Celebrating French food, fashion & style ❤❤

The 20th of March is International Francophonie Day, a day to celebrate all things French, from the romantic French language to the rich & beautiful French culture.   I thought it fitting to pay homage to all the French things we love at Jadorais.  From the delicious French cuisine, to our favourite inspirations French art, film, fashion & of course, style.

Above: Tour Eiffel on left, sister Janice in a barrett & carrying a baguette & the Boulangerie Le Moulin de la Vierge in Paris.

J’adore ❤ French food.. where do we begin?

Le Fromage

Oh how we love a good cheese (le fromage).  Whether it’s a creamy brie or camembert, a smelly blue roquefort, a gummy reblochon or melting some raclette.  We love our cheese.

My sister Janice based in London recently reminded me of this favourite little fromagerie she discovered in Maryleborne (called, Le Fromagerie).  We used to love doing cheese tastings together back when I lived in London and we had the pleasure of tasting the most beautiful cheeses (usually accompanied by a good wine of course).  It was there that I was first introduced to the orgasmic truffle brie cheese.  Since then I have been hooked on truffle cheese and was so glad to have discovered imported truffle cheese at my local delicatessen in Sydney.

Above: Favourite Brie Truffle Cheese, the Cheese Room at the Fromagerie, and a garcon in a French restaurant serving us a good selection of cheeses.

From the simple baguette, to the croissant (plain, with almonds or chocolate!), to the crepes (with anything – I love sweet crepes with nutella and coconut and savoury crepes with ham & cheese and mushrooms), to the fondues (sweet or savoury), the raclettes (melted cheese – so good!), to the steak tartare, escargot, ratatouilles and the bouillabaises.. there are too many beautiful dishes to name.

Above: Crepe with nutella, strawberry & cream, my sister Janice with a steak tartare, Clarice with a famous Berthillon ice cream, some funny french men dressed in a food festival in Orleans (France), a perfectly oozey chocolate fondant, escargot, and me enjoying a creme brullee on the far right.

We love sweet French treats too of course.. From the mousse de chocolat, souffle, creme caramel and my favourite – the chocolate fondant! & my sister Clarice is the queen of macaron lovers (as those who follow her @brigadeirocc will know).

Above: Famous Laduree in Paris and @brigadeirocc‘s favourite food muse – le macaron

And of course, one cannot forget the Champagne!!

From visiting the caves in the Champagne region in France to drinking the beautiful Champagnes from Moet & Chandon, Veuve Cliquot, Mumm, Pommery, Pol Roger, Bollanger, Louis Roederer to Dom Perignon..

Above: Janice with a magnum Pommery Champagne, the town of Epernay (in Champagne region), me hugging a giant Champagne at a boutique Champagne house (La Castellane), Louis Roederer, Champagne vineyards, and visiting the caves where the vintage Dom Perignon are left to ferment for a few years.

French Art & Film

We grew up loving watching classic French films.   We love any movie with the gorgeous Audrey Tatou (Amelie and Priceless are amongst our favourites) or the amazing Marion Cotillard (with her wonderful performance in so many films, including her Oscar-winning performance in La Vie en Rose).

Above: Cute French comedy Priceless, with Audrey Tatou, reminding us that the best things in life are free.

I am inspired by French art work, especially the work of impressionist artists, from Monet, Renoir, Cezanne to Degas.

Above: Monet’s Japanese garden is one of my favourite paintings (I am yet to visit the famous gardens in Giverny), and Degas ballerinas.  Bottom row: paintings from Monet and Renoir taken by Janice at the Musee D’Orsay.

And last but not least French fashion & style

We love following inspirational French style.  There is something about the french look – classic, understated and unique, with a certain air of ‘Je ne sais quoi’ (I don’t know what? ;).

This month we were able to follow the best of French fashion at Paris Fashion Week.  It was an ode to French Style, from the Chloe’s bohemian chic dresses, to YSL le smoking suits, Hermes Feminine silhouettes, Comme des Garcons french pinafores, Balenciaga cocoon coats.  Karl Lagerfeld chose a Brasserie as the setting for the Chanel’s FW 15/16 show, with madeleine collar dresses and classic tweed suits.

Above: Lanvin, Balmain, Balenciaga, Hermes, Nina Ricci, Celine

Above: Chloe, Dior, Comme des Garcons, Yves Saint Laurent, Dries Van Noten, Maison Martin Margiela

Above: Karl Lagerfield’s Brasserie setting for the Chanel FW 15/16 show

I love getting style inspirations from fashion designers, stylists, bloggers, from the model and fashion designer Ines de la Fressange – her book Parisian Chic is both witty and provides great insights to the French way of dressing – to Fashion illustrator and blogger Garance Dore.  And last but not least, I am always inspired by the photographic art of Nathalie Malric’s work in Peut-etre magazine along with my sister Clarice’s fashion editorials.

Above: Print by French fashion illustrator and blogger Garance Dore, Parisian Chic by Ines de la Fressange  and Peut-Etre magazines.

Well, there are too many lovely things to celebrate on this Francophonie day, so there you are, pop the champagne & let’s all celebrate International Francophonie day in style!

Above: Parisian Chic book, French inspired nautical striped top by Marcs, Le Specs sunglasses, Christian Louboutin shoes, Chanel perfume, Diptyque perfume, Balenciaga ring and Moet Chandon.

So what are the favourite French things you love?

Follow J’adorais for more fashion & lifestyle inspirations.  Bon weekend & Bon Jour de la Francophonie!