Mirabelle Season in France
The history of a beautiful and delicious little plum!
Today's post takes us to the Lorraine Région where one famous fruit, La Mirabelle, announces the transition of seasons from summer to fall. Walking through most markets, French people cannot escape the wonderful "étales" of this yellow, orange, and red plum. Join us through this post which shares the history of the Mirabelle and a few recipes for how to prepare it. Enjoy!
La Mirabelle is a yellow looking plum, quite similar to a cherry in shape but completely different in taste. It was first introduced in France five centuries ago by the Duc D'Anjou & De Lorraine in the XV Century. Mirabelle plums were apparently imported from China and then cultivated in the Lorraine Region, more specifically in the area of Metz. Indeed, the soil and the climate was so good for the development of the Mirabelle trees that the Académie Française officially recognized the fruit as La Mirabelle de Lorraine in 1762 (our French students know that when things are allowed by the Académie Française, it is serious!) Today, Lorraine accounts for 70% of the total worldwide production.
Its nickname is La Petite Reine de Lorraine or "The Small Queen of Lorraine" which is interesting because the word "mirabelle" comes from the Latin word mirabilis which means "beautiful to look at."
Shaped and colored like the sun, the yellow, orange, and red colors of the mirabelle might remind you of warm summer days spent with friends and family.
Tarte Lorraine aux Mirabelles
If you want to try one of the most traditional Lorraine deserts for August, try to make your own tarte following the recipe below (from Meilleur du Chef). It is absolutely delicious and we cannot wait for you to try it!
Image Credit: Chef Philippe of www.meilleurduchef.com
Ingredients:
250g sweet shortcrust pastry ('pâte sucrée')
500g fresh Mirabelle plums (or tinned in syrup)
25g flour
50g crème fraîche
50g sugar
1 egg
Vanilla extract
Steps:
1. Before starting this Mirabelle Plum Tart recipe, make sure you have organized all the necessary ingredients.
2. Make the sweet shortcrust pastry. Refrigerate for a few hours before use.
3. In a flat-bottomed pastry bowl, crack the whole eggs and pour the castor sugar in a thin stream.
To continue reading the step by step process with images click here.
Liqueur de Mirabelles
For all you bartenders out there, let's learn how to make your own Liqueur. This exciting recipe can be used in Kirs or when you have a digestive issue (according to French folklore, L'eau de Vie de Mirabelles can clear your digestive system). This drink is great to use when mixed with a white wine to make a Kir Lorrain. Start brewing yours following the recipe we found from Super Toinette and it is amazing!
Image Credit: www.enpassantparlalorraine.fr
Ingredients:
1 kg of mirabelles
250 Caster sugar
1 L of 45° alcohol for fruits
Steps:
1. Wash, drain , cut in half, leaving the core. Pour into a preserving pan
2. Take the caster sugar and alcohol ...Pour sugar and alcohol on plums and mix well.
Let soak in the tub for 4 days. Cover with a clean tea towel.
3. After four days ...the sugar has melted, stir. Transfer to jars, cap and leave to infuse for at least month.
4. After a month ...Filter with a strainer or a large colander. You can also filter through a clean cloth over a large bowl. Pour into bottles, seal well and store in a cool place. Wait two months before consuming.
We hope you enjoyed this delicious array of recipes in Mirabelle Season in France! We hope you have a wonderful (French-inspired) summer with your guests. If you are looking to learn more French language and culture, don't forget to check out our French Private Lessons, French Group Classes, and our cultural events at JP Linguistics. Bonne Journée!
8 French Phrases That Do Not Translate in English
These French words and phrases might not work well with flashcards, but learning them is so worth it.
Learning French is always filled with surprises, especially when some words and phrases do not exist in English. For us, this is one of the most exciting things about learning a foreign language - discovering completely new things we never knew existed. On that note, we wanted to provide a few French phrases and words you may have never heard before but might find inspiring. As you read, imagine incorporating one of these in your next conversations en français. Also, if you know a few that aren't listed, feel free to add it to the comment's section below. Bonne lecture!
"La douleur exquise"
Oh, the romance of the French language! This phrase is both eloquent and rather depressing as it roughly translates to "the exquisite pain." For French people this phrase would be used in reference to the longing for a love that cannot be achieved. Very similar to a Romeo and Juliet scenario. Next time you find your heart aching for something it cannot have, remember this phrase to sum up your expression.
