of Lost Children”) invokes his incomparable visionary style to capture the exquisite charm and mystery of modern-day Paris through the eyes of a beautiful ingenue.

Release date: November 2, 2001

Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet

Music composed by: Yann Tiersen

Number 7 of 25

#7. La Vie En Ros

Born into poverty and raised in a brothel, Édith Piaf (Marion Cotillard) manages to achieve worldwide fame. Though her extraordinary voice and charisma open many doors that lead to friendships and romances, she experiences great personal loss, drug addiction and an early death.

Release date: April 16, 2007

Director: Olivier Dahan

Number 6 of 25

#6. Belle de Jour

Beautiful young housewife Séverine Serizy (Catherine Deneuve) cannot reconcile her masochistic fantasies with her everyday life alongside dutiful husband Pierre (Jean Sorel). When her lovestruck friend Henri (Michel Piccoli) mentions a secretive high-class brothel run by Madame Anais (Genevieve Page), Séverine begins to work there during the day under the name Belle de Jour. But when one of her clients (Pierre Clémenti) grows possessive, she must try to go back to her normal life.

Release date: April 10, 1968

Director: Luis Buñuel

Number 5 of 25

#5. Midnight in Paris

Gil Pender (Owen Wilson) is a screenwriter and aspiring novelist. Vacationing in Paris with his fiancee (Rachel McAdams), he has taken to touring the city alone. On one such late-night excursion, Gil encounters a group of strange — yet familiar — revelers, who sweep him along, apparently back in time, for a night with some of the Jazz Age’s icons of art and literature. The more time Gil spends with these cultural heroes of the past, the more dissatisfied he becomes with the present.

Release date: May 20, 2011

Director: Woody Allen

Featured song: I Remember When

Screenplay: Woody Allen

Number 4 of 25

#4. Le Divorce

A great story told superbly. An all-star cast includes: Glenn Close, Stockard Channing, Sam Waterston Leslie Caron, Thierry Lhermitte. Story: Isabel Walker (Kate Hudson) flies to Paris to visit her pregnant stepsister Roxeanne (Naomi Watts). However, her arrival coincides with her brother-in-law, Charles, walking out to live with his Russian mistress. Isabel, forced to stay in Paris, falls in love with the city and begins an ultimately unsatisfying adulterous affair with an older man. An unexpected awesome movie ending.

Release date: August 8, 2003

Director: James Ivory

Screenplay: James Ivory, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala

Number 3 of 25

#3. Priceless

An irresistible and flawless movie! Hilarious, warm and set on the Cote d’Azur. Irène (Audrey Tautou) loves nice things and loves to have wealthy men pay for them. One night, she mistakes Jean (Gad Elmaleh), a poor bartender, for a potential client and spends the night with him. The next morning, Irène realizes her mistake and leaves, but poor Jean is smitten with her. Later, when a rich dowager mistakes Jean for a veteran gigolo, Irène agrees to tutor him in the art of fleecing wealthy lovers.

Release date: March 28, 2008

Director: Pierre Salvadori

Screenplay: Pierre Salvadori, Benoît Graffin, Franck Bauchard

Number 2 of 25

#2. The Dinner Game

If you haven’t seen this classic French comedy, find it today. Clever and fall-out-your-chair hilarious. Wealthy Frenchmen hold a weekly contest to see who can invite the biggest idiot to their dinner parties. One of my all-time favorite movies.

All-Star Cast: Thierry Lhermitte, Jacques Villeret, Francis Huster, Daniel Provost, Alexandra Vandernoot, Catherine Frot.

Release date: July 9, 1999

Director: Francis Veber

Screenplay: Francis Veber

Number 1 of 25

#1. Love In The Afternoon

I saved the BEST for last. For me, a perfect movie. Quintessential Paris, shot on location at the Paris Ritz (not the American Ritz-Carlton).

French private investigator Claude Chavasse (Maurice Chevalier) discovers his client’s wife has been having an affair with an American playboy, Frank Flannagan (Gary Cooper). When the client decides to kill Frank, Claude’s sheltered daughter, Ariane (Audrey Hepburn), throws off the plan and saves his life. The two are instantly attracted to one another, but Ariane doesn’t reveal her name. Frank then hires Claude to locate Ariane, unaware he has sent him on a mission to find his own daughter.

