All of the Barefoot Contessa's cookbooks are wonderful and her Barefoot in Paris is one of those cookbooks that's as fun to look at as it is to read. It's just a beautiful book and the recipe for pear clafoutie is to die for. Available for under $20 in both print and ebook.
If you're frustrated that you can't order anything from Amazon France unless you're actually in France, check out French Books Online, a source for French language books in many genres as well as audiobooks, some of them bilingual. Authors in their policiers (crime thriller) section include Pierre Simenon (fils de Georges), Jean Amilia, Brigitte Auber, and Tonino Benacquista.
Chocolat is everybody's favorite French movie starring Johnny Depp. Buy the novel by Joanne Harris it's based on.
Movies: The French invented the term "film noir" so as you might expect, they also perfected the art. The 1943 film Le Corbeau (the Raven) is arguably the best example of the genre. There's a fabulous Criterion Collection edition available, but it's pricey ($70) and according to Amazon, they only have four left in stock. Paris Je T'Aime is a cinematic love letter to the city, and stocking stuffer priced at under $8.
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Paris as Seen by Painters playing cards double as educational tools. Each of the cards in the deck features a different painting, including the name of its painter, the location in Paris featured, and the name of the museum where it can be seen. Available for $14 from Souvenirs of Paris.
Food: One of my favorite perfumes is Hermes' Green Oranges (Eau d’orange verte), and I was delighted to find that there's an Hermes Oranges Green Tea available from Culinary Teas.
Bonne Maman brand jams are pretty widely available in upscale supermarkets, but it's a lot harder to find the brand's chestnut spread. The Frenchy Bee has it for $6.50 per 13-oz jar. Other delicacies available include a trio of artisanal seasoned salts--truffle, saffron, and porcini ($74.99), Pommery Gingerbread French Mustard ($16.50), and assorted French sweets.
Another source of authentic French grocery items is Saveur du Jour. You can buy Rosemary honey by the jar ($13.90) or the case ($119); pork rillettes (3 packages for $38.90), and duck leg confit for $55.90.
Scent: According to the Perfume Shrine site, the best-selling perfume among French women last year was Dior's J'adore, followed by Dior's Miss Dior Cherie. If your knowledge of French perfume begins and ends with Chanel No. 5 (and really, what other perfume do you need?), check out their list. And if you want to smell like a Parisienne, you can buy Dior J'Adore at Sephora, where it is $82 for a 1.7 oz. spray.
The lavender fields in Provence are internationally famous, and there's something about the scent that just says "France." Lavender Fanatic is a family-owned operation in California that creates lovely products from lavender sourced in both France and California. Among their best sellers are lavender-scented candles ($7.50-$12.50), a bath salts box for $16 and a lavender buckwheat pillow for $45.
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| Cire Trudon "Moroccan Mint Tea" |
Lessons: Sur le Table offers courses in French cooking year round, and they do have gift certificates. Rosetta Stone is currently running a sale on their fantastic Learn French with Rosetta Stone. Normally it's $750; right now it's $399, plus free U.S. shipping. DVDs of the formidable Ms. Child in The French Chef start at just under $22.
Cinema for French Conversation is a book that uses French film to teach conversational French, which is a great idea. It's $31.50 new, $18 used.
Anyone who has ever misused the French phrase for "to kiss" (in some contexts it means something a LOT more intimate) will appreciate the gift of Dirty French, a compendium of everyday slang from "What's Up?" to coarser phrases. Priced for giving at $8.
Coming soon: Part two: The gift guide for feminists
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