Fabulously Delicious: The French Food Podcast

Life Is Better With Butter: The French Beurre Episode

Send a textLife Is Better With Butter: The French Beurre EpisodeLife Is Better With Butter: The French Beurre Episode explores the rich history, culture, and craft behind one of France’s most iconic ingredients. From ancient butter-making traditions to modern French dairy excellence, this episode traces how butter or beurre, became a defining pillar of French cuisine, baking, and everyday cooking.Dive into the regional and cultural story of French butter, including why beurre demi-sel (salted butter) holds a special place in Brittany and Normandy, and how terroir influences flavor, aroma, and texture. Learn what sets prestigious AOP butters like Isigny, Charentes-Poitou, and Bresse butter apart, and why seasonality, cow feed, and traditional churning methods still matter to chefs and artisans today.This episode also breaks down the science and craft of butter, from fermentation and cream maturation to industrial production and legal standards in France. You’ll discover the differences between salted and unsalted butter, raw vs pasteurized butter, cultured butter, clarified butter, compound butters, and why the French are among the world’s highest consumers of butter per capita.Finally, you’ll get practical tips for cooking, baking, tasting, and pairing butter like a French chef. Including when to use unsalted butter for pastries and sauces, how to finish dishes with butter for maximum flavor, and how this humble ingredient elevates everything from croissants to classic French sauces. Whether you love French food, baking, or culinary history, this episode proves one delicious truth: life really is better with butter.Support the showMy book Paris: A Fabulous Food Guide to the World’s Most Delicious City is your ultimate companion. You’ll find hand-picked recommendations for the best boulangeries, patisseries, wine bars, cafés, and restaurants that truly capture the flavor of Paris. You can order it online at andrewpriorfabulously.com For those who want to take things further, why not come cook with me here in Montmorillon, in the heart of France’s Vienne region? Combine hands-on French cooking classes with exploring charming markets, tasting regional specialties, and soaking up the slow, beautiful pace of French countryside life. Find all the details at andrewpriorfabulously.com You can help keep the show thriving by becoming a monthly supporter. Your support helps me create more episodes celebrating French food, history & culture. Here's the listener support link. Every contribution makes a huge difference. Merci beaucoup! Newsletter Youtube Instagram Facebook Website

The Cerise de Montmorency — A Very French Cherry

Send a textThe Cerise de Montmorency — A Very French CherryIn this episode of Fabulously Delicious, we’re diving into the story of one of France’s most iconic fruits: the Cerise de Montmorency, a bright, tangy sour cherry with centuries of history behind it. From its first written descriptions in the 17th century to its status as a prized delicacy for Parisian nobility, this small fruit has played a surprisingly big role in French food culture.We explore the cherry’s deep roots in the town of Montmorency, just north of Paris, where it became a local treasure and a seasonal obsession. You’ll hear how thousands of baskets of cherries once traveled daily from the Montmorency valley to Paris, why Parisians rented cherry trees by the hour in the 19th century, and how the famous “gaudrioles” became part of everyday life and leisure.The episode also follows the Montmorency cherry’s journey beyond France, tracing how it spread to North America and became the most widely grown sour cherry in the United States and Canada. We look at modern production, culinary uses, and how this tart cherry continues to thrive in pies, preserves, juices, kirsch, and both traditional and contemporary French cooking — even as cultivation in France has become more limited.Finally, we turn to the present and the future, including the 2023 publication of the cherry’s fully sequenced genome and what that means for growers, researchers, and flavor lovers alike. It’s a story of agriculture, gastronomy, and heritage — all wrapped up in one vividly red, unapologetically tart, and very French cherry.Support the showMy book Paris: A Fabulous Food Guide to the World’s Most Delicious City is your ultimate companion. You’ll find hand-picked recommendations for the best boulangeries, patisseries, wine bars, cafés, and restaurants that truly capture the flavor of Paris. You can order it online at andrewpriorfabulously.com For those who want to take things further, why not come cook with me here in Montmorillon, in the heart of France’s Vienne region? Combine hands-on French cooking classes with exploring charming markets, tasting regional specialties, and soaking up the slow, beautiful pace of French countryside life. Find all the details at andrewpriorfabulously.com You can help keep the show thriving by becoming a monthly supporter. Your support helps me create more episodes celebrating French food, history & culture. Here's the listener support link. Every contribution makes a huge difference. Merci beaucoup! Newsletter Youtube Instagram Facebook Website

