Current Issue Out Now!
Open our beautifully bright summer cover to find interesting stories and features just perfect for your enjoyment during the coming months.
As this Summer Edition of French Provincial encompasses Christmas, New Year and our holiday time it is packed full of great features. We see how the decorators dress their Christmas tables, lick our lips at delectable sweet treats from some of the best chocolatiers and pâtissiers around the country or cook up some of our own treats using typical recipes from Normandy. Or perhaps you would prefer a summer lunch inspired by our chef’s Cherry Macleay’s recent visit to the Lot Valley?
Maybe you have a dream of owning your own little piece of France? Well, you’ll realise that dreams can come true when you see the prices of some of the beautiful French properties for sale in this edition.
Editor, Fran Stephenson recommends some of her favourite stories in the Summer Edition of French Provincial Magazine:
Singing All Along the Lines - Christmastime also gives us the opportunity to tell the true, but truly amazing, story of the 1914 Christmas Day Truce. On page 26, Jennie Sharpe reveals how rival troops across France downed their weapons to share goodwill and the joy of Christmas with their enemies.
Christmas à la Française – While we enjoy summer in Australia, spare a thought for our French friends who are currently wrapped in heavy coats, gloves, hats and boots – stylishly, of course – as they enjoy their somewhat cooler festive season. On page 12 Kerree French tells us how the French Christmas traditions still live on and how they vary from region to region.
Castle Fit for a Comic – On December 29 the new movie, The Adventures of Tintin, will be released in Australian cinemas, proving that this loveable little guy is still a perennial favourite. Come with me to Tintin’s real life home – the beautiful Château de Cheverny in the Loire Valley (page 17).
Jardin Magnifique – While we’re talking of castles, what castle is more majestic than Versailles? On page 48, gardening writer, Prue Young, walks us through the magnificent garden of Versailles.
At Home in Normandy – We welcome back our dear friend, the elegant Christine Descouyete, who takes us into her home in Normandy to share some of her classic Normandy recipes. We learn more about Christine’s stylish hometown of Deauville – A Tale of Two Cities – in the first part of this series for 2012 on Normandy (page 32).
Vincent’s Village - Keith Hall visits another lovely part of France, although one with a tragic story to tell. Keith explores the typical French village of Augurs near Paris where van Gogh spent his last 70 days. This story comes hard on the heels of the controversial new book, The Life – van Gogh (see our book review), which suggests the artist’s death was accidental rather than suicide.
A Legacy of Glamour – On page 38 we turn our attention to another great artist of the 20th century – designer Christian Dior. Cheryl Harty explores Dior’s life –- in the first of her new series on famous French designers.
A Life of Bubble and Fizz - We meet a Brisbane lady, Bernadette O’Shea who is revered by the French for her knowledge and expertise in French Champagnes – so much so that she has even received a knighthood.
Also in this edition of French Provincial Magazine don’t miss our regular features like
A French Affair as Jennie Sharpe visits the Matisse exhibition at Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art. Or read letters received from our readers as they tell us what they love most about France and catch up with some interesting titbits of news on the Nouvelles page.
There are many other wonderful features for your reading pleasure, so take the time to relax and enjoy the Summer Edition and the team at French Provincial look forward to bringing you more wonderful French stories in 2012.
Bonne Année!
Fran Stephenson,
Editor
