Pain au chocolat or chocolatine? The definitive map Trying to settle a debate? Consult this official ‘chocolatine’ and ‘pain au chocolat’ map of France
How to describe wine like a French sommelier Winemaker Jonathan Hesford provides a beginner’s guide to talking about flavours, smells and preferences in French
From corks to screw caps: French wine bottles are changing Screw caps are winning out on ‘drinkable’ wines and recyclability, but are still facing resistance among premium wines Crustless camembert? French cheese threatened by rind mould extinction Traditional Roquefort and Camembert are under threat, warn scientists RECIPE: How to make a ‘perfect’ French galette des rois
Day 12 French regional Christmas specialities: Seafood platter Oysters are unavoidable - but there are many other options too
Day 11 French regional Christmas specialities: Papillotes from Lyon The origin of papillotes is wrapped in a cute story
What does a winemaker in France actually do all day? Vigneron Jonathan Hesford explains what happens behind the cellar door and the daily decisions involved in making wine
Day 9 French regional Christmas specialities: Escargots persillés This snail dish is one of France’s most known Christmas recipes…thanks to a 19th-century visiting Russian tsar
Day 7 of French regional Christmas specialities: Pain d’épices Pain d’épices is another Christmas staple of the Alsace region. A small village famously hosts one of the most famous gingerbread houses, and even a gingerbread museum
Bustling French brasseries offer delicious food and stunning decor We explore eight iconic brasseries across France for traditional, good-value meals in sumptuous surroundings
Day 4 of French regional Christmas specialities: Chapon farci Chapon farci are often associated with Bresse, an area overlapping two regions, and where there is a myriad of stuffing options
A French grape variety guide by winemaking region Winemakers in France rarely put grape varieties on the label so Jonathan Hesford reveals which grapes are probably in your glass
What are IGP/AOC/AOP labels on French products? Some labels are recognised at European level, others only at national level
France’s Mont d’Or seasonal cheese is back The first Mont d’Or cheese signals the start of autumn in France. Here’s why, and how to enjoy it Riz de Carmague in France: in a field of its own Scrummy half: a tasty tour before the rugby in France’s foodie Nice Rugby World Cup in Nice is boost for South African foodie tour guide
Restaurant in France sets prices depending on what diners can afford The charity restaurant wants to people from different backgrounds to mix by reducing prices for those who are struggling Early - and good - start to mushroom season in France How to spot mass-produced pastries in a French bakery Five things they don’t tell you… about wine in France Actress Emma Watson’s French gin is ‘love letter to Burgundy’ Rosé wine guide - a tour through France’s pink wine producing regions
The wine industry is in constant evolution in France and beyond Jonathan Hesford reflects on ever-changing trends from both makers and drinkers
The French brothers who hand make three hundred types of jam Along with unusual chutney blends to pair perfectly with cheese
How little French ravioli became part of the Dauphiné food heritage Ravioles du Dauphiné are tiny parcels of pasta filled with cheese and parsley, quite different to their Italian cousins
Cheap and cheerful French restaurants are back in fashion Described as the McDonalds of their day, traditional Parisian ‘bouillons’ are having a renaissance in and out of the capital
Meet the French couple with a secret macarons recipe It is believed that the macarons recipe originally came from Italy with Catherine de’ Medici
Pineau des Charentes becomes bartenders' secret weapon in cocktails Thanks to innovative French producers, this fortified wine is brushing off its dusty image and making a splash with mixologists
How winemakers in France combat the effects of climate change Vigneron Jonathan Hesford explains how he deals with more heat and less rain in the vineyard
Travel France from your kitchen: Galettes de Sarrasin recipe For this recipe we journey northwest to Brittany and look at how to make a classic Breton buckwheat pancake
Why Brittany is a crêpe hotspot Chandeleur has arrived and while you are eating delicious crêpes, we take a look at the their origins in Brittany