Voices of the Market Les Cris de Paris

Send us a textVoices of the Market: Les Cris de ParisVoices of the Market: Les Cris de Paris takes listeners back to the bustling streets of medieval and Renaissance Paris, where markets weren’t just places to shop — they were stages filled with sound, rhythm, and theatrical flair. Long before advertising, signage, or social media, street vendors relied on their voices, crafting memorable cries to attract customers and sell everything from food to household goods.In this episode, we explore the origins of the Cris de Paris — the shouted calls of market sellers, travelling tradespeople, and street merchants — and how these cries evolved from simple sales pitches into a distinctive form of urban poetry and performance. You’ll discover how these chants shaped daily life, reflected what Parisians ate, and became part of the living soundtrack of the city.We’ll also uncover how the cries were preserved through history, from illustrated engravings and literature to music by composer Clément Janequin, whose famous Cris de Paris transformed street calls into choral art. Along the way, we visit historic Parisian landmarks like Les Halles — once known as the “belly of Paris” — to understand where these voices rang out loudest and why they eventually faded.Finally, we dive into some of the most fascinating food-related cries themselves — from coconut drinks and roasted chestnuts to oranges, oublies, tinware, and root vegetables — revealing how vendors turned everyday commerce into creativity, charm, and spectacle. Voices of the Market: Les Cris de Paris is a sensory journey into the sounds, flavors, and stories of a Paris that once sang through its streets.Support the showMy book Paris: A Fabulous Food Guide to the World’s Most Delicious City is your ultimate companion. You’ll find hand-picked recommendations for the best boulangeries, patisseries, wine bars, cafés, and restaurants that truly capture the flavor of Paris. You can order it online at andrewpriorfabulously.com For those who want to take things further, why not come cook with me here in Montmorillon, in the heart of France’s Vienne region? Combine hands-on French cooking classes with exploring charming markets, tasting regional specialties, and soaking up the slow, beautiful pace of French countryside life. Find all the details at andrewpriorfabulously.com You can help keep the show thriving by becoming a monthly supporter. Your support helps me create more episodes celebrating French food, history & culture. Here's the listener support link. Every contribution makes a huge difference. Merci beaucoup! Newsletter Youtube Instagram Facebook Website

Croissants: The Surprising History of France’s Most Iconic Pastry

Send us a textCroissants: The Surprising History of France’s Most Iconic PastryIn the first episode of Season Six of Fabulously Delicious: The French Food Podcast, we’re diving into the irresistible world of the croissant — one of the most iconic pastries in French cuisine and a beloved breakfast staple around the globe. With its golden crust, delicate flakes, and rich buttery layers, the croissant is instantly recognisable, but its story is far more complex than many people realise.This episode explores the croissant’s surprising origins, tracing its roots back to Central Europe and the Austrian kipferl, long before it became a symbol of France. We unpack the myths, legends, and historical milestones that shaped its evolution — from crescent-shaped pastries linked to Vienna’s past, to the cultural exchanges that helped bring the croissant into French baking tradition.You’ll also learn how French bakers transformed the croissant into the light, laminated masterpiece we know today, using refined techniques, leavened dough, and layers of butter to create its signature texture. We explore the rise of viennoiserie in France, the impact of influential figures like August Zang, and how baking innovations — including new ovens and methods — changed Parisian pastry forever.Finally, we look at how the croissant became a cornerstone of French daily life, inspiring regional variations, spin-off pastries like pain au chocolat, and ongoing debates about shape, ingredients, and authenticity. Whether you’re a passionate baker, a lover of French food, or simply someone who enjoys a perfect pastry with coffee, this episode reveals why the croissant remains one of the most delicious cultural icons in the world.Support the showMy book Paris: A Fabulous Food Guide to the World’s Most Delicious City is your ultimate companion. You’ll find hand-picked recommendations for the best boulangeries, patisseries, wine bars, cafés, and restaurants that truly capture the flavor of Paris. You can order it online at andrewpriorfabulously.com For those who want to take things further, why not come cook with me here in Montmorillon, in the heart of France’s Vienne region? Combine hands-on French cooking classes with exploring charming markets, tasting regional specialties, and soaking up the slow, beautiful pace of French countryside life. Find all the details at andrewpriorfabulously.com You can help keep the show thriving by becoming a monthly supporter. Your support helps me create more episodes celebrating French food, history & culture. Here's the listener support link. Every contribution makes a huge difference. Merci beaucoup! Newsletter Youtube Instagram Facebook Website

Revisit Pain D'Epice

Send us a textRevisit Pain D'EpiceAs the festive season arrives, Fabulously Delicious, The French Food Podcast revisits a much-loved solo episode celebrating pain d’épices, one of France’s most iconic winter and Christmas treats. Warmly spiced and deeply aromatic, this traditional loaf is closely associated with Christmas markets, festive tables, and the comforting flavours of the season.This episode is a replay of an earlier favourite, shared especially for listeners who may have missed it the first time around — or for those who enjoy rediscovering a familiar story during the holidays. With no new material added, it’s a chance to settle in and enjoy a timeless exploration of a dish that feels perfectly suited to Christmas.In this episode, host Andrew Prior delves into the origins of pain d’épices, its historical roots, and its place in French food culture today. From medieval spice routes to regional variations across France, the episode highlights how this humble spiced bread has endured for centuries.Whether you’re listening while baking, travelling, or simply soaking up the festive atmosphere, this Christmas revisit offers a moment to slow down, savour the season, and enjoy one of France’s most enduring and evocative festive flavours.Support the showMy book Paris: A Fabulous Food Guide to the World’s Most Delicious City is your ultimate companion. You’ll find hand-picked recommendations for the best boulangeries, patisseries, wine bars, cafés, and restaurants that truly capture the flavor of Paris. You can order it online at andrewpriorfabulously.com For those who want to take things further, why not come cook with me here in Montmorillon, in the heart of France’s Vienne region? Combine hands-on French cooking classes with exploring charming markets, tasting regional specialties, and soaking up the slow, beautiful pace of French countryside life. Find all the details at andrewpriorfabulously.com You can help keep the show thriving by becoming a monthly supporter. Your support helps me create more episodes celebrating French food, history & culture. Here's the listener support link. Every contribution makes a huge difference. Merci beaucoup! Newsletter Youtube Instagram Facebook Website