Quick Tips to Live More Like the French
Since the French devote their lifestyles to food, and their culture is one of the most envied in the world, why shouldn’t we take a few cues be a bit more like them? Here are some tips on how to best live a French lifestyle à distance. You decide your own order of priorities. 1....
French in Figures: speakers in the DMV region
On this international day of celebration of Francophonie, French language, global exchange, cultural dialogue (macarons…*), everyone’s focused on French speakers. As we all know, DC is a hub for foreigners and those who love them for a number of reasons: diplomacy, international development, bi-lingual or multi-lingual U.S. citizens, immigrants, (tourists!), and more. But French is particularly...
5 Spots to Get a French Fix “à distance”
Even with all the buzz around the maison at AFDC, it’s nice to be able to link up with some other DC locales to indulge in a little nostalgia, and with all the expats around DC, there are plenty of options to choose from. AU blogger, Erica, offers up a few of her top picks. Share your favorite...
Fight Snow with Snow — and Sugar
Amidst the recent snowy and sub-freezing weather that has hit D.C., there is a bad case of cabin fever going around. And once diagnosed with cabin fever, it is nearly impossible to peel yourself away from the comfort of a warm fire despite the persistent itch to get out of the house. Lucky for us,...
A Study in “Yummy”
What would you call the sensation you feel during the first bite into your favorite delicacy? Is that first bite merely a sensation? Is it a feeling? Could it be an emotion? To me, a warm crêpe stuffed to the brim with slivers of bananas and fresh maple butter on a cold March morning is...
Making Homes Away from Home
Think about walking down a street in your neighborhood. Whether you live near the bustling stores and streets of downtown or in the more tranquil neighborhoods of residential D.C., there are familiar buildings, businesses and homes you inevitably picture. The nearest pharmacy, coffee shop and grocery store are all familiar places that you visit quite...
Bring Down the Lights for Nuit de la Mode
Imagine strolling down lush gardens throughout the night in an ambiance filled with art and fashion. Now in its second year, Nuit de la Mode will again become a tribute to culture that promises to leave a special mark in your memories. The Alliance Française de Washington, Art Soirée and the Hillwood Estate, Museum and...
Small is More – The Opening Night (event review + interview)
The famous American concept of “food for thought” was taken to an entirely different level by les soeurs Martin (the Martin sisters). Last Tuesday evening, a hungry audience attended the Fairfax Hotel in D.C’s Dupont Circle for what promised to be an out-of-the-ordinary plated dinner. The palettes of the attendees were enticed by a menu...
Moving Forward, Time to Reengage
As we enter into a brand new year of linguistic and cultural sharing, there is no better time to get ourselves reinvested in the things that we enjoy…or thought we enjoyed. It is only too easy to let the goals we make - to enjoy ourselves more or engage in fun, cultural, interesting activities - become a...
French Quiche, A Lesson in Tradition
As a student at Bates College, I had the good fortune of studying in Paris for 6 months. My host parents, best described as traditional, took great pride in their nightly meals. Every night, like clockwork, my host father would drink martini roso, eat olives and watch the evening news while my host mother prepared...
La madeleine de Proust, le foie gras d’un gascon
Pas une année ne se passe sans que nos papilles aient à savourer une succulente tranche de foie gras. Noël approchant à grands pas, la saison du canard arrive quant à elle à grandes palmées. Et question dégustation, tout le monde s’y retrouve – ou presque. Il y a ceux qui apprécient, ceux qui testent,...
Toasting to the dwindling days of summer
With this year’s fall just around the corner, the last summer days in the District are calling for one last pool session or simply an afternoon relaxing at an open-air restaurant. And what better accompaniment to those times of leisure than a drink à la française ? Here are simple recipes to three...
