French Lifestyle | Bistro Chic

French Government Says “Qui Madame”

February 27, 2012 By jennifer Leave a Comment

The French government has taken a small, but very significant step, in recognizing women’s equality to men. A new decree bans the use of the term “mademoiselle” (similar to “Miss” in the US) from all official documents as a way to identify a woman’s title as well as marital status. With the new ruling, official documents will now only have the option of “Madame” for women (or at least this will start when their paper stock runs out!).

Why is this a major victory for French women? Traditionally, French women who are married are referred to as “Madame”, while unmarried women are called “Mademoiselle”. For years, women were given both options on official documents - there was no mysterious term like “Ms” that kept everyone guessing whether or not a woman was married. Instead, French women had to declare that they were either a. married, or b. single. On the contrary, men have been exempt from indicating their marital status, given only once choice for a title – Monsieur.

Although one might think it a compliment to call a young woman mademoiselle, many French women feel it is not flattering to announce to the world a la Bridesmaids that you are “eligible” for dating.

Which do you prefer in the US – Miss, Ms., or Mrs?

Ciao Madame!

A Bistro Chic Valentine’s Day

February 13, 2012 By jennifer Leave a Comment

(photo source)

Bonjour everyone! Just returned from sunny and not so warm Florida and am completely worn out. However, I am not too tired to offer some last minute Valentine’s Day tips for all of you Bistro Chic readers. If you’re looking to celebrate the day of love with a European flair, be sure to read…..

5 Ways to Say I Love You

9 Ways to Have an Incredibly French Valentine’s Day

A European Valentine’s Day

…. all Bistro Chic posts that focus on the most romantic day of the year!

Ciao and Happy Valentine’s Day!

Filed Under: Joie de Vivre Tagged With: European lifestyle, french lifestyle, French women, Holidays, leisure

French Mothers Are Different

January 19, 2012 By jennifer 2 Comments

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I’m sure most of you are familiar with the books French Women Don’t Get Fat and French Women Don’t Sleep Alone. If those two books (and the premises behind them) are not enough to make you envious of French women, maybe the next one will. In the new book, French Children Don’t Throw Food, author Pamela Druckerman highlights the differences between French and American mothers which go beyond throwing food….

5 Ways French Mothers Are Different Than American Mothers

French mothers don’t let children run their “parent” lives. In other words, just because they have children does not mean French mothers can’t have lives of their own.
French mothers pause before helping or soothing their young children, allowing their children to learn to soothe themselves on their own.
French mothers don’t distinguish between adult food and kid food – children eat what their parents eat – end of story.
French mothers don’t fill up their children with snacks all day long. Kids eat at meal times or may partake in le gouter on occasion.
French mothers treat their children as small adults. Although French mothers don’t see their children as equals, they do allow children more autonomy to learn about the world (including learning important lessons) as they keep a safe distance.

What else do you consider “French” in regard to parenting style?

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: french lifestyle, French women, Lifestyle

New Year’s With a French Twist

December 29, 2011 By jennifer 2 Comments

(photo source)

Bonjour everyone! The end of 2011 is just days away which means planning for New Year’s celebrations is in full swing. If you’re hosting a New Year’s Eve Party or a New Year’s Day brunch, why not give your soirée a French twist? And before you roll your eyes at this Francophile post, I am not suggesting you rush out to buy Eiffel Tower cocktail napkins or a velvet beret. Rather, I’m suggesting you incorporate the simple elegance of French entertaining through these easy strategies…..

Less is More – Although Christmas decorations can help prolong the festive feel of the season, do as the French do and showcase your “best” holiday pieces for all to enjoy, including a beautifully decorated tree, mirrors topped with hollyberry wrapped candles, and nearly anything that shines or sparkles. Store everything else – including the singing snowman and laughing reindeer – until next Christmas.

Silver and Gold – New Year’s is such a magical time – and silver and gold accents seem to emulate this magic. Now is the time to serve your tapas on your great grandmother’s silver tray and get those gold-trimmed crystal wine glasses out of storage.

Le Food - You don’t need to spend hours in the kitchen sweating over a fancy French meal to serve your New Year’s guests. Simple French standards will set the tone and keep guests from overindulging (like many have done leading up to this point). Lighter options include bite-size quiche, cheeses paired with nuts, fruit, and baguettes, while a carved meat or petit croque monsieur (1-2 bite ham and cheese sandwiches) paired with grainy French mustard provides a little more substance. If your budget and number of guests permit, avoid serving your food buffet-style – it is very American, less personalized, and definitely low on the “elegance” list. Instead, serve or pass small trays of hors d’oeuvres or strategically set the trays around the room - which also encourages movement and mingling.

A Bit of the Bubbly - What would New Year’s be without Champagne? How convenient that Champagne (or anything sparkling) is très French as well. Keep glasses of Champagne chilled in the fridge or a large silver ice bucket. For a true NYE event, serve the bubbly straight up in your best stemware (no plastic or paper please!). For a daytime event, pour in a splash of orange, cranberry, or other juice for a sweeter cocktail. To add a bit of panache, drop a strawberry, raspberry, or blackberry in the glass just before serving.

Sweet Sounds - Having the right music playing as guests arrive really sets the tone for the whole event. Although classical and jazz are great options for a daytime event, an evening event may call for something a little more funky. And, to keep with your chic French theme, you really can’t go wrong with Pink Martini, Gipsy Kings, or Paris Combo.

Bonne Année!