Release date: May 29, 1957

Director: Billy Wilder

Music composed by: Charles Trenet, Franz Waxman, Maurice de Féraudy, Matty Malneck, Henri Betti

Costume design: Hubert de Givenchy, Jay A. Morley Jr.

I Appreciate Your Thoughts!

Please leave a comment because I want to hear from you!

Also, please share on your favorite social media.

Thank You & Cheers!

Chef Missy

12 Paint Colors To Bring France Home

by Missy | Jun 15, 2019

12 Paint Colors To Bring France Home

Reminiscing about how you felt the last time you were in France? Want that feeling all the time? Here are 12 Paint Colors To Bring France Home. As a chef with The French Magnolia Cooks, color on the plate is especially important and so is the environment in which I live.

Apparently, 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women in the world are color blind. After joining the military, my husband (Thomas) discovered he that he was severely color-blind. For that reason, he would not fulfill his dream of being a fighter pilot. Nevertheless, his lack of palette fed his palate. To clarify, 26 years in the food and wine business, Thomas has been graced with an old-world discerning food and wine palate of the greatest nature.

However, my husband, like so many, are grateful to paint experts. Thank you to Benjamin Moore for their instinctual ability to feed our colorful souls.

The French are all about pleasure. Almost always, stimulating the senses and evoking emotions of life, love and joyful passion. Joie de Vivre. That is to say, the joy of life!

So, it is only natural that we would seek to re-create the colors of France in our personal home.

Is your color palette subtle or substantial?

Wall color is the easiest way to change the feeling of a room. For that reason, use wall color to speak your mind. Also, use the best paint. For me, it’s Benjamin Moore. Ask the questions, how does this color make me feel? How do I want to feel in this space?

In contrast to feeling questions, ask practical questions. Are my furniture pieces and fabrics warm in tone or cold? In addition, work in contrast. If you own a lot of warm woods and cheerful fabrics, think about calming the room with a cool wall color. Similarly, if you own a lot of monochromatic, cool-toned fabrics, consider a warm pale color to invite intimacy.

12 Paint Colors To Bring France Home

Number 1 of 12

#1. Chantilly Lace OC-65, Benjamin Moore

First, everyone needs a great white. Chantilly Lace is a great set it and forget white. Second, white is perfect for using splashes of color and easy touch-ups. Have a brightly painted lacquered bench, chair or table? White could be your go-to color.

See below, Chantilly Lace gives this bathroom a structural and clean, Parisian look.

Number 2 of 12

#2. Mountain Peak White 2148-70, Benjamin Moore.

Another true white. For instance, it’s base isn’t gray and it doesn’t have a dirty look. However, it has the faintest off-white feel without being a full-on cream. Again, perfect for both an elegant Parisian space or Provence farm house. As seen below, a once dark attic is now is a light-filled office.

12 Paint Colors To Bring France Home

Number 3 of 12

#3. Metropolitan AF-690, Benjamin Moore

Classic French gray is both town and country. Notice how Metropolitan is neither blue nor warm. Classic French gray is typically a cool color. Thereby, counter-balancing the warm tones of brown floors and furniture. Cold grays capture the subtly of Parisian formality or Provence calm.

French Gray, Metropolitan, The French Magnolia Cooks

Number 4 of 12

#4. Silver Fox 2108-50, Benjamin Moore.

As mentioned in 7 Budget Friendly French Garden Ideas, French style is a study in geometry. I love Silver Fox because it’s a perfect balance of brown and gray. For example, it’s clearly loyal to cool French gray, but introduces an essence of brown wood. As seen below, the brown shines through.

Silver Fox, French Grays, The French Magnolia

Number 5 of 12

#5. Head Over Heals, AF-250, Benjamin Moore

Subtle tranquility. Under-tones of pale brown make Head Over Heals whisper nude beauty. Accents perfectly in the guest bathroom below.

Head Over Heals, Paris Colors, The French Magnolia

Number 6 of 12

#6. Pink Moire 050, Benjamin Moore.

Live Paris in your home all day with a sophisticated, intimate and creative soft pink. Likewise, hints of pale rose make Pink Moire a perfect paring with cool French grays and brown woods. Pink Moire captures both the masculine and the feminine in this Paris-type living space.

12 Paint Colors To Bring France Home, The French Magnolia

Number 7 of 12

#7. Pink Bliss 2093-70, Benjamin Moore

On the other hand, Pink Bliss is casual and fun. In the same vein, it carries the torch from city pied–à–terre to farm house. Accented on a bedroom wall speaks romantic intimacy.

