How to celebrate a French Christmas & NYE in New York

Anyone who has spent at least one Christmas holiday with a French family will know that Christmas is all about family gathering and food.

As Thanksgiving isn’t celebrated on the old continent, Christmas has become the holiday to cook a delicious dinner that will usually include traditional dishes like turkey, foie gras, and the bûche de Noël.

There’s nothing like a French Christmas

If you plan to stay home and cook some delicacies for your family, you will probably need to shop for some foie gras and a bûche de Noël (Yule log). Try the Hudson Valley Foie Gras products, and for dessert, visit bakeries like Bien Cuit, Financier, Payard or Maison Kayser.

Bon appétit aux francophiles!

If you are spending Christmas away from home this year and happen to be in New York City, not to worry! The city is full of French restaurants where you can enjoy a great meal on either Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day. Joyeux Noël !

Most restaurants in the Big Apple are open on 24 and 25 December and usually have a prix-fixe menu for the occasion. Check your favorite French restaurants and don’t wait too long to book a table – they can go fast if the place is very popular! For a great French Christmas dinner, we suggest Balthazar (one of the restaurants in the Tour de France group) Pastis, or Benoit.

Start 2014 with the French

If you plan to start 2014 in New York, why not party… French style!

I strongly recommend you avoid the Times Square area, where you will be stuck in the crowd and cold for hours. Instead, celebrate with the French community.

The French Tuesday New Year’s Eve event will be at Le Chateau with a French Baroque celebration, while the party organized by French Culture Nights will take place at the Sky Deck Rooftop from where you will be able to see the ball drop at midnight!

Are you spending the holidays in New York? How do you celebrate when you are away from home? Share your experiences in the comments box below!