french food

Claudine Hemingway is an American living in France. She has an amazing family history in Paris, with her grandparents and of course Ernest Hemingway having a significant impact on her perspective of the French capital. I have spoken with her a number of times on the podcast before and met in Paris, most recently going to one of her faves L’Avant Comptoir in Saint Germain in the Paris summer of 2023.

Claudine is an amazing story teller and historian. She has an incredible knowledge of the Louvre, taking tours there often, as well as many other places in Paris. Her depth of understanding about the history of Paris provides her tour clients with an authentic experience tailored to their needs.

I loved chatting with Claudine about her life in Paris, the upcoming Olympics, the re-opening of the Louvre planned for this December, plus her faves to visit in Paris including the incredible place she and I caught up at in the Latin Quarter last year.

If you ‘re planning on heading to Paris, tune into this chat for loads of tips, but even if Paris is a distant thought for you, I found my chat with Claudine was a wonderful petit virtual escape to Paris!



For details of the upcoming 2024 Normandy Retreat mentioned in this episode, email janehiscock@chateaudujonquay.com

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Louise Prichard is the host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.
**
Other Loulabelle's links:
FrancoFile Fix on YouTube
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Instagram
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles website

Mandy Murphy and Willo Renehan made a decision after Brexit to buy property in France. What eventuated though, was more than they imagined! After many years of renos, inspired by Dick & Angel on Escape to the Château, they now have a wonderful maison in the middle of the town of Saumur in the Loire Valley. 

La Maison Trumeau is an 1850s French period home, walking distance to restaurants and shops and not far from chateaux and wineries in the Loire region. When Mandy and Willo were searching for such a find, they specifically wanted a wine region in France (driving distance from the UK). This is not just about the wine however. I hadn't considered a perspective that Willo made clear: if buying in a wine region, there will be a number of boxes ticked or checked just because these things go hand in hand with a wine making region. Good weather is needed for the grapes to grow = check! A wine region encourages a fabulous food and restaurant scene = check! The rolling hills and terroir for wine making also provide a gorgeous backdrop for meandering around the French countryside = check! Together with all of that, the Loire has a châteaux around almost every corner! What's not to love!

After this chat with Mandy and Willo, I can see how they team all of that Loire Valley loveliness with the French style living at La Maison Trumeau which has been fully renovated and restyled to it's original French elegance including antique furniture, vintage style furnishings and plenty of space to relax and unwind. It's definitely on my list of future plans for visits to the Loire Valley and France!

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Louise Prichard is the host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.
**
Other Loulabelle's links:
FrancoFile Fix on YouTube
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Instagram
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles website

Alex Ganipeau runs French language school "The French Hack" in Melbourne Australia and is our go to Frenchy to chat with about loads of things to help demystify French traditions, customs and culture!

In today's chat we hear about the recently celebrated traditions of l'Ephinanie and Chandeleur, plus the ways Valentine's Day is recognised both now and historically in France.

Alex tells us about the things that especially connect her to France and feeds my Francophile heart through her words. We discover that it's not necessarily the stuff and things we collect in life that are important, but rather the moments shared with those we love and times we spend in certain places that connect us to our soul.  

Come and escape momentarily to France with us.


To contact Jane Hiscock regarding the Normandy Retreat mentioned in this episode email: 
janehiscock@chateaudujonquay.com 

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Louise Prichard is the host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.
**
Other Loulabelle's links:
FrancoFile Fix on YouTube
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Instagram
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles website

Do you love having French vintage bits and bobs all around to remind you of travels in France? Or do you just enjoy a gorgeous French rustic or provincial style to your home? Perhaps you have just a teeny addiction to brocante shopping... Oui? Yep, me too. If like me, you consider packing light for your vacances en France to squeeze in the French fabulousness found at some brocante markets, then this chat is for you. Jane Hotblack owns French vintage ware business "Vintage Etc" and sources pieces from France to sell in Australia. I love the idea of months on end seeking out vintage paintings, kitchen items, furniture or antiques. But for the professional vintage sellers, it's not all swanning around vide-greniers in regional France. This is a serious and competitive business! 

Tune in to hear Jane's tips on where to go for the best brocante and how to get it back to your home country without breaking the bank!