Why France’s alcohol-free cocktail boom is ‘not just a trend’ We talk to industry professionals about the growing demand for fancy mocktails
The only cheese-makers in Ambert make mildest blue cheese in France The creamy blue ‘Fourme d’Ambert’ is lovingly made by these third generation dairy farmers
France’s galette des rois: Six facts about this January 6 cake Epiphany marks the occasion that the Three Kings brought their gifts to the baby Jesus. We look at how France celebrates with a special sweet treat
Andouille: Meet the makers who defend this gutsy French sausage It takes five weeks and a lot of ‘know-how’ to make real andouille – we discover the process and the passion
RECIPES: real French charcuterie of rabbit rillettes, pork liver pâté We look at the history and techniques of pâtés, terrines, sausages and ‘farcis’ (stuffed dishes)
How to choose French wines to match classic British Christmas food We explore the perfect pairings for turkey, salmon and Christmas pudding
Traditional French Christmas food and a very modern bûche de Noël We look at why France is ‘top’ at festive fayre and the mandatory chocolate log gets a star chef makeover
Meet the British couple growing ‘microgreens’ for French chefs A property planning hiccup led these UK growers to turn a room in their house into a baby leaf farm
French sparkling wines to rival Champagne on price and taste Why not opt for a Crémant this Christmas? We talk to a fizz producer in Burgundy about making wine for savvy consumers
RECIPES: Parisian picks, yoghurt cake and chocolate meringue gâteau Two foolproof cake recipes from award–winning American food writer
Meet the sibling distillers making liqueurs from French Alpine plants Distilling flavoured spirits ‘génépi’ and ‘sapinette’ in the mountains runs in the family for this brother and sister
RECIPES: bake a French baguette or sweet potato bread like a master Award-winning French baker, Eric Kayser, shares his love of baking in ‘The Bread Book’. We share three recipes here
‘My gripe about French milk was replaced by awe at dairy statistics’ An ‘expat’ niggle about milk bottles lead Justin Postlehwaite to discover the sheer scale of France’s dairy industry
Tannins can make red wine undrinkable or delicious – what are they? They can make your face pucker or add rich complexity – winemaker Jonathan Hesford explains their importance
Aligot: cheesy French comfort food famous for being remarkably stringy A cross between mashed potatoes and cheese fondue is the traditional dish of the Aubrac - we explore the history and future of Aligot
Meet the French craft beer brewers taking wine drinkers by storm We take you on a boozy tour of museums, fairs and micro-breweries where regional ‘terroir’ is still important
Meet the producers: the Toulouse farmers who mill their own crops Three farmers bought the traditional granite mill and now press their own oil and flour to sell
Top French chef champions ‘trumpet of death’ mushroom Have you tried this tasty 'poor man's truffle'? Take care when foraging
Five things they don’t tell you about entertaining in France Is it ok to top up your own glass? Is it acceptable to serve store-bought dishes? We have some answers for you
RECIPES: three classic French dishes get an exotic twist Caramelised onion soup, baked Mont d’Or cheese and Baba au Cognac - recipes inspired by the travels of two Paris chefs
Know your onions – 14 facts about France’s superstar vegetable Legend has it that French onion soup was invented by Louis XV after a day's hunting. Here we look at some more onion trivia
The onion - flavours, dishes and festivals to celebrate a French icon From Brittany to Provence, we explore the tradition, history and culture of onions in France
Wine tips: ‘Acidity is a balancing act with sweetness and tannins’ Vigneron Jonathan Hesford explains how acids affect the way a wine tastes and reveals some winemaker tricks
Camembert losing out in battle for France’s favourite cheeses Raclette and Mozzarella are nibbling away at camembert’s position as the second-most sold cheese in France, new figures show
Dine out: French restaurant schools offer fine dining at reduced rates Student chefs, waiters and sommeliers learn ‘on the job’ – one school even has a Michelin star
Fresh fish in the post - French fishing fleet cuts out the middleman The ice-packed fish are sent anywhere in France and the boat-to-plate service is growing
Michelin star chef makes Loire France’s sustainable eating capital Eco-responsable chefs are tackling climate change with their delicious food. The Connexion’s Tamara Thiessen visits the Loire to find out how
