As the month of the Francophonie wraps up it's important to remember that French is spoken throughout the world... in France, of course, but also in Quebec and in Algeria for example. Of course the French I speak is slightly different from one spoken in Canada... heck, even within France... I have a hard time understanding what my cousins from Marseille are saying sometimes ;-) But it's these linguistic differences that make our shared language so rich. Monsieur Lazhar, a 2012 best foreign picture nominee from Canada explores this topic, among others, in a quiet and engaging film that will opens in D.C. on April 27th and will also be shown on April 13 and 17 as part of FilmFest DC.I'm ...
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Ma petite liste – April 9-15, 2012
It's the last week of the Francophonie Festival in D.C. so I'm filling this week's picks with lots of cultural events from France, Belgium and Quebec, with a sprinkling of Thai food and of course, some cherry blossoms related events. That festival lasts 10 times as long as the actual flowers do... MONDAY APRIL 9The Royal Thai Embassy is sponsoring Thai Restaurant Week to coincide with Songkran, the traditional Thai new year (which falls on April 13th this year). Through April 15, enjoy special menus at local participating Thai restaurants like Bangkok One, Bankok Joe's, Mai Tai Downtown or Mai Tai Old Rown. TUESDAY APRIL 10The World Languages and Cultures Department & the Department of ...
Team Easter Bells!
I'm allergic to chocolate but that's not the reason why the Easter Bunny will not be bringing me any chocolate this Sunday. The Easter Bunny won't be bringing me any chocolate because les cloches will!! Most Americans grew up with the Easter Bunny and think that bells bringing candy to little children on Easter morning makes no sense at all... Well, I think it makes about as much sense as a bunny if you ask me ;-) Pierre Herme doesn't pick sides and makes both chocolate bunnies and bells comes Easter season.Despite being a fairly secular country these days, France was once a strong Catholic nation. We still hold many of the Catholic holidays, and for Easter for example, have Good Friday ...
Ma Petite Liste – April 2 to April 8, 2012
MONDAY APRIL 2Wouldn't it nice to hear about Greece in another context beside debt, austerity measures and riots? I think it would... Kellari Taverna and the office for economic and commercial affairs of the Embassy of Greece would like to steer your mind toward some of the country's epicurean exports, most specifically its wines. The K Street restaurant is now hosting a Greek wine happy hour from 5PM to 9PM at their bar or with dinner, on the first Monday of every month. This Monday, they are introducing the wines of Crete. Since I was 3 years old when I went to Crete, I know NOTHING about their grape varietal, but when it comes to wine, I'm always willing to learn ;-) 3 wines will be ...
Le Temps des Cerises
Come Cherry Blossoms festival time, the delicate flower pops up everywhere in Washington, D.C., your food, your cocktails... even the metro catches Cherry Blossom fewer. Here are some of my favourite cherry blossoms inspired products, some of which are available well beyond the festival: 1. U.S. Postal Service Cherry Blossoms Centennial Forever stamp ($4.5 for 10 stamps). 2. Le Palais des Thés' Fleur de Geisha - a delicate green tea scented with cherry blossoms, inspired by the Japanese tradition of Hanami ($12.5-$30 depending on format, available online at or at Cork Market and Tasting Room on 14th street NW. Bonus: you can also order the Fleur de Geisha tea candle) 3. Dior ...
Kiss kiss!
If you watched the (long anticipated) season's premiere of Mad Men last night you probably have a catchy little french tune stuck in your head right now. Zou bisou bisou as performed by Don Draper's new French speaking Canadian wife Megan (portrayed by Jessica Paré whose dad is a McGill University professor - had to throw in a shout out to the alma mater!) in front of his colleagues and friends has become an instant hits. Slate has a great article about the catchy 60s French pop song, which you can now download on iTunes... Watch at your own risks... it's catchy ;-)[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyy8roNU060] Did you watch the season's premiere for Mad Men last night? What did you ...
Americana – Patriotic Campaign Nail Polish
Only in America... If you're an Obama supporter from head to toe, well, your toenails better proudly display your support for your president. Designed by Richard Blanch of Le Métier de Beauté, this set of fashionable and patriotic nail polishes with cutesy campaign related names (red-y to win; victory white and bo blue) are made in the U.S.A (bien sur!!) and will only set you back $40. But $40 well spent since they will help the democrats in their effort to re-elect President Obama ;-) There's all sorts of other fun stuff on the Obama reelection website store including a t-shirt by Beyonce and Tina Knowles:Yoga pants:A Tory Burch canvas tote:A doggie knit sweater (why should your pup be left ...
Wine Wednesday – Lebanon
A few kilometers away from a temple dedicated to Bacchus, in the heart of Bekaa Valley in Eastern Lebanon, stretches of vines remind visitors that the country of cedars was also once the country of vines. Speak to any local producer or exporter and he will undoubtedly remind you of Lebanon's viticultural history and of its biblical roots, joking that when Jesus turned water into wine, in the southern Lebanon city of Cana, it wasn't Italian wine ;-) It wasn't French wine either, though Lebanon's modern wine industry was heavily influenced by France's own culture and traditions. After the collapse of the Ottoman empire, Lebanon became a "protectorate" of France, from which it gained ...
Ma Petite Liste – March 20-25, 2012
This week is World Water Week, culminating in the United Nations' World Water Day on March 22nd. Throughout the District, thousands of restaurants are participating in the UNICEF Tap Water Project from March 19-25, 2012. Participating restaurants in D.C. (full list here) will invite their diners to donate a minimum of $1 for the tap water they would normally order for free to raise money for the UNICEF Water Project. Every dolla raised provides clean water for a child for 40 days. So throughout the week, order some tap water for a good cause!!TUESDAY MARCH 20The Cherry Blossom Festival 2012 starts today and yes, it's the first day of spring. But most importantly, it's Macaron Day!!! Indulge ...
♫ Napoléon Premier, Descend les Escaliers… ♪
If you weren't a small French child, you probably have no idea why I chose this title... if, on the other hand, you did grow up in France or have a kid that did, I'm sure you know the next lyric is "et demande au boucher où sont les cabinets!" Either way, France's (in)famous emperor is one of the subjects of a current exhibit at Hillwood Estate, Museum and Garden. "The Styles that Ruled the Empires: Russia, Napoleon and 1812" opened earlier in February. For the 200th anniversary of the Patriotic War of 1812 (when Russia pretty much trounced France) Hillwood celebrates the Russian decorative arts that were created to celebrate their military triumph but also explores the Empire style that ...