Téléspectateur
It's almost shocking that a word like this does not exist in English as Americans are one of the largest consumers of media on the planet. However, the French came up with a term which describes viewers who are either audience members of a live TV broadcast or are simply watching/listening to TV from their home as a téléspectateur.
"Flâner"
If you've ever been to Europe, you know that long leisurely strolls through city plazas is a common activity for the locals. In French, you may think to describe this with the term 'une promenade' (which means a stroll in English). However, in the 19th century, a new word was created which defined a stroll, more specifically a stroll through Paris, without any particular destination or goal in mind as Flâner. Thus, aimless Parisian pedestrians strolling the city only to enjoy the view became known as Flâneurs.
"Bricolage"
If you are a crafty person, then this French word is for you. It translates to something very similar to do-it-yourself or DIY. Additionally, a bricoleur describes someone like a handyman.
"Ras-le-bol"
This one is perhaps the oddest French phrases of them all which describes an extreme sense of dissatisfaction and frustration. It would be something similar to the English "I've had enough," "I'm through," or "I've had it up to here with..." This is typically the last thing you might hear out of someone's mouth before storming out of a room after a heated discussion.
"Bouffer"
This term is a way to describe how animals eat. It can also be used to impolitely refer to humans, kind of like the saying that someone 'eats like a pig.'
"Retrouvailles"
This rather charming French word describes the ultimate sense of joy experienced when meeting someone you may not have seen for a very long time. If you could see it, it would look like someone jumping up and down and screaming with happiness.
"LoufoQuerie"
In short, this term means craziness. The word and how it came to be is crazy within itself. It's root, louchébem, is a slang term invented by French butchers in the 19th Century who made a sort-of-game out of the French language. For each word, they would move the first consonant to the end, add a standard suffix, then place the letter 'L' at the very beginning. This is something like 'pig latin' or 'gibberish.' To this day, this slang language is still used in France by butchers across the country. The root of this term is indeed just as crazy as its meaning.
Learning French is always surprising and these 8 French Phrases That Do Not Translate in English are just a few of the hidden secrets to becoming more fluent in French. Have other words or phrases you'd like added to this list? Don't forget to post them in the comment's section below & pass this forward to your francophone friends online using #jplingo @jplinguistics. Merci et à bientôt!
Learn French at the Gym
The best French verbs to keep you motivated while working out.
While being physically active, try infusing these French verbs into your repetitive movements. It is the perfect time to infuse language learning as your brain is more expansive and cohesive during physical activity. In fact, there are a number of studies that prove the benefits of infused learning & physical active being combined together. So next time you grab your bright blue yoga mat, keep the following in mind and repeat, repeat, repeat. Namaste.
STEP 1: Getting To The Gym
We all know that one of the hardest parts of going to the gym is actually getting outside of our daily routines and repeatedly going. What you may not have thought of is that French could be the motivator to get you there! By infusing French into your gym workout, you can 'kill two birds with one stone' and learn a new language while being active. Try looking at the thoughts below and practice the French verbs every morning before your next session:
Thought #1 "I'm too tired to go to the gym"
While this may be true if you are like most New Yorkers who work 14-hours a day, any French person knows that being 'too tired' is not an excuse for avoiding staying slim and healthy. Thus, let's turn this frown-up-side-down with the verb 'must.' For example, I must go to the gym. Period. No excuses, just straight forward French thinking. The verb 'Must' in French is 'Droit.' Below is the conjugation of this verb along simple sentences to practice using it. Try saying the verb out loud, along with the audio recording below:
Je dois aller au sport. (I must go to the gym.)
Tu dois aller au sport. (You must go to the gym.)
Il/elle doit aller au sport. (He/She must go to the gym.)
Nous devons aller au sport / on doit aller au sport. (We must go to the gym.)
Vous devez aller au sport. (You (plural) must go to the gym.)
Ils /elles doivent aller au sport. (They must go to the gym.)
Let's continue to use this verb in a new way of thinking. For example 'I must get stronger,' 'I must lose weight,' 'I must stay active & healthy.' Take a look at these sentences below using the same conjunctions from above and practice them utilizing the audio recordings as a guide.
Thought #2: "I must get stronger"
Je dois devenir plus fort. (I must get stronger.)
Tu dois devenir plus fort. (You mush get stronger.)
Il/elle doit devenir plus fort(e). (He/She must get stronger.)
Nous devons devenir plus fort/On doit devenir plus fort. (We must get stronger.)
Vous devez devenir plus fort(e)s. (You (plural) must get stronger.)
Ils/elles doivent devenir plus fort(e)s. (They must get stronger.)
