2020: the year of panic buying, purging, donating, and realizing more than ever the importance of supporting independent creators, artisans, authors, and sustainably-minded entrepreneurs. It is in that spirit that I selected the items in this (mostly) French-inspired guide. Enjoy!
BOOKS
Beyond the list below, you’ll find a slew of favorite reads, old and new, on my Bookshop.org page!
For the Paris devotees:
The New Paris and The New Parisienne
Makers Paris
For the plant lovers: Plant Tribe
For the fiction fans: The Margot Affair
For the inveterate hosts: Miss Maggie’s Kitchen: Relaxed French Entertaining
For the home chefs & bakers:
Poilâne (in English and now French!)
Ibrik: Ma Cuisine des Balkans
Babkas et autres Délicieuses Brioches
Le Paris des Pâtisseries
A La Maison: 60 recettes de chefs au foyer
For the apéro-obsessed:
Drinking French
Apéritif
The New Wine Rules
La Bible des Alcools
For the outdoorsy: CAMP (also in French!)
For the culture and history nerds:
Au Revoir Tristesse
City of Immortals: Père Lachaise Cemetery, Paris (plus this excellent GPS tour app!)
The Seine: The River that Made Paris
For those interested in women’s issues (that should be everyone!):
Présentes
Women on Food
Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men
EDIBLES (not those kinds)
La Maison du Chocolat holiday collection
Kalios olive oil (especially the collaboration with artist Agathe Sorlet!)
Izzy’s Paris cocktail subscription box
Two World’s Whiskey: a French-American bourbon
Coffee from Loustic, Belleville, Back in Black (KB) or Coutume
Confiture Parisienne jams (also available at Galeries Lafayette Gourmet and La Grande Epicerie)
Some women-produced wines from iDeal Wine
Levantine treats from Maison Aleph
Ceramic and mixed chocolate set from Maison Dix-Sept C
HOME & PAPER GOODS
Antiques homewares and linens from Madame de la Maison
Holiday cards (Colmar, France) from Paper & Cities
Notebooks and fun writing accessories from Papier Tigre
Paris prints and cards from Rebecca Plotnick (Everyday Parisian)
Decorative pieces, throws, and candles from artist Marin Montagut
Candles and scented matches from L’Officine Universelle Buly
Cushions, bathrobes, linens and more from Jamini
Fragrances for men & women by Ormaie
Prints and other accessories from fine arts photographer Jamie Beck
Shakespeare & Co bookshop membership for 2021
Subscription to France-Amérique magazine (bilingual!)
Art prints from Slow Galerie
BAR & RESTAURANT MERCH
Holybelly
Ten Belles (in-store only)
Candelaria
Le Mary Celeste
Combat Belleville (see Instagram highlight)
EXPERIENCES
Online cooking classes with La Cuisine Paris
Champagne tastings and masterclasses with Delectabulles
Virtual courses and seminars from around the world
A course with me on demystifying the Parisienne with Context (Dec 19!)
ORGANIZATIONS
La Maison des Femmes
Nous Toutes
Utopia 56 Paris
Fondation du Patrimoine
Fondation des Femmes
Refettorio Paris
PODCAST SUPPORT
It’s been a tough year! Due to the pandemic, I’ve moved my podcast recording operation out of a studio and into my home which required new equipment and editing assistance that was previously free of charge. If you enjoy my show, The New Paris podcast, and would like to support to help me cover costs during this time, I’d be forever grateful! I’m also happy to call all of you out on the air 🙂 Just click that button (or HERE!) above and click the support button on my Ko-fi page.
JOYEUSES FÊTES!