If you're interested in this September's Normandy Retreat mentioned in this episode, email Jane Hiscock for further details: janehiscock@chateaudujonquay.com 

**
Louise Prichard is the host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.
**
Other Loulabelle's links:
FrancoFile Fix on YouTube
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Instagram
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles website

Andrew Prior, host of Fabulously Delicious, the French Food Podcast has now released a book!

Paris: A Fabulous Food Guide To The World’s Most Delicious City is Andrew’s first book and is about so much more than just the best restaurants in Paris. 

Andrew has visited and sampled the wares of, or dined in,
all 379 venues in the book! You will find recommendations for boulangeries,
patisseries, cafes, bistros, bouillons, restaurants and wine bars. But also
gourmet food stores, fromageries, department stores, and so much more. 

Chatting with Andrew in this Loulabelle’s FrancoFiles podcast episode, we touch on loads in his book but also get some of his secret tips, such as how to get a more affordable Michelin starred meal!
Perfectly timed for the big year for Paris with the 2024 Olympics and
Paralympic games coming up, this podcast episode is a must for anyone planning a
trip to Paris this year or just for lovers of French food who want to join in for
a laugh and natter with us, and a petit escape to France momentarily! 


If you're interested in joining Loulabelle for the Normandy Retreat in September 2024 as mentioned in this episode, email Jane Hiscock: janehiscock@chateaudujonquay.com 

**
Louise Prichard is the host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.
**
Other Loulabelle's links:
FrancoFile Fix on YouTube
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Instagram
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles website

The Loulabelle’s FrancoFiles has an exciting 2024 planned. Grab your beverage of choice and sit back to escape virtually to France on a road trip across the north of France through Normandy and Brittany! This is the topic of the first French Road Trip E-guide to be released soon in the new LFF online store. Also hear my chat about the wonderful intimate, boutique Normandy Retreat planned for September where listeners can join me for one of a kind experiences that will fill a Francophile soul! Even just dreaming about them will keep your Frenchy vibes fluttering! Guests will stay at Château du Jonquay and will be involved in collaborations with a Molly J Wilk cooking class (pastry chef extraordinaire) and a Michelin star chef lesson in the beautiful château kitchens as well as loads more that Normandy offers which only a local could uncover. 

If a Normandy Retreat is what you need, email Jane Hiscock: janehiscock@chateaudujonquay.com 

If a dreamy virtual escape to France is more your style, then tune in now and join me on my magical French road trip xx 

**
Louise Prichard is the host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.
**
Other Loulabelle's links:
FrancoFile Fix on YouTube
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Instagram
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles website

Joyeux Noel and Bonne année!

Currently I am sending you wishes for a gorgeous Chrissy from my home in the Aussie bush surrounded by the sounds of kookaburras in summer, with kangaroos joining us for our morning coffee and returning for apéro in the late arvo! A far cry from last year when I was in France on my wonderful Noël roadtrip through the French alps and the Alsace region. 

I have a number of tips for travelling in the type of weather that can be expected in France in December as it is winter! This is the time of mulled wine, big coats, warm open fires and rugging up with fabulously filling French comfort food! 

Tune in to hear Loulabelle's top 5 tips for travelling during the Christmassy period in mountainous France. Really practical advice about what to pack or leave behind. I'll also take you through a number of divine villages I either stayed in or visited briefly in the Beaujolais and Alsace regions in the lead up to  Noël as well as the excitement of Christmas in Paris!

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Louise Prichard is the host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.
**
Other Loulabelle's links:
FrancoFile Fix on YouTube
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Instagram
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles website

Julia Fulford Kirby lives in a most magical place, Château Mas de Pradié in Foissac in the Aveyron region of southwest France. I first saw her story on the Escape to the Château DIY show and then chatted to her on the podcast in January 2021, but nothing prepared me for the magic before me when I visited her home in the hot summer of 2022. Mas de Pradié took my breath away. Julia has done so much work over her time there but she has made every effort not to ruin the spirit that made her fall in love with the "mas" in the first place. The majority of the work that has taken place is invisible, but necessary for lining in the 21st century. Many châteaux I have seen renovated look like a modern place within an historic shell. Julia seems to have been able to make modern conveniences such as bathrooms, look as if they have always been there! The renovations are so sympathetic to the history of the property.

