15.16 -From Paris Restaurants To Toulousaine Kitchens: Local Insider Secrets
In this FREE le Bulletin you will join me as we meet our newest expert, learn French roasting tricks, and discover where Parisians actually eat!
Today at a Glance: Your FREE weekly newsletter
Bonjour mes amis !
It’s wonderful to have you back here with me today! Bienvenue !
In this newsletter, you’ll:
- Meet a new MyFrenchLife Magazine Contributor and learn more about his French wine and restaurant reviews
- Next, from Toulouse, we’re in the kitchen baking a chicken the French way.
- And last but not least, we discover local Parisians’ 10 favourite restaurants. Have you been to any of them yet?Watch out for the PAID subscriber edition of le Bulletin this weekend: “15.16.a - Why 141 French Storytellers Reveal Their Ultimate Resilience Secret Now” - It’s not too late to subscribe←
→Are you ready to deepen your French knowledge and connection?
🔓 Here you can UNLOCK EXCLUSIVE FRENCH STORIES:
Become an annual subscriber and save! Enjoy exclusive, intimate glimpses into France and French lives delivered straight to your inbox or the App if you prefer..
À bientôt !
Warmly,
Judy - 19.4.2025
1. Let’s explore & read the new articles in My FrenchLife Magazine
Thank you to all the talented Contributors to MyFrenchLife magazine. I love that your articles take us from one end of France to another and constantly remind us of the rich culture of this wonderful and diverse country.
Merci.
Judy.
Introducing New MyFrenchLife Magazine Contributor Claude Kolm
I am pleased to introduce Claude Kolm as a new contributor to MyFrenchLife Magazine and look forward to hearing from him on a regular basis.
This is how Claude introduces himself:
I began writing The Fine Wine Review as a newsletter in 1986. It is now free on Substack. It primarily covers French, German, and some Italian wines based on producer visits and tastings from bottle. More recently I've begun reviews of Paris restaurants. You'll find me here.
Now, let’s enjoy the introductory article from Claude
a) →Restaurant Review: Le Comptoir et les Caves Legrand, 4 rue des Petits-Champs, Paris 2
by Claude Kolm ←
The épicerie Legrand Filles et Fils (not to be confused with Bon Marché’s La Grande Épicerie) opened in 1880 and has long been known as a source of fine food items and for its excellent and extensive selection of wines. The street entry to the establishment is on the rue de la Banque. Still, some years ago, a wine bar and restaurant opened in the back, bordering on and continuing into the historic and beautiful Galerie Vivienne.” writes Calude Kolm.
Read the entire article in MyFrenchLife Magazine←
b) →Recipe: Roast Chicken with Garlic Butter
by Ally Mitchell←
It all starts with a greasy massage in garlic butter. When I say “it”, I’m not referring to what I get up to on a Friday night, I mean a French roast chicken.”
French roast chicken is much the same as other countries’ claims on roast chicken, but for some reason, something is alluring about that particular descriptive word “French”. French perfume, French wine, French kisses – there’s something about it that makes me want to wiggle my eyebrows around like an unimaginative teenager and retreat to my Pinterest board to pin arty photos of French things.” writes Ally Mitchell
c) → Where to eat in Paris: Top 10 local favourites — high-end to good ‘go-to’ places — UPDATED April 2025
by Sarah Cockell←
How to choose a good restaurant in France
– Only take advice from LOCALS
– ALWAYS look for the Fait Maison LOGO
– NEVER eat where the menu is in several languages!
How do you know where to eat in Paris? Some people come to Paris with a fully planned itinerary, whilst others arrive with no plans other than immersion or just an outline of what they want to do and places they want to go.
But what happens when you find yourself somewhere in Paris without either a reservation or the name of a restaurant nearby and you’re hungry and/or want to take the weight off your feet and relax, or even you just want to further immerse yourself in Parisian culture, and sit beside locals, and eat great food.
Sad though it is, not every restaurant in Paris offers great food! Yes, sad but true! Many restaurants produce ‘industrial food‘, meaning that often, the restaurant only warms the food before serving it to you.
Wow! How, as a tourist or a traveller, do you ensure this doesn’t happen to you?
“Thank you for reading ‘le Bulletin’, the newsletter of MyFrenchLife Magazine.”
Judy MacMahon
Chers amis (dear friends)
Before we part ways for another week, I must share something with you—quelle joie (what joy) it brings me to introduce new voices like Claude to our MyFrenchLife family!
Each contributor adds another beautiful layer to our understanding of authentic French experiences beyond the cliché.
And of course, our existing contributors, such as Ally and Sarah, continue to bring such value!
Until our next adventure together.
Chaleureusement (Warmly),
Judy
judy@myfrenchlife.org
P.S. Don't forget that this weekend's PAID edition awaits with even more French discoveries—subscribe now if you haven't already!
Here’s how you can stay in touch & personalise your le Bulletin experience, and deepen your French connection.
🔓 Here you can UNLOCK EXCLUSIVE FRENCH STORIES:
Become an annual member and save! Enjoy exclusive, intimate glimpses into France and French lives delivered straight to your inbox.
⭐ How you can BECOME A CHERISHED MIGHTY SUPPORTER:
If you love le Bulletin, you can help us share more stories of remarkable French women and authentic French experiences. Plus, enjoy special perks!
🎁 Perhaps you’d like to SHARE THE INSPIRATION:
Gift le Bulletin to friends and family who admire the strength and spirit of French women. It's the perfect way to share your passion for France.
💡 And don’t forget… you can always EXPLORE THE ARCHIVES:
Discover even more inspiring stories in our complete newsletter archive. Perfect for satisfying your Francophile cravings at any time that suits you, wherever you live, and at any time.
Thank you for including me, Judy!
A big merci To Sarah Cockell. Her annual top ten favorite restaurants in Paris is as good as ever. Eat like a local when in Paris. Sarah’s list lets you know what to expect. No surprises. Fabulous.
Warm regards
Judy