Sugar, yeast, ice, mould - what makes French sweet wine…sweet? Winemaker Jonathan Hesford explains how sweet wines are made
Beetle burger anyone? French firm allowed to cook with Buffalo beetles The start-up now plans to step up production massively and wants to create burgers and protein bars
Map: Our tour of France by local sweets, treats and desserts From kouglofs to éclairs to tropéziennes, we take you on a sugar rush-inducing trip around the l'Hexagone
Tielle de Sète - Poor man’s pie that became a local French food icon The family recipes for ‘tielles’ have been passed down from Italian immigrant fisherman to today’s passionate bakers of Sète
Moneysaver: We try out French app to source cheap shop and cafe food Mobile app allows venues to sell left-over products at a heavy discount which would otherwise be thrown away
Wine tasting basics: describing the smell, the flavour and the texture Wine maker, Jonathan Hesford, tells us how to describe wine and why we prefer one wine to another
Map: our tour of France by local apéritif Apéritifs actually started out as medical drinks and were popular in the 19th century among soldiers struggling with malaria in Africa
Are your taste buds turning French? You share your thoughts Connexion readers say whether they have adopted French breakfasts, fish and meat dishes, or whether they still prefer milky coffees and bangers and mash
French restaurant whose staff have Down’s syndrome sets global example Most of the ‘extraordinary’ staff at Le Reflet in Paris and Nantes have the condition and work in the busy restaurants with a few simple modifications
Adopt an oak tree in France and enjoy the truffles it produces Founders say that they want to change the way truffles are sold, making the process more transparent
What you need to know before producing your own wine in France Producing the grape-based beverage is a dream for many people. We look at the minimum requirements of managing a vineyard and why it is doable, but not easy
Why Roquefort is the true king of French cheeses Casanova even said it was ideal for restoring love. We look at where the emblematic cheese comes from and how it is made
Why Roquefort is the true king of French cheeses Casanova even said it was ideal for restoring love. We look at where the emblematic cheese comes from and how it is made
Thou shalt not overcook: How Gault & Millau’s style freed French chefs In our series providing a sideways glance at French food, we look at the impact of nouvelle cuisine and how it helped fuel innovation in a strict business
AOP or IGP, doux or liquoreux…How to interpret French wine labels A little knowledge can go a long when choosing wine, says independent wine grower Jonathan Hesford
Black truffle from France sells for US$10,000 at online auction The truffle weighs more than 1kg and was sold as an NFT (non-fungible token), meaning the buyer will receive both the actual truffle and an official certificate showing proof of ownership
The chicken burger that sold out in the US is coming to France A first ‘Popeyes’ restaurant will open in Paris later this year with several hundred more branches to follow
French dressing is news in US but orange sauce is not found in France A 72-year old rule governing ingredients of the sweetened salad sauce has been dropped - but its association with France remains a mystery
French Champagne’s record €5.5bn year is ‘victory for good living’ Industry expert says that 2021 sales are likely to be the ‘best ever year for Champagne’ – a marked improvement after the sector was badly hit during the first lockdown in 2020
France is country where alcohol is drunk the most often, poll finds People in France drink alcohol on 132 days of the year, well above the global average of 101, but they are not the heaviest drinkers
8 French food idioms for when things are going wrong In France food is not just for eating, it's also for complaining. Here are our favourite food-related expressions to use when the going gets tough
Boire du petit lait and other French drinking phrases With a university in Lille offering a new master’s course in gastronomy, we look at three French expressions related to drinking
Truffle season starts in France with quantity down but quality up The prized black Haut-Var truffle went on sale for a near record €600 per kilo in late November with prices set to soar as high as €1,000 per kilo by Christmas