Number 8 of 12

#8. Patriot Blue 2064-20, Benjamin Moore.

Many would argue over the criteria for a French blue. Suffice it to say, there are many “French” blues. I say, if you are going to be blue, BE true blue!. Here are three perfect blues for the home. Most importantly, they all say, ‘vivre la France‘. After that, you really can’t get more French than a blue and white in a kitchen. Below, enjoy a Patriot Blue accent wall in a white kitchen.

Number 9 of 12

#9. Symphony Blue 2060-10, Benjamin Moore.

For large residential walls, I recommend a deep true, navy blue. Symphony Blue is French nautical perfection. Formal and clean; yet, homey.

Thinking of royalty and the coast of of Normandy? Symphony Blue would be a lovely choice.

Number 10 of 12

#10. Ole Blue Eyes 2064-30, Benjamin Moore.

Bright, cheerful and a lot of Provence! The versatile Ole Blue Eyes plays well with others. Like, country mustard. A true country French classic. In other words, Marseille, France on a wall.

Ole Blue Eyes, Marseille, France, The French Magnolia

Number 11 of 12

#11. Equestrian Gray 1553, Benjamin Moore.

Earthy, homey and well-rounded. Every francophile needs a good mushroom color. Above all, let’s pay homage to Burgundy in a library, mud room or even, an exterior farm house color. An the other hand, nice for an entrance.

Number 12 of 12

#12. Lavender Secret 1415, Benjamin Moore.

Finally, no French color palette would be complete without dreams of Avignon, Provence. The soul-lifting essence of Lavender Secrets is inspiring. To sum up, combine green floral fabrics and indoor plants. Even more, this French Provence color is sure to ease the mind in a home office or guest house.

I Appreciate Your Thoughts!

Please leave a comment because I appreciate your thoughts and kind words!

Also, please share on your favorite social media.

Thank You & Cheers!

Chef Missy

7 Budget Friendly French Garden Ideas

by Missy | Jun 8, 2019

Image by PaperENdipity

7 Budget Friendly French Garden Ideas

I think all of us Francophiles could use more French style in our gardening. Here are 7 Budget Friendly French Garden Ideas. As a chef with The French Magnolia, the garden is paramount – for seed, produce, pollination and rest.

Most of us don’t have the land or budget to install and maintain a ten foot tall boxwood hedge or maze. Even with a tiny bit of space and creativity, everyone can have a little French in their garden.

First, you should know that the French are into form and structure. Symmetry and order are truly the heart of French landscape design.

So, whatever you create, attempt balance. Pairs of planters can easily achieve the effect of balance. Second, authentic doesn’t have to be fancy. Below, is an example of something quite sophisticated, but simple and unpretentious works every time.

What Are You Going For?

It’s important to always know your why. For that reason, know what time of day you will use the space. What activities will be performed in the space? Secondary questions might be, when do you get sunlight? And, what will survive in your climate?

Paris gardens on small terraces and balconies are used as mini-retreats from the confined space of a city living. Certainly, there are multiple budget-friendly ideas here in this article,7 Budget Friendly French Garden Ideas.

Below, are three creative balcony French garden ideas. Notice how simple is lovely.

Budget Friendly Balcony Ideas, The French Magnolia Cooks

In contrast, country French gardens (at chateaux and palaces) were used for reflection and exercise. After that, to show-off or establish ones wealth, position and power. Sometimes, they were designed to intimidate. As a result, Chateaux gardens were designed to be viewed from a distance. Additionally, political conversations, strategies, gossip and secret trysts carried were part of traditional French garden life. It was important not to be seen and heard by household staff.

7 Budget Friendly French Garden Ideas

#1. Use and feature what you already have. Meaning, a stucco or brick wall. Creepers are perfect for the budget friendly French garden style because you only need a few. Strategically place 2 or 3 along the bottom. They will take root in the smallest about of soil. Set it and forget it.

See below, a photo of the creeping fig in full force — one of my personal favorites. The creeping fig gives a structural and formal, Parisian look.

Another budget friendly creeping favorite, the creeping Confederate Jasmine. The Confederate Jasmine blooms and grows well up a wall or over an arched trellis. For that reason, it is ideal for a loose, country French look.

Run the Confederate Jasmine up the side of a garage and create an instant look and feel of Provence.