Thought #3: "I must lose weight"
Je dois perdre du poids. (I must lose weight.)
Tu dois perdre du poids. (You must lose weight.)
Il/elle doit perdre du poids. (He/She must lose weight.)
Nous devons perdre du poids. (We must lose weight.)
Vous devez perdre du poids. (You (plural) must lose weight.)
Ils/elles doivent perdre du poids. (They must lose weight.)
Thought #4: "I must stay active & healthy"
Je dois rester actif/active et en bonne santé. (I must stay active & healthy.)
Tu dois rester actif/active et en bonne santé. (You must stay active & healthy.)
Il/elle doit rester actif/active et en bonne santé. (He/She must stay active & healthy.)
Nous devons rester actifs/actives et en bonne santé / On doit rester actifs/actives et en bonne santé. (We must stay active & healthy.)
Vous devez rester actif/active et en bonne santé. (You (plural) must stay active & healthy.)
Ils/Elles doivent rester actifs/actives et en bonne santé. (They must stay active & healthy.)
STEP 2: YOU made it to THE GYM
Amazing! Now that you have forced yourself to go to the gym with the verb 'Droit,' let's kick it into high gear with some physical motions you might actually use while there like 'To Run,' 'To Lift' (weights), 'To Sweat,' and 'To Stretch.' To keep things simple, we will speak in the present tense and will use the same sentence for each verb for practice. Try memorizing the conjugations for each verb by saying them out loud using the sentences below. When you are at the gym in real life, say these sentences to yourself as practice. Ready, Set, GO!
Je cours. (I am running.)
Tu cours. (You are running.)
Il/Elle court. (He/She is running.)
Nous courons / On court. (We are running.)
Vous courez. (You (plural) are running.)
Ils /elles courent. (They are running.)
Je pousse des poids. (I am lifting weights.)
Tu pousses des poids. (You are lifting weights.)
Il /Elle pousse des poids. (He/She is lifting weights.)
Nous poussons des poids / On pousse des poids. (We are lifting weights.)
Vous poussez des poids. (You (plural) are lifting weights.)
Ils / Elles poussent des poids. (They are lifting weights.)
Je transpire. (I am sweating.)
Tu transpires. (You are sweating.)
Il/Elle transpire. (He/She is sweating.)
Nous transpirons / On transpire. (We are sweating.)
Vous transpirez. (You (plural) are sweating.)
Ils /Elles transpirent. (They are sweating.)
Je m'étire. (I am stretching.)
Tu t'étires. (You are stretching)
Il /Elle S'étire. (He/She is stretching.)
Nous nous étirons / On s'étire. (We are stretching.)
Vous vous étirez. (You (plural) are stretching.)
Ils/Elles s'étirent. (They are stretching.)
STEP 3: you had a great workout
Now that you made it through an amazing workout, you are feeling proud and happy for the healthy decisions you made. At this point you are ready for a quick shower and to head back home/apartment for a relaxing moment and possibly even a snack. Some congratulatory phrases you use to reward yourself are "I did it!" and "I am the best!" From these phrases come the verbs "To Do," and "To Be." Take a look at them below and use the audio to practice each sentence. Next time you complete a workout, make sure to say these positive phrases to yourself for all of your handwork. Heck, just for making it all the way through this article, you should say them all to yourself after practicing a few times through. Keep up the good work!
J'ai réussi! (I did it!)
Tu as réussi! (You did it!)
Il /Elle a réussi! (He/She did it!)
Nous avons réussi! / On a réussi! (We did it!)
Vous avez réussi! (You (plural) did it!)
Ils / Elles ont réussi! (They did it!)
Je suis le/la meilleur(e)! (I am the best!)
Tu es le/la meilleur(e)! (You are the best!)
Il /Elle est le/la meilleur(e)! (He/She is the best!)
Nous sommes les meilleur(e)s! / On est les meilleur(es)! (We are the best!)
Vous êtes les meilleur(e)s! (You (plural) are the best!)
Ils /Elles sont les meilleur(e)s! (They are the best!)
Congratulations on all of your handwork! You made it through the Learn French at the Gym. Just like physical activity, you need to continue to excise your brain. By incorporation these exercises into your workout routine, you'll be expanding your French knowledge in a great way. Do your best to memorize these verbs and say them over and over while doing different activities. You will thank yourself next time you travel to France! For more tips and useful French instruction or to register for Private Lessons or Group Classes, visit the JP Linguistics website HERE!
