Bernadette Machard de Gramont

In the house where I grew up, we had two living rooms: a formal one that we weren’t allowed to sit in, and the other that housed the television and, often, our overflowing toys and books. When my French husband visited my family home for the first time, the dual living room situation confused him: The house isn’t particularly large, and my parents don’t regularly host guests, so the formal living room sat empty most of the time. After some convincing, my parents gave us free rein to rearrange...

I’d never been a sandwich girl—until my first visit to France. That was when I realized that there’s no other French “fast food” as simple and as widely adored as something delicious between two slices of bread. Good baguette, an assortment of charcuterie, strong mustard, and salted butter are all readily available and fairly inexpensive no matter where in the country you find yourself, meaning an excellent sandwich is never out of reach.
When we visited my in-laws, my belle-mère quickly thre...

Wall-to-wall carpeting was on my list of “features to desperately avoid” when scouting for my last apartment. I’d been living in a San Francisco studio where the landlord had installed such a carpet in approximately 1995. On several occasions, I borrowed a steam cleaner and meticulously scoured the fabric in the hopes of getting it as close as possible to its original off-white hue, but after years of being walked upon, my efforts proved futile. (And I won’t even get into how much dirt that s...

Even though I’ve been cooking my French husband’s favorite dishes for nearly a decade, I tend to follow recipes closely with very little room for improvisation.
But maybe it's time I reconsider: When I looked more deeply into France’s gastronomic history, I found that some of the most beloved recipes were born from mistakes. (Like, an errant addition of hot cream, or a chef caught off guard without the correct ingredients on hand.) After all, a little deviation never hurt anyone!
Here are fiv...

With all the gorgeous, plant-filled interior spaces I’ve seen lately, it seems like any room could benefit from a little greenery. Even science says so: NASA's famous Clean Air study shows that certain indoor plants can provide a natural way of removing toxins like formaldehyde and ammonia from the air. Other research shows that just having plants around improves focus, lowers anxiety, and increases productivity. Yet another study concluded that people experience an unconscious calming reacti...

You don’t have to fly to an exotic beach to get a taste of the tropics — some of the most delectable fruits from faraway places are increasingly available at your local grocery store or farmers market. While it’s always important to prioritize what’s in-season, you can occasionally splurge for more unusual fruits. After all, incorporating new options into your diet is a great way to enjoy a healthy snack or add more flavor to staples like oatmeal, smoothies or salads...

Shredded vegetable salads are a perfect go-to meal in warm weather since they’re fresh, light and bursting with nutrients and flavor thanks to a rainbow of colors. Even if you’re a novice in the kitchen, you’ll be able to create these vibrant dishes using a few staples and a good knife or food processor.
As a bonus, these simple recipes come together in just 10 minutes and can easily be customized with your favorite lean protein or different veggies.
Beloved in France, a carrot salad known as...

My first apartment in San Francisco was a well-lit 1920s studio on California Street that had a kitchen with capacity for roughly three-fourths of one person at a time. The storage space was virtually nonexistent: I had a single, tiny wall of cabinets abutting the stove (rendering one section of shelf inaccessible), and just one cabinet next to the kitchen sink.
But a decade later, comprising a stint at Williams-Sonoma HQ, a wedding, and two increasingly larger apartments, I’d officially amas...

10 reasons to visit the Dordogne

An interview with Dr. Mona Vand about how best to keep your skin healthy and hydrated all year long.

Current wedding food trends in 2018.

Interview with an Italian restaurateur on how a to host an Italian-style dinner at home.

An informative piece on the warming, cozy spices most commonly used during the fall and winter months.

Interview with chef and culinary creative Rosalyn Darling on how she cooks at home, and how she uses her Thermomix for innovation.

An interview with actor and producer Patricia Schneider, talking about how she incorporates the Thermomix into her daily cooking routines.