7 Budget Friendly French Garden Ideas

Number 2 of 7

#2. Incorporate smooth micro pea gravel. Gravel paths and gravel-covered garden spaces are hallmarks of French garden design.

French pea gravel, 7 Budget Friendly French Garden Ideas, The French Magnolia Cooks

Scattering bags of micro pebbles is an easy do-it-yourself project. For example, over large weedy, dark areas where grass has a difficult time growing. Or, use to cover old-cracked cement.

Number 3 of 7

#3. French style is a study in geometry. Use long narrow planters with inexpensive, tall-growing, green shrubbery. The modern design of a long, narrow planter makes for great French style. Use boxwoods, if your budget permits, but there are plenty more affordable options. See the Hedge Holly, a hardy, inexpensive and useful foundation plant. Triming the sides flat will resemble a French hedge. Establishing them in planters might be helpful if you are renting. Mature sizes range from 2-10 feet.

Similarly, the laurel bush is a sturdy, quick-growing, green year-round bush. I love the laurel bush in long, narrow planters for a French garden style.

Create privacy or accent an intimate sitting area by creating a green shrubbery or creeper wall. Install an inexpensive DIY 2 by 4 fence. Plant a laurel or holly hedge in front and train it up the fence.

In the same vein, you can use a long, narrow planter for colorful annuals. This French style allows you to move between the seasons more easily.

Number 4 of 7

#4. Create balance and structure with two topiary-inspired planters. Punctuate the entrance to your garden space or outdoor dining space. On the other hand, topiaries are a French classic at the front or back door.

Topiaries can be a pricey so talk to your local nursery about an affordable alternative that will survive in your climate. I love a trained laurel, but I also love the use of this small evergreen varietal. Furthermore, evergreens are sturdy and of course, green all year long. Tip: You would be surprised what gardening treasures can be found at a garage or estate sale. Hit up a couple of garage sales for unusual planting vessels.

Number 5 of 7

#5. Absolutely include a place to relax and eat, but it doesn’t have to be fancy. Sitting areas and dining spots add a touch of romance and evoke the feeling of the French countryside. A round, metal table found at a garage sale with mix and match chairs is very French appropriate.

Certainly, you can spray-paint an outdoor table. However, if you want to embrace French garden style, use a cotton table cloth. Tip: a big table by the back door might be convenient, but I recommend putting a bistro set way back in the garden. Now, that’s French garden style!

Number 6 of 7

#6. Water features are important for French garden style. Most importantly, find and use a water feature that’s appropriate for your space. It does not have to be big or ornate. I love the quiet elegance of a small bird bath. That is to say, keep it simple.

basic bird bath, 7 Budget Friendly French Garden Ideas, The French Magnolia Cooks

Number 7 of 7

#7. Anchor all four corners of your garden with big round planters filled with unexpected options. A bigger budget might allow for a gardenia bush or a lemon tree (if you are far enough south). Budget friendly planters might include the unexpected with tons of color. For example, wild flowers, vegetables, fresh herbs and colorful annuals — all inexpensive choices.

Vegetable and herb gardens are a staple of French garden design. Even more, think about using metal for a vessel. Heavy-duty plastic planters in a terra cotta color are popular now. They are much lighter in weight and make life so much easier. It’s a great look for the money. Remember to purchase the little feet that lift the planters off the ground. Tip: be sure to drill holes in the bottom of your planters. To clarify, plants don’t like wet feet.

Wild flowers are budget friendly, romantic and cheerful. For instance, lavender’s practicality and indestructible nature hails Provence. Lavender is genuinely deer resistant and comes in beautiful hues. Likewise, Queen Anne’s Lace, is a useful and productive filler that can take you from June until your first frost. Finally, Black-Eyed Susan’s are easy and remind me of The French wine country. They are fabulous for the fall, taking you from September until your first frost.

lavender, 7 Budget Friendly French Garden Ideas, The French Magnolia Cooks

Queen Anne's Lace, 7 Budget Friendly French Garden Ideas, The French Magnolia Cooks

Black-Eyed Susans, 7 Budget Friendly French Garden Ideas, The French Magnolia Cooks

BONUS TIP, the PERFECT French Garden Accessory

Finally, no French garden would be complete without le chat. Therefore, a cat is the ultimate French garden accessary. In short, one must have a cat to complete the French garden picture. Besides, cats keep mice away. Oh French kitty, we love you.