Luxury Silversmith Maintains Tradition of French Savoir-Faire in the Northern Marais
The formerly workaday neighborhood of the northern Marais has been increasingly gentrified over the past 15 years, but something that hasn’t changed is the discreet presence of one of France’s few remaining creators of luxury silverware, tableware and decorative accessory: Lapparra.
Fish-Skin Leather Artisan Brings Siberian Tradition to Dordogne
Hidden in the Dordogne hills on a narrow street of the village of Fanlac, Janet Duignan discovers the marriage of ancient Siberian tradition and European craftsmanship in Kristof Mascher's fish leather handbags, belts and cases.
Calvados, Where Rotting Apples Have a Good Name
An introduction to the alcoholic apple-based beverages cidre (hard cider) and calvados produced in Normandy.
Paris Haute Couture for the Birds
Is haute couture for the birds? Absolutely, says fashion follower Corinne LaBalme, who joined the flock at Paris Fashion Week to report on the Spring/Summer 2013 collections. With stylists pushing the envelope, haute couture has always functioned as the canary in the fashion mineshaft.
Shopping: Maron Bouillie by Marie Bouillon
I keep confusing Marie Bouillon and Maron Bouillie. One is the designer with an infectious smile and the other is the brand with lilting humor.
Statue of Liberty Given Place of Honor in the Orsay Museum
Joining Whistler’s Mother, Van Gogh’s Self-portrait, Degas’s ballerinas, and many more, the Musée d’Orsay took on another familiar face this month when Liberty was given place of honor on a pedestal near the entrance to the museum’s great nave. The Orsay Museum had long claimed that Liberty rightfully belonged within its walls rather than in the Luxembourg Garden, where it previously stood.
Blade Running in Laguiole (Aveyron)
Corinne LaBalme ventures into Deep France to explore the cutting edge of cutlery in the town of Laguiole (Aveyron) and reports on the collision between age-old craftsmanship and high design at La Forge de Laguiole.
Sylvie Deschamps, France’s Master Artist of Gold Embroidery
An interview with Sylvie Deschamps, France's Master Artist of gold embroidery and director of the Bégonia d'Or workshop in Rochefort, an upriver port town in western France. Includes demonstration video.
Cookbook Beat: Le Grand Cours de Cuisine Ferrandi
The Ferrandi School, the most hands on of Parisian culinary academies, has come out with a mega-cookbook for amateurs and professionals looking to hone their culinary skills and try recipes from simple to gastronomical.