Living in and renovating an historic property is not for everyone, but luckily for the rest of us, there are brave and adventurous people like Julia who are willing to live a life dedicated to restoring these châteaux that feed the souls of the rest of us Francophiles. I firmly believe that without people willing to take that leap and take on a life of non-stop hard labour, the historic buildings of France may in 50, 100 or maybe 200 years be a pile of ruins. It seems that in some local communities there aren't the people willing or with the funds to get the required work completed. I don't have the capacity to go to France and restore a château myself, but I'm very happy to go there and enjoy the work of people like Julia! 

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Louise Prichard is the host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.
**
Other Loulabelle's links:
FrancoFile Fix on YouTube
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Instagram
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles website

Texan native Molly Wilkinson moved to France to follow her dream of French pastry cooking and baking a number of years ago and since then has met her fiancé, moved to Versailles and now has an amazing business bringing the opportunity to all of us to cook like a French pastry chef, with her online French pastry cooking school.

Molly is so down to earth, patient and accessible. Perfect attributes for a teacher! She has a fabulous cooking space in Versailles which is where all the magic happens online, but also in person for anyone heading to the town.

Recently there is another exciting project that Molly is now sharing with us all. Molly has collaborated with author Mandie Davis and illustrator Pete Williamson and the result is a kids' book that is bright, colourful and fun, as it tells the story of Molly in Versailles! As well as having some of Molly's recipes in the book, it is a way to open up iconic places like Versailles to children. Often the story of historic places can be a bit dry and fact heavy, but this gets kids interested in history by making it fun and accessible.

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Louise Prichard is the host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.
**
Other Loulabelle's links:
FrancoFile Fix on YouTube
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Instagram
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles website

Rachael Coopes is an author, an actress, a yoga expert, a presenter on beloved kids show Playschool and just an all-round lovely like-minded Francophile. Recently I have been reading her book Paris For Beginners and I absolutely love it! I’m not sure why, but every time I sat down to read it, I needed to pair the reading with a glass of wine! It felt like a celebration each time and a petit escape to France for me.  

In her 20s Rach moved to France for a couple of years to study theatre. She describes her time in Paris back then as being on the precipice of the next phase of her life. It is often a stage for many of us where we're about to be what I like to call "full-blown adults". Then last year Rach returned to Paris after the world started to open up post-Covid. Her book gives us an insight into her world and the manner in which Paris has impacted her as a mini-adult in 2004 and then again in 2022. Her experiences resonated with me and brought to the fore my own memories of Paris as I was reading.  I’ve often talked about feeling a homesickness for France even though I’ve never lived there. Rach has now finally put a word to that for me: hiraeth, which is a Welsh word which has no direct translation, but it describes a longing, homesickness, yearning and nostalgia for a place. That describes my relationship with France when I am in Australia perfectly! 

Rach and I lamented the changes to Paris with globalisation taking hold in France as it does everywhere, but it was wonderful to share with her the things that we were thrilled to see stay the same. Whilst some of the older, authentic, quintessentially French parts of Paris now seem a bit more polished and sparklier, the joie de vivre experienced by visiting France or even chatting about it, remains. As Rachael says, somehow in Paris they manage to take what is ordinary and make it extraordinary... take the simple and turn it into something breathtaking.

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Louise Prichard is the host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.
**
Other Loulabelle's links:
FrancoFile Fix on YouTube
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Instagram
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles website

Earlier this year I stayed in Normandy with the gorgeous Jane Hiscock in her stunning historic Château du Jonquay. I’m headed back to stay with Jane again in September 2024 and this time you can come too! Jane has put together an amazing itinerary with a range of experiences that only someone with her local knowledge could uncover. I'm so excited about all Jane has planned for this wonderful Normandy Retreat! Tune into this chat to hear more of the fascinating stories of the Normandy region.

For more information on how to join me for a stay at Château du Jonquay including dates, detailed itinerary, prices and inclusions, contact Jane Hiscock: janehiscock@chateaudujonquay.com 

If this sounds like what you need, don’t delay, as stays in Jane’s Château du Jonquay have previously sold out in no time!

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Louise Prichard is the host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.
**
Other Loulabelle's links:
FrancoFile Fix on YouTube
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Instagram
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles website

Earlier this year I nicked off to France for almost 2 months! In the last couple of weeks of the trip, I had some gorgeous girlfriends meet me for a stay in Lyon and the country Burgundy region between Lyon and Dijon. My dear friend Karen Grooby chatted to me on the podcast about the glorious 10 days we spent with friends who have travelled together with me in France a number of times before. 

