France Gift Guide: 55 gifts for the Francophile in your life

by Julie Blakley | November 14th, 2008

With Thanksgiving and the symbolic start to the holiday shopping season just around the corner, I thought I’d put together a France gift guide for this holiday season. Basically, I complied a wide range of things any France lover would love to have–from foie gras to magnetic French poetry and cashmere scarves. This list can serve as gift ideas for the Francophile in your life, or perhaps as some ideas to put on your own wish list (I see no problem with serious hint dropping around the holidays). With so many totally fabulous things coming from France, it’ll be hard not want at least a few of the items on this list. (In fact, I want about every item on the list). I’ve included a wide range of types of gifts from several different categories, including: food/kitchen, movies/DVDs, language learning, movies/DVDs, travel, books, music and miscellaneous. With a little bit of everything appealing to a wide range of tastes, hopefully you’ll find just the perfect gift (or something for yourself).

Bonne Chance!

Food/Kitchen

I’m starting with this category because, well, I like to eat—and as any Francophile knows, food is a huge part of French culture. As a country known for its amazing food and wine, there is no shortage of great stuff out there that can help you create your favorite French dishes on your own. For those of you who may not be adept in the kitchen, there are also a few ready-to-eat treats and great kitchen ware that will make you feel like you’re in France whenever you brew a pot of coffee or pour a glass of wine.

Mastering the Art of French Cooking—of all the Francophiles in the world, Julia Child was probably one of the most famous. A California girl who fell in love with France early in her life, Julia Child became the American master of French cuisine. In fact, her cookbook is still touted as THE guide to cooking French food, more than 40 years after she first wrote it. From mussels marinere (one of Julia’s favorite dishes) to crème brulee, this cookbook teaches you how to do it all with easy-to-follow directions. BUY

The French Laundry Cookbook—This cookbook has a host of French recipes based off the menu at the famous country-style French Laundry restaurant located near Napa California. With more than 200 colorful and beautiful photographs, this cookbook is an inspiration to home-cooks. Showing dishes that range from simple to complex, no cook will be disappointed with the variety of flavor-focused recipes in this book. BUY

Foie Gras—Any pate lovers out there? A well-know and delicious delicacy, foie gras is the king of pates. It is also difficult to find in non-specialty or gourmet stores outside of France. However, nothing says the holidays better than foie gras appetizer served with champagne. BUY

Herbes de Provence—This blend of spices which appears in dishes in the south of France seems to make everything taste better. The blend of rosemary, marjoram, basil, bay leaf, thyme and sometimes lavender combines to create a unique, powerful and delicious mixture, which you can do anything with from rub on meats to season pasta sauce. BUY

Escargot—My French grandmother makes escargot as a special holiday treat every year and she is constantly complaining that while you can find canned escargot here in the States, you can never find the “real,” small escargots. Unlike what you see in many French restaurants here in the States, the best escargot are the small, tender ones. Once you cook them up in the buttery, shallot and parsley sauce, you’ll forget these things are even snails. BUY

Gourmet Galettes in Decorative Tin—These cookies also remind me of my French grandmother, who has dozens of these French cookie tins in her kitchen. Not only are the cookies inside delicious, but the tins are cute and can be used as storage or decoration well after the cookies inside are gone. BUY
Mussel Pot—One of my personal favorite dishes in France is Moules Marinere or Moule Frites. Steamed open in a white wine sauce, mussels are a simple, yet totally delicious meal. Serve them up in this authentic looking pot and you’ll almost feel like you’re on the Brittany Coast. BUY
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Crepe Pan—Growing up, every Sunday meant crepes for brunch. I always loved mine with just a little butter and sugar, though occasionally a little raspberry jam or freshly cut strawberries and whipped cream would also go inside of them. With this non-stick great crepe pan, you can start your own Sunday morning crepe tradition, or maybe invite your friends over for a French themed Sundya brunch complete with mimosas. BUY

Fondue Set—Who doesn’t like the idea of bread dunked in hot, melty cheese? I mean, come on. Plus, fondue makes for an excellent easy, fun dinner and you can dunk pretty much whatever you want in there. It’s also a great excuse to get together people for dinner. With this great set you can melt up your favorite cheese or chocolate and dunk away! BUY

Cheese Board—The best part of being in France is that many meals are followed with the display of a cheese board full of a great selection of cheeses. While in America, many people eat cheese before, rather than after the meal, this great board (complete with cheese knifes) can be a great way to serve your favorite French cheeses before or after dinner or at a cocktail party. BUY

Stemless Wine Glasses—What goes best with cheese? Wine of course. While you probably already have a cabinet full of wine glasses, you might not have any stemless ones. For accident prone people like myself, these are great in being a lot harder to tip over (and we all know red wine is impossible to get out of anything) and they look great at the same time. A win-win!BUY

Champagne Flutes—With the holiday season just around the corner, lots of champagne is sure to be toasted in celebration. And, while you may think your wine glasses will suffice just fine for the bubbly, any true Francophile knows that serving champagne in a regular wine glass (along with cutting the cheese the incorrect way) is almost sacrilegious. BUY

Oyster Knife—The only thing I like more than mussels is oysters. Oysters have been a long-standing favorite of French Kings (in fact, Louis XIV had his brought to Versailles from the Brittany coast) and they are still widely enjoyed today. With this handy little tool, you can buy your oysters on the half shell and enjoy them just the way the Sun King used to—raw and with a squeeze of lemon.BUY

Bodum Chambourd 12-cup French Press—Anyone coffee lover who has had coffee brewed in a French press will never go back to regular drip again. Making potently delicious and aromatic cups of coffee, everyone who like their morning (or afternoon and evening) cup o’ joe should invest in a good French Press. BUY

