There’s nothing like a classic French recipe- except maybe a classic French song to go along with it! Normally we think of pairing food with wine but in today’s blog post, we’re pairing some French dishes with French music.

Bœuf bourguignon


avec....Emmenez-Moi by Charles Aznavour


Boeuf bourguignon and Monsieur Aznavour- two definitive French staples. Hearing the lyrics, “Emmenez-moi au bout de la terre/Emmenez-moi au pays des merveilles” while biting into a delicious morsel of stew and wine, will transport you back to your favorite Parisian bistro en un instant!



Charlotte à la framboise


avec....Ça ira by Joyce Jonathan


Light, sweet, and fun….you can’t help dance around your bedroom….or living room….or kitchen while listening to this tune by Jonathan. The raspberry Charlotte is the perfect match for this song with its berry flavor and light-as-air spongey ladyfingers.



 

Steak Frites


avec....La valse à mille temps by Jacques Brel


The national dish of Belgium pairs nicely with Belgian artist Jacques Brel. You might feel the need for a quick waltz like this after eating a particularly delicious steak frites!

For a modern spin, head to the next pairing!



Appetizer Steak Frites


avec....Alors on danse by Stromae


How adorable are these steak frites appetizers?! For your next post-pandemic soirée, these would make a wonderful passed treat for your guests. Don’t forget to have Belgian star Stromae as part of your party’s playlist! Perhaps his most famous song, Alors on danse, goes great with this spin on the steak frites…..and will also get you moving!




Ratatouille


avec....La Madrague by Brigitte Bardot


Made famous by the animated film of the same title, ratatouille is a vegetable-based dish originating in Nice. It is made with end-of-the summer veggies, including tomatoes (les tomates), zucchini (la courgette), eggplant (l’aubergine), onion (l'oignon), and herbes de Provence. This sun-soaked Provence stew works well with Bardot’s gentle voice as she sings of “la plage ensoleillée” and summer turning into fall.



Croissants


avec...Dommage by Bigflo et Oli


Sure, you can buy a delicious, buttery croissant at a number boulangeries around Boston. But wouldn’t it be dommage if you never made your own? Croissants can be incredibly time-consuming when making them in your own kitchen….but aren’t we all looking for new ways to spend our time at home these days? Dommage by Bigflo et Oli presents a number of situations where people don’t take the chances presented to them in life. Making your own buttery, flakey pastries may not be a life-changing decision mais il “Vaut mieux vivre avec des remords qu'avec des regrets” (it’s better to live with remorse than regrets). Your tastebuds will thank you!





Natalie Collet

Former Membership Manager

From the Midwest, Natalie is a Francophile at heart. Her interest in French started when studying ballet and​ the language and culture entranced her through her student years.​ She became involved with the - Alliance - in the suburbs of Chicago after she spent an unforgettable year teaching English in a French high school near Bordeaux. She is happy to join the team in Boston and work with the members to provide them with unique opportunities​, ​quality programming​, and a community through French!

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