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Here’s a tricky question about French etiquette you may need to know if you’re coming to France. How do you address the female member of a couple who are not married in the classical sense...

Tipping in Hotels Service is included, by law, in all French restaurants bills. Unlike in the United States, however, where waiters live mostly off tips and receive very low wages (less than the minimum wage),...

Friendly fruit vendor at Marché d'Aligre. Photo credit joyousx Your French lesson for shopping in a marché In French open markets, there is usually a friendly, relaxed and informal ambiance. Les marchands (merchants) often like to...

Finally: Paris retailers have come a long way, baby, in recognizing that over 75% of the women in the Western world are size 10 or larger. Just 10 years ago Paris had few options...

Whether you’re a passionate collector or merely a lover of whimsical trinkets, a wander through one of Paris’ flea markets will always seduce and enthral. The Paris flea markets originated in the 18th-century when...

Gâteau Breton ~ Brittany Butter Cake Brittany is located on the northwest coast of France and has been somewhat culturally and geographically distinct from the rest of the country. Well known for its lace, seaside...

If you thought romance was passé in Paris, all you have to do is look at Paris bridges to see it is being displayed in full force. The Paris “love locks” are back. The love padlocks...

Imagine it is November 18, 1881, and you are standing at 84, boulevard de Rochechouart, just below Montmartre, in the cold of night. You hear a commotion in the distance and the sound of...

Paris, home of haute couture, is also friendly toward those who can only manage what might be called basse couture—simple, easy sewing of the most basic kind, like making cushions, tablecloths, bags, or napkins....

Factory outlet shopping has caught on in France for the same reasons American shoppers love it: convenience, selection, and, of course, price. For tourists visiting Paris, taking a train or driving out to a...

People often ask Bonjour Paris to explain French etiquette—or rather what the French expect people to do and what they definitely do not like. During the 23 years I’ve been...

French Cheese Course: Selection and Etiquette Tips Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1755-1826) wrote the most famous book about food ever published: The Physiology of Taste: Or Meditations on Transcendental Gastronomy. In fact, it's been in print ever since...