MA France

09/01/2026

Le magasin est ouvert, et nous avons toutes les gourmandises normales !!!

(The store is open, and we have all the usual goodies! Gourmandises = sweet treats, sinful foods.)

08/16/2026

MA France is closed for vacation.
We'll re-open Tuesday, September 1st.

08/14/2026

It's a perfect day to have a crêpe or galette outdoors at MA France!

08/13/2026

08/05/2026

Sage-scented antibacterial hand soap, and
Lavender-scented regular hand soap.

08/05/2026

SAVORY ITEMS, perfect for an elegant event!
- Duck foie gras torchon (shaped like a cylinder and poached), found in the fridge, near the sausages. Please keep refrigerated.
- Pistou toasts. Pistou is similar to pesto (basil, parmesan, etc) but usually doesn't have pine nuts and may have almonds or other ingredients.
- Fig-almond biscuits are great with cheese.

Bon appétit !

08/05/2026

SWEET STUFF IN STOCK!
NEW ITEM: Lemon madeleines from Naten. This flavor is GLUTEN-FREE!
We also have hazelnut madeleines dipped in milk chocolate and classic madeleines dipped in dark chocolate, from Maison Colibri (these are NOT gluten-free).
There are also soft, orange-filled CHAMONIX cakes in stock!

Bon goûter ! (Happy snacking!)

07/21/2026

Alexandre Dumas, père was born on July 24, 1802. He's most famous for The Three Musketeers, which is actually the first book of a trilogy. All three are good, in my opinion. The third story includes The Man in the Iron Mask. But my favorite book is The Count of Monte Cristo, about 1200 pages. Great summer reading! There are movies made of the stories. The longer ones are usually better.
- Its plot is intricately woven, and keeps you guessing what'll happen next, so you don't want to put it down.
- There are at least a couple dozen unique, fully-developed, interconnected characters.
- The characters' motivations make their actions understandable, even if you completely disagree.
- The themes of money, class, gender, power, love, family, creativity, respect, jealousy, responsibility, etc. make you think, and are still quite relevant today.
- Dumas is a fantastic author. The words are there because they have meaning.
Notes:
- Unless your French is at a very advanced level (near-native speaker with a knowledge of 19th century vocabulary), read it in English, but I recommend getting an unabridged edition, or you might miss some interesting subplots.
- There are character maps describing the connections between all the characters. They contain some spoilers.
- Though some of the book takes place on this island, most of the action is in the Marseille area and in Paris.
Bonne lecture ! (Happy reading!),
~Valérie

Photo of Dumas by Nadar (public domain)

Alexandre Dumas[a] (born Alexandre Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie;[b] 24 July 1802 – 5 December 1870),[1][2] also known as Alexandre Dumas père,[c] was a French novelist and playwright.

07/18/2026

In the summer, a salad is the perfect accompaniment to a slice of quiche, a sandwich, a delicious meal from our frozen foods section, or one of our homemade soups.

It's very easy to make your own VINAIGRETTE, so here's the recipe! Check out the savory goods section of our shelves for wonderful olive oils, mustards, vinegars, and sea salts.

Combine, with a whisk or fork:
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (moutarde : 1 cuillerée à café)
- 1-2 Tablespoons vinegar (vinaigre : 1-2 cuillerées à soupe); I prefer just 1
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil (huile d'olive : 3 cuillerées à soupe)
- salt & pepper (sel et poivre)

You can make this in a bowl, using a whisk, or make multiple recipes in a cruet, which I usually do, and keep it in the fridge; shake before using.
Vinaigrette also makes a fantastic marinade; I add some fresh herbs and lemon juice before grilling chicken--a light, summery dish!
Vinaigrette is pronounced [vin-ay-gret] in French, or [vin-uh-gret] in English; the last syllable rhymes with "get." (There is no "ar" in the middle of this word.) Vin = wine and aigre = sour.

Bon appétit !
˜Valérie

07/09/2026

NEW PRODUCTS!
Lemon sorbet, and gelato in Belgian Chocolate or Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla!
In the frozen foods section, perfect for a hot day!