Good morning from Beaune. Your Survival Guy is on the last leg of a three-week research trip through Paris/Beaune. The word on the ground is that France is back in business, but it’s been a long pull through Covid. Now everyone’s trying to make up for the lost time. The service industry is still struggling […]
Our Favorite Stand Alone Bistro in Beaune
Damien and Jeremy stand with my son-in-law E.J. and me at our long-running favorite stand alone bistro in Beaune, L’Expression. Absolutely terrific. We were there today. The Michelin Guide describes L’Expression as follows: This recent city-centre establishment sports a snazzy interior (open kitchen and glazed wine cellar). The menu highlights the best of seasonal produce […]
Greetings From Paris & Le Bristol Hotel
During our recent trip to Paris, we stayed once again at the marvelous le Bristol hotel on Rue de Fauburg Saint-Honoré. We have often “joked” about how much we missed breakfasting (pre Covid) at Café Antionette, just about our favorite Parisian activity. Although we did not visit all the Palace Hotels, we did stay at […]
My 10 Favorite Books about France, Plus a Bonus for You
A friend recently requested recommendations of books I’ve enjoyed reading about France. Here are a few, some with comments: The Journal of Helene Berr – the diary of a young Jewish Parisian during the Nazi occupation. Suite Francaise – heartbreaking, as is Irene Nemirosky’s own story. A Place of Greater Safety – Hillary Mantel’s historical […]
A Victory for the French Wine Industry?
Louis Thomas of The Drinks Business reports that an Emmanuel Macron victory is broadly good news for the French wine industry. He writes (abridged): Emmanuel Macron, the incumbent President of the French Republic who once famously said “a meal without wine is a bit sad”, secured over 58% of the vote in yesterday’s election to defeat […]
France’s Macron Drops the Hammer on Radical Islam
The Trump Administration can now use France as a model to deal with radical Islam in America. The Daily Mail’s Raven Saunt and Peter Allen explain French President Emmanuel Macron’s plan to strengthen secularism against what Macron referred to as Islamist separatism. They write (abridged): Emmanuel Macron has described Islam as ‘a religion that is in […]
French Travel Intel from Our France Planner Tara
A letter from Joelle Kolich of Bordeaux Excellence, sent to us by our France travel planner Tara: A question a lot of partners & clients are understandably asking is how are we sure your company is solid enough to ride out the Covid-19 storm! In France the government was extremely quick to acknowledge the importance […]
Amid the Coronavirus, a Hopeful Message from Beaune, France
Today, I received this hopeful message from my friend Johan, in Beaune, France. Like much of the world, Johan and the rest of Beaune’s population are currently in a coronavirus lockdown. Dear Richard, Thank you for reaching out, we are all ok, no cases in BEAUNE so far. The state and our banks has promised […]
Travel Like the French in France
It continues to astound me how many Americans (not Europeans) insist on traveling as if on safari. You know, luggage the size of steamer trunks too large to be muscled about by even NFL size nose tackles. These beasts get jammed in narrow aisles and are of course impossible to heft overhead, where there’s barely […]
Best bistros in France Au Clos Napoléon – Fixin, Burgundy
Outside Au Clos Napoléon, one of the best bistros in France (4 Rue de la Perrière, 21220 Fixin).