Sharing France with you

The French Apero - Do’s and Don’ts

It’s a fabulous feeling when you receive your first invitation to aperitifs at a French friends house but can also be somewhat daunting. Just follow these simple rules to ensure your visit goes with a swing!

• Do remember to arrive (and leave!) on time - don’t stay longer than 2 hours.
• Do remember not to ask for wine – a kir or a vermouth or perhaps a gin and tonic.
• Don’t forget to take a small gift – some chocolates or a little plant but never a bottle.
• Don’t ask for a tour of the house – most French are very private people.

And finally, do remember to enjoy yourself!

UK Stores that deliver to France

While there are many wonderful shops in France it can occasionally be difficult to get hold of familiar brands or particular clothing sizes. Here are a few websites that make shopping from the comfort of your own home just that bit easier.

• www.johnlewis.com - department store shopping at it’s best
• www.boden.co.uk - very good quality clothing for all the family
• www.chemistdirect.co.uk - a great alternative to Boots the Chemist
• www.thewhitecompany.co.uk - lovely bedding and knitwear
• www.marksandspencer.fr - delivered direct from the Paris store
• www.letterbox.co.uk - great selection of toys and gifts
• www.lakelandplastics.co.uk - full of products for the kitchen and home
• www.shoes.co.uk - covers all styles and, most importantly, sizes
• www.debenhams.co.uk - another good department store
• www.thebookdepository.com - an alternative to Amazon

A Capon for Christmas

Many of us in France spend an inordinate amount of time searching for the elusive Christmas turkey. Please don’t! Here, the capon is king. With a large proportion of white to dark meat and a creamy, delicate flesh it really is the only way to go this Christmas and is readily available in both the supermarkets and the local butchers. A standard sized capon will happily feed 8-10 people.

Treat your capon with the same love you would lavish upon your turkey –with a sweet chestnut or sage and onion stuffing. Alternatively go local and serve with a cognac and mushroom sauce or, if you are feeling really decadent, splash out on a few truffles.

Wood for winter

Not all of us are as organised as we like to think we are and, as the temperature starts to drop, many of us visit our wood piles for the first time since Easter only to find that we really didn’t have as much as we thought we did. Ideally firewood should be ordered in September for the coming winter season however it is available throughout the year. Undoubtedly the best way to find a reliable wood supplier is word of mouth but this is not always easy when you are new to an area. A good alternative is to use www.bois-de-chauffage.net. Simply enter your postcode, select your commune and your requirements (size, type (hardwood, fruit etc) and amount and those chestnuts will be roasting in no time!