French Art En Plein Air
An investigation of the famous French art form.
As the colors of summer start drifting into the warm breeze of fall, we wanted to take a moment to appreciate some French Art En Plein Air. For all you art buffs out there, you will enjoy this journey through the impactful things that French artists did to change the course of art history forever. I hope this inspires you and, who knows, maybe we'll catch you in Central Park with your French Box Easel this fall?
En Plein Air is a French expression and term used in Art meaning 'in the open air.' This phrase became popular in the mid-19th century when art schools, such as the Barbizon School, stressed the importance of their oil painters to head outdoors (in natural light) to recreate the nature around them in their paintings. This also became a popular method of painting with the introduction of paint tubes in the 1840's. In that time, artists were required to hand make their oil paints by mixing dry pigments with linseed oil. All of that changed when paint tubes were invented (which is how we buy oil paints in art stores today). These tubes made life easier for artists to travel with their art supplies during en plein air projects and sparked another invention known as the French Box Easel. These boxes could be considered the 'briefcase' for most artists and contained a simple pair of wooden legs and an easel to prop up a canvas to paint on. To this day, a visit to France will likely consist of a gorgeous view and a few artists on the side streets with their wooden box easels painting away.
Try practicing your French vocabulary by listening to the words below and saying them out loud:
En Plein Air - In the open air
Une Toile - Canvas
Peinture à l'huile - Oil Paint
Un Chevalet - Easel
Peindre - To paint
Let's continue to dive deeper and paint a picture of the artists that made French En Plein Air what we know it to be today. Highly celebrated painters such as Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, & Pierre-Auguste Renoir were among the leaders who fashioned en plain air, making it famous through their independent exhibitions of 'Impressionist' work. Together they created the art movement Impressionism & caused quite a stir in the art community of the time. Working en plein air was outlandish due to the fact that landscapes & portraits were usually painted in a studio. However, they took art further by portraying the transient sunlight depicted through short, visible brush strokes - evoking the feeling of a passing of time. To give you a better idea, take a peak at some of their work below:
Arm of the Seine near Vetheuil - Claude Monet (Image: www.wikiart.org)
Impression Sunrise - Claude Monet (Image: www.wikiart.org)
Road at Eragny, Winter - Camille Pissarro (Image: www.wikiart.org)
Windmill at Knokke, Belgium - Camille Pissarr0 (Image:www.wikiart.org)
Alphonsine Fournasie on the Isle of Chatou - Pierre-Auguste Renoir (Image: www.wikiart.org)
Beaulieu - Pierre-Auguste Renoir (Image: www.wikiart.org)
Today, we celebrate the work of these great artists in numerous art museums around the world. French Art Plein Air & Impressionism are of the most prolific moments in art history and from it, came great masterpieces, oil paint tubes, and French Box Easels. Can you remember the last time you saw some great Impressionist work? Don't forget to tell us all about it the comments section below (all comments en Français get bonus points)!
Looking to learn more French language and culture? Visit our website for our latest Group Class schedule, Private Lessons, and other services - www.jplinguistics.com.
French Tips to Survive the Moulin Rouge
Just because Parisians avoid it doesn’t mean it’s not worth the visit.
While most Parisian natives stay far away from the Moulin Rouge (mostly because it's located in the 'Boulevarde de Clichy' (a commonplace for the sex trade)), it is a very sought after spot by tourists. To shed some light on the topic, we wanted to take a trip on the wild side & send you a few tips to survive the Moulin Rouge from a native French perspective. We hope you enjoy!
Approaching 'Le Moulin'
You will definitely want to watch your belongings while strolling through the Boulevarde de Clichy. Used heroin needles, sloppy newspapers, and prostitutes roam these streets, but look up towards the sky and all of that seems to disappear as you see the bright red lights and spinning windmill of the Moulin Rouge. The staff at this spectacle tend to wear a chip on their shoulder, so it is best to buy tickets ahead of time. If you happen to arrive without a ticket, you should know that performances are usually held at 7PM, 9PM, and 11PM and it's best to arrive 30minutes prior. Also take note that the tickets are around 115€ for regular seats and about 200€ for VIP seats (which include champagne, macarons & more). When you arrive, try ordering your ticket en Français with 'Une entrée pour le spectacle de ce soir, s'il vous plaît' ('1 ticket for tonight's show please'). You can follow up with 'Le Spectacle dure combien de temps?' ('How long is the performance'). We would recommend paying a few extra euros and grabbing the seats with the champagne.
