My first bateaux-mouches ride on the Seine in Paris left me bouche bée (flabbergasted, literally “open-mouthed”). Though the boats were cliché even in 1983, we passed some of the most jaw-dropping sights in Paris: la tour Eiffel, le Grand Palais, les Invalides, la Place de la Concorde. As we headed east towards the cathedral of…

Bread is to France what pasta is to Italy. Whether it’s a baguette, a ficelle (a really skinny baguette, literally a “string”) or a boule (round loaf), le pain (bread) is consumed daily by les Français (French people). And it must be said that some bread is definitely better than others. You can find ho-hum…

In France, the sacred continues to infuse holiday life and cuisine even if some of the original meaning has lost its punch. According to the Bible, three kings or Magi came from the Orient and brought the baby Jesus gold, frankincense and myrrh. The Christmas carol “We Three Kings of Orient Are” recounts this journey…

In France, the sacred continues to infuse holiday life and cuisine even if some of the original meaning has lost its punch. According to the Bible, three kings or Magi came from the Orient and brought the baby Jesus gold, frankincense and myrrh. The Christmas carol “We Three Kings of Orient Are” recounts this journey…

No holiday in France would be complete without festive tastes and treats. French cuisine is legendary at any time of year-and particularly around Christmas and New Year’s. This vitrine (shop window) of Italian luxury clothes purveyor Dolce & Gabbana in the Rue du Faubourg St. Honoré got a head start on holiday table edibles with…

The holiday spirit is in full swing in Paris. While decorations in France are more subdued than those in the U.S., festive sights abound this Christmas season. From the massive sapin de Noël (Christmas tree) in front of Notre Dame cathedral, to the shower of street lights illuminating the Rue St. Honoré, to Christmas cookies…

Sometimes when you travel, you discover extraordinary places. And then there are times when an out-of-the-ordinary place discovers you. A few years ago, it was the garden of the Pavillon de la Reine Jeanne (Pavilion of Queen Jeanne) near Les Baux de Provence that took me completely by surprise. Pavillon de la Reine JeanneI was…

‘Thanks to its lovely natural settings and its mild climate, Provence has proven a country blessed by the gods.’ Auguste Escoffier (1846 to 1935) When it comes to fruit, Provence is a garden of Eden. Wild fig and apricot trees line country roads. In the summer, gardens are bursting with les fraises (strawberries) and les…

Fall has finally arrived. The leaves are turning color and dropping to the ground like yellow and red confetti. It appears our weeks and weeks of l’été indien (Indian summer) here in Texas are coming to an end. While I am looking forward to fires in the fireplace, drinking cups of hot Mariage Frères tea…