Crème Brulee Set–Creamy custard topped with a crispy layer of caramelized sugar? Sounds like heaven to me. With this great crème brulee set, you’ll have the perfectly sized ceramic dishes and the mini blow torch to make perfect crème brulees (and totally impress your guests at your next dinner party).BUY

Jumbo Ceramic Cup and Saucer—When I was in France, I drank my café au lait every morning out of one of these giant “boule” mugs. It was perfect for dunking my bread and these big cups are very much a part of French breakfast tradition. However, these cups also make for great ice cream cups and/or cereal bowls for non-traditional uses and every home should have one. BUY

Espresso Cup Set—Want to feel like you are sitting out in a Parisian sidewalk café, sipping your café out of a tiny, white espresso cup and watching the fabulously dressed people walk by? If so, these cups can at least get you part way there as you enjoy your café from your living room (it’ll probably taste the same, though the view probably won’t be quite the same).BUY

Provence Tablecloth—Bright sunny colors and big bold prints are the standard of Provence, and adding a tablecloth to this one will instantly brighten the room. Plus, as you eat off the traditional Provencial print you may almost feel like you are surrounded by olive groves and fields of lavender. BUY

Provence Bread Basket—If you eat like a French person at home, you know that bread is an essential part of every meal. My mom bought one of these province bread baskets the last time she was in France and hasn’t stopped getting compliments on it since. BUY

Madeline Cookie Pan—Madelines were a staple of my childhood. Rather than eating donuts on weekends, my mom made crepes and rather than baking chocolat chip cookies, we made madelines. This great cookie pan can allow you to bring a little bit of France into your kitchen and you can cook up your own, great madelines.BUY

Movies/DVDs

French Kiss—If you like Meg Ryan, the French countryside and the idea of falling in love with the French man (or any combination of the above), this is the perfect movie for you. A sweet romantic comedy that takes place in various parts of France, any Francophile can enjoy this movie for the French scenery alone. BUY

Chocolat—There isn’t a whole lot not to enjoy about Johnny Depp and chocolate. I mean, honestly. This is a great movie about a mother and daughter that open a chocolate shop in a small French village. It explores small French village life and French morality. A great film. BUY

La Vie en Rose—Iconic French singer Edith Piaf is depicted by Academy Award winning actress Marion Cotillard in this film about the singer’s life. Cotillard became the first actress to win an Oscar for a French speaking role and the film won lots of critical appraise.BUY

Rick Steves: Best of Travels in Europe-France—So, he may be a little on the nerdy side, but Rick Steves knows how to travel through France. This well researched travel movie will give you plenty of great ideas for your next trip to France.BUY

Magnificent 7: Tour de France DVD—In my hometown, the streets suddenly seem a lot more packed with cyclists in spandex when the Tour de France comes on the airwaves every summer. Bands of Lance Armstrong wannabes tune in and snap in during the famous French race. This DVD shows the ins and outs of one of Lance’s record-breaking 7 Tour de France wins. BUY

The French Chef—I already put Julia Child’s cookbook on this list, but the gal is the Francophile of all Francphiles. Plus, she knows how to cook French food really well. Although Child is no longer with us, you can still cue up this DVD and cook along as you watch her whip up your favorite French dishes.

Music

Maurice Chevalier Best Recordings—The Frenchman of all Frenchmen, it doesn’t get any more classic than Maurice Chevalier. This is the perfect CD for those who want to put on a little pleasant French music and pretend they are sitting in a French café or nightclub in France right in their own living room. BUY

Je t’aime moi non plus—This classic French song recorded by Serge Gainsbourg and his lover of the time the iconic Jane Birkin is one of the most famous French songs of all time.BUY

MC Solaar Cinquieme As—If you are looking to infuse your life with some classic French popular music, this is the CD for you. MC Solaar is one of France’s most beloved and popular recording artist and this CD has the hit-single and catchy “La Belle et le Bay Boy” on it. It’s so good, you’ll be singing along the first time you listen to it.BUY

Daft Punk Musique Vol. 1—Although this world famous band sings many of their songs in English, this band is in every way French. One of the most popular and famous French music groups worldwide, any Francophile owes it to themselves to at least own one Daft Punk CD.BUY

Eternelle: The Best of Edith Piaf—Iconic French singer Edith Piaf represents all that is Parisian and chic. This famous once nightclub singer is even today one of France’s best known musicians.BUY

Books

The Autobiography of Alice B Toklas by Gertrude Stein—I mostly like this book because it talks extensively about pre WWII Paris and the large ex-pat community living there at the time. The 1920s were a booming time of growth and transition for the City of Lights and I loved reading about the city that is in so many ways different and same all at the same time in the context of the story.BUY

Le Petit Prince—The favorite childhood book in France, this charming story with equally charming illustrations should be a part of every Francophile’s book collection.BUY

My Life in France—So, this may be third thing on this list that relates to Julia Child, but this autobiography, which was published postumthsely, is great. Detailing her life in France and France during the post WWII era, this book is a perfect portrait of the ultimate Francophile and the country she loved. BUY

Americans in Paris—I read this anthology before I left to live in Paris and absolutely loved it. A city with so much history, Paris also has a rich history of famous ex-pats who flocked to the City of Lights. Reading the stories from Hemmingway and others about Paris through the ages from an American perspective is great. BUY

French Women Don’t Get Fat—You may laugh at the title, but it’s true. Everytime I’m in France I get a little angry about the copious numbers of beautiful and trim French ladies walking the streets (and still enjoying their croissants, sauces and cheese!). Want to know their secret? Read the book.BUY

The New France: A Complete Guide to Contemporary French Wine—A meal is just not a meