7 Simple Pleasures of a Country French Kitchen

"Venez chez moi" (come to my house), my favorite words
to hear, when in France. If there is an antique collector/
culture curious/design addict/ visual junkies equivalent
to Epcot, it has to be receiving an invitation to someones
home to experience peu un plus savoir vivre in France!
I only wish I could purchase memory sticks for my mind.
Notebooks, journals, cameras, all those external aiding
devices, I have, but I find them void of substance, lacking
in the power of emotions . I tend to forget most
things that don't create an altered mental state.
(natural mind you)
I've seen my share of movies, turned the pages of many
a book, but I have to tell you, most are like junk in
my trunk. Don't get me wrong, there are always nuggets
of information I try to store away, but I could not tell
you the title of the last movie I watched. I think I use
them more for escapism or when I want to go blank.
There is nothing more gratifying to me than living
real life and making conscious decisions about the
memories that go into my data bank.
What I have found is that I like to surround myself
at home and in my shop with those memories,
those things that spark emotion. They are
life's simple pleasures and they just happen to be
French!


I have this desire to totally immerse myself in the Country French way of life. To be invited into their home is the ultimate treat. I want to see how the twine is tied on the fresh laurel hanging above the stove, feel the basket that stores the garlic, brush the barnacles from the moules, admire the patina on the tart board and fetch the wine from la cave.
To let my mind dance to the music of crystal clinging while singing Sante's and Bon Appetite. To let the texture of the monogrammed linens guide my fingertips. And oh, how I love the guilty pleasure of getting bread crumbs on the table.
To watch how the use of an ordinary knife becomes an art form in the hands of a French person (and all this time I thought they were just for spreading butter and cutting meat). Fork held, tines down, to pierce the delicacies of the season.
And the beautiful pottery spun from the earths clay...they actually use it.
A plateau of the regions fromage guarantees another
lesson in French pronunciation.
(Did you know France has over 400 types of cheese)?
So many wonderful experiences.


By this time I'm usually ready for a shot of espresso, but I do prefer to eat my chocolate with red wine. That's a marriage made in heaven!

An evening finished with a digestif. I like having a digestif

because there is always a lot to digest!

A little Eau de Vie never hurt anyone.

I think a lot of us Americans want a Country French kitchen.

Listed below are 7 Simple Accessories that can add a

Country French touch to your kitchen and give simple pleasure.

1. Baskets Wire, wood, wicker, great to display the seasons best

2. Trays Necessary for the aperitif

3. Tart Board For tartes and fromage

4. Pottery Glazed pottery, the large pouring bowls

like the one pictured above were actually used on farms to

catch rain water. They are great for cooking and display!

5. Potted Herbs A wonderful touch and useful

6. Garlic Press A good metal press, not the plastic kind

7. Corkscrew Buy a nice corkscrew. I particularly like the

ones made from petrified vines. PS. I do sell them.

Now all you need are family and friends to share it with!

And if you can spring for the French Chef, give him a call.

That's my friend Gregoire above from

Mirabelle Gourmet Catering.

Wishing you wonderful memories