Getting In
Once you are ready to usher through the crowds and into Toulouse Lautrec's favorite playground, you will be taken to your seats. At this point, most people grab their iphones and try snapping a quick photo of the venue. However, the ushers are on high alert for this as photos & video are strictly prohibited. You will hear this phrase constantly 'Les photos ne sont pas autorisées' ('No photos allowed'), at which you can kindly respond 'Désolé! Je ne savais pas" (Sorry, I didn't know).
The Show
If you are the type of person who enjoys contemporary, avant-garde performances then this might not be the show for you. During its heyday, the show was an arousing display of topless women and dazzling costumes that were innovative. For today's standard, this show is more of a mediocre Broadway, than a flashy modern dance. In any case, you will enjoy seeing what brought some of the most famous paintings in art history to life through the live performances that inspired Toulouse Lautrec. Just take note of the amount of 'foreigners' you see dancing on stage during the performance. If you are expecting a cabaret-style line up of Parisian talent, you might be slightly surprised by the majority of Eastern European performers.
After
As discussed, the area just outside the Moulin Rouge has some safety concerns. It's best to head directly to a cozy bar in Montmartre, such as the 'Chez Ammad' (formerly 'The Grand Hôtel de Clairmont'). At this point, you can grab a martini with a friend and engage in one of France's favorite activities, 'la critique.' Common phrases might include 'Qu'est-ce que tu as pensé des costumes ?' ('What did you think of the costumes?') 'Tu as aimé les chansons ?' ('Did you like the singing?') and "Tu as aimé ?' ('Did you enjoy it?'). In any case, you will have plenty of time to discuss as most bars stay open until 2AM or later if they have proper dispensation.
There is much to do and see around Paris and, for obvious reasons, the Moulin Rouge is one of the many landmarks to consider. Many tourists often wonder what actually goes on inside, so we hope this post offered some useful insight. Have you been to the Moulin Rouge or are considering going? Make sure to leave a comment below with your thoughts, questions or with any of your favorite tips!
Funny French Idioms
Impress native speakers with your knowledge of these fun French idiomatic phrases.
If you speak French (or are learning), you'll know that some expressions used in the language can be quite humorous when translated verbatim from French to English. That's why we wanted to brighten your day with Funny French Idioms, phrases the French use which can translate unexpectedly. Next time you find yourself in these real life scenarios, try using French idioms to stir the conversation!
1. It's not all about size... or is it? Perhaps you are a person who is shorter than most people your age, or maybe you know someone who is. Often, this height difference might stir a few jokes from a friend who might say to you 'Vous êtes haut comme trois pommes.' This statement is a clear indication that someone may be making fun of your size. In French, this phrase is a way of saying 'You are vertically challenged.' However, this isn't exactly the literally translation. The common phrase 'Être haut comme trois pommes' actually equates to 'To be tall like 3 apples' (which is pretty small). So, the next time you interact with a 'vertically challenged' person try incorporating this clever phrase! It's a head turner.
2. If you have a knack for recognizing natural French accents, this idiom is for you. There are instances where a non-native speaker will try to converse in French as naturally as possible, but feel shy and pause mid-sentence to say 'pardonnez mon accent, mais...' (excuse my accent, but...). If speaking to a French native, the listener might respond with a little sarcasm and say 'Non, non, vous parlez parfaitement le français. Est-ce que vous êtes français?” (No, no, you speak perfect French. Are you French?). A clever non-native speaker in this scenario might think to themselves 'he/she must be pulling my leg' in which the following phrase would be appropriate - 'Vous vous payez ma poire?' (the common French idiom meaning 'Are you pulling my leg?'). Technically though, this phrase translates to 'Are you buying yourself my pear?' which could be confusing to non-native speakers, yes, but to the French it makes perfect sense! In any case, next time someone is being sarcastic with you, try using this phrase to see if they are 'buying your pear!'
3. Keeping in theme with pears, there is another idiom the French love to use whenever someone is having a really good time. The phrase is 'se fendre la poire' and technically translates as 'to split the pear' but means 'to split one's sides' (or to laugh extremely hard or have a really good time). If you are out somewhere with hilarious French-speaking friends and are really enjoying yourself, slip in the phrase 'On se fend la poire là, non?' (We're having a ball, aren't we?).
These simple, funny French idioms are often used among friends and are a great way to practice your French. Do you know any French idioms? Make sure to post them in the comments section below and help continue the conversation. Also, you can post them on our Twitter using #jplingo @jplinguistics!