My French Country Home

MFCH is a luxurious bi-monthly publication which features the greatest elements of French life. Join us as we explore lush gardens, bustling brocantes, the elegance of baking from scratch, and living simply but well. Our pages will transport you not only to the glamour of Paris, but to the sweeping lavender fields of Provence and the rolling hills of Normandy.

Editor’s Letter

Contributors • We are delighted to have the following talented writers and photographers contribute to this issue.

Fitted for Kings • Perhaps one of the most underrated royal establishments in France, the Château de Fontainebleau, is one of the greatest examples of decadent design. This historic palace, located just an hour southeast of Paris, was home to French monarchs, nobles and dignitaries for more than 700 years. It is even said that Napoleon preferred it to all his other residences, giving it the epithet, “the true home of kings.”

Le Saint Nicolas • Saint Nicolas — the patron saint and protector of children — is synonymous with the Christmas holidays across much of northern and central Europe. Also known as Père Noël, his feast day on December 6th is particularly celebrated in the eastern French regions of Alsace and Lorraine, with jubilant parades, festivities and many time-honored traditions to usher in the season.

Mod Mountain Living • When Fanny and Fabrice Rossi and their two children fell in love with the village of Megève, at the foot of the ski slopes bordering Switzerland, it wasn’t long before this fondness led them to seek their own residence within its snow-laden streets. When she came across an apartment located in a listed building, with beautiful volumes and a magnificent mountain view, Fanny jumped at the opportunity to project her personality into the space.

Christmas Cooking with French Flair • This holiday season, Eve Cardi, one of our favorite food stylists, presents us with a gorgeous and festive table featuring creative spins on traditional French winter flavors. Earthy mushrooms in a soup with chestnuts recall a cozy and warm home-for-the-holidays sensation. The salmon pie with spinach and leeks is sure to tickle the taste buds of any guest looking to honor the French tradition of indulging in seafood in winter. And to finish, a selection of desserts that not only satisfies any end-of-meal cravings, but also serves as the icing on the cake (so to speak) of a fabulous Christmas tablescape.

Shaped to Mystical Perfection • Sometimes a garden is more than the trees, paths and shrubs that inhabit it. When Thierry Juge, a gardener and poet, decided to leave Paris 30 years ago, he set out to find a property where he could express his philosophy of life through his garden.

THE MFCH Holiday Gift Guide • Can’t make it to Paris this year for gift shopping? We’ve got you covered. Our annual gift guide includes a fabulous selection of gifts from our favorite French brands to shop online. Find something for her, for him and even for your furry friends!

The Crucible • The northern Vosges region, along France’s border with Germany, is home to an ancient glass making tradition. Set in a quiet valley surrounded by dense pine forests and babbling streams, the Cristallerie Saint-Louis is one of France’s oldest and most renowned makers of fine lead crystal and home to a revered clan of craftsmen whose breath and hands transform molten glass into glittering works of art.

QUOI DE neuf?* * What’s new? • What caught our eye this month

A Sweet Surprise Les Treize Desserts • Although France is not particularly renowned for grandiose displays of festive cheer, it would be amiss to think that the holidays are not a time of year purposefully planned around deep-held — and decadent — traditions. Instead of highly dressed trees or winter’s eve caroling, the heart of a...