Hear all about our amazing time in Lyon as well as the second half of our trip exploring the country region of Burgundy near the beautiful village of Cuisery. We had incredible food experiences, château visits, brocante finds, historic wonders and loads of fun with darling friends!

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Louise Prichard is the host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.
**
Other Loulabelle's links:
FrancoFile Fix on YouTube
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Instagram
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles website

Forget Thelma and Louise, this is the story of Simone and Louise heading across the southern regions of France from Bayonne to Provence!

We started our adventures in Paris, then the Basque region, then across in an easterly direction to Cahors, Uzès, the Pont-du-Gard, the tiny village of Mollégès (which we used as a base to visit Eygalières, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, L’Isle-Sur-La-Sorgue, Gordes, the Abbey de senanque and Avignon) before heading to the next part of my journey in Lyon.

Head to the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles website for more info and details but here are a few details worth considering if you're tihinking of a raodtrip in France:

1. Avoid the toll roads. You will find all the nuggets of gorgeousness to fill your soul off the beaten track!

2. Don’t over plan! Have the things you definitely don’t want to miss, then keep your schedule open for things suggested by locals, or just stuff that might pop up during your day.

3. Take cash for petrol and tolls in case your international cards don’t work. The regional petrol stations off the toll roads are almost never manned and are automated only. Petrol stations on the toll roads are usually fine for purchases as for other stores in France with staff in attendance.

4. Have coins for parking. Simone noted how clever the French are for having the same type of parking meters everywhere we went! We worked out how to use it on the first time parking and after a few towns we were explaining it to others like we were the local experts! 

If you have any recommendations for holidaying in France, drop me a line to bonjour@loulabellesfrancofiles.com  and let me know your best travel tips!

**
Louise Prichard is the host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.
**
Other Loulabelle's links:
FrancoFile Fix on YouTube
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Instagram
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles website

Some lunatic ate moldy cheese a few centuries ago, and now it's everyone's problem. What is blue cheese? Where does it come from? Will we ever find a way to end its terrible reign? Find out in this episode of Cookery. 

Thank you for listening! Do you enjoy this podcast? Do you want us to do more? Let us know by rating and reviewing it wherever you listen to the podcast!

Questions? Topics you want covered? We want to hear from you! Send us an email at cookerypodcast@gmail.com, and we'll answer your questions on the podcast. 

This episode was sponsored by our full time jobs, but we're open to other offers. Do you want us to help you sell your product? Shoot us an email at cookerypodcast@gmail.com

Emily Gaudichon is The Real Emily in Paris on Instagram, she is a supermum to a teenager as well as two pre-schoolers and is constantly working on various projects simultaneously, but somehow she has found time to write a children's book as well!

Emily's book  The Parisian ABCs  is illustrated by Sarah Vesperini. Emily describes it as a tongue in cheek look at why we love the French, celebrating cliches from A to Z with witty one liners to delight children and adults alike. Emily has a few favourite pages like "G is for grève" which means to go on strike, very common in France! 

I loved chatting to her about her favourite parts of the book and getting a little insight into what life with kids is like in Paris. As Emily told me in France they have a different parenting style. In Australia the family's world revolves around the kids. In France the kids fit in more with the parents! But still there are gorgeous regular (and sometimes wonderfully quirky) French cultural norms for kids, such as little nursery rhymes. Emily told me all about what a perfect French day would look like for her kids which apart from scootering through the Louvre it all sounded like wonderful fun to me! (Actually, scootering through the Louvre would be fun too, if not likely un petit peu illegal!)

I'm looking forward to my copy of Emily's new book arriving in the post so I can pore over every page and drift off to Paris momentarily. I highly recommend grabbing a copy so you can do the same! 

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Louise Prichard is the host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.
**
Other Loulabelle's links:
FrancoFile Fix on YouTube
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Instagram
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles website

Noria Letts is a French-Australian singer who performs French songs in Melbourne and Sydney with her band The Parisians. Her style is eclectic and varied, but her description of French gypsy jazz shines through as a specialty for her. Noria has always loved music and singing right from a young age growing up in Burgundy in France. It is something she has shared with her sisters for years and there are now a number of other professional musicians in the family. Noria now shares a little of France with her audience every time she gets up on stage and she shares so much with us in this beautiful chat.

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Louise Prichard is the host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.
**
Other Loulabelle's links:
FrancoFile Fix on YouTube
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Instagram
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles website

No 3 The Château is a stunning venue in the Cognac region which hosts many weddings through the warmer months each year, as well as other "experiences", but it has not always been that way.

After developing various properties in the UK, interior designer Julie Berry (aka Jules) decided to take up a challenge of renovating a château in France. She settled on the Cognac area and started a search which resulted in the wonderful find of the château she calls home today. No 3 The Château is surrounded on all sides with miles of cognac vines, and walking distance to the village complete with boulangerie. Even though it was in a state of disrepair, Jules could sense the potential and could see the light-filled rooms with huge windows being a beautiful place to both retreat and be calm, as well as come together and celebrate.

A recommendation from Jules which I will definitely use in the future, is the program Explore Cognac. This website highlights a number of experiences that tourists can uncover in the Cognac region. There are activities such as jewelry making, bike riding, barrel making, just loads of ways to discover all there is to do in Cognac. No 3 The Chateau has 2 experiences on the site, one for bread making in their old bread oven and another to host a dinner for 12 in the château dining room with a Michelin Starred chef! 

No 3 The Château is a highlighted château on the Château Bee website and is booked out for a couple of years in advance! So if you're considering planning a wedding in France, get cracking! Booking a long way in advance is going to be a must!

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Louise Prichard is the host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.
**
Other Loulabelle's links:
FrancoFile Fix on YouTube
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Instagram
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles website

Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy is one of France’s most iconic, legendary, and visited landmarks. 

This little island in one of the officially most beautiful bays in the world is a record breaker, a place conceived with the help of an angel with a pointy finger, a building that seems to defy gravity, and a site so wondrous that it has inspired artists, musicians, and writers for centuries from Monet to Marilyn Monroe. 

Kings, Queens and presidents have walked its streets just as much in awe as any tourist. Its spiritual Gothic beauty has influenced many films including the Lord of the Rings.

This “pyramid of the seas” is a miraculous marvel and one of the wonders of the world.

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Cathy McKenzie and her husband Lachie have travelled to France previously numerous times, including on an organised cycling tour. This year however, they decided to go and make up their own tour! They settled on a region to cycle in and booked bikes through a company that had an arrangement to store their luggage during the cycling leg of the vacation as well. That way they that only needed the paniers to carry with them and store everything they needed during the few weeks of cycling.

They cycled in a couple of different regions of France during this recent trip, mainly across the French riviera. Cathy locked in arrangements for weekends as this region is extremely popular during the summer months and she suspected accommodation could be more difficult to come by, when all the French locals descended on the coast as well! During the week though, they rode until they felt like stopping and if a village or area tugged at their heart strings, they stayed a few days. Sometimes Cathy booked accommodation a day ahead and on other occasions she took recommendations from locals or friends of the places they should head to next.

As well as the cycling holiday, this trip was also about completing a Grand Slam for Cathy and Lachie! They have been to Wimbledon previously and went to the Australian Open in January. The French Open was therefore on the itinerary in this 2023 summer and after Europe they travelled home to Australia via New York to attend the US Open. 

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Louise Prichard is the host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.
**
Other Loulabelle's links:
FrancoFile Fix on YouTube
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Instagram
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles website

Gabriel Gâté is a treasured iconic French chef in Australia! He is also a tv presenter, an author, a wonderful advocate for France and French events and businesses here Down Under and has been a fabulous friend to the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast from almost the very beginning!

Recently Gabriel and his wife Angie travelled through France on a grand vacances. It occurred at the same time I was over in France and it seemed that we were travelling to the same places at different times!

I chatted with Gabriel about his visit to the Champagne region, to Strasbourg to visit with his niece Charlotte who together with her husband Guillaume Scheer, owns a Michelin starred restaurant there. He stopped in St Remy-de-Provence, in Sarlat which is a beautiful medieval village in the Dordogne and hosted a tour on the Saône River departing from Lyon. He gave me tips for finding market days for the various villages and we discussed all sorts of wonderful stuff to find at any marché du jour! 

With further stays in the Loire Valley to visit with family, as well as some time spent up on the north coast of Normandy with family who had come in from all over France and the globe, Gabriel chatted with fascinating anecdotes about his travels all across the country.

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Louise Prichard is the host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.
**
Other Loulabelle's links:
FrancoFile Fix on YouTube
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Instagram
Loulabelle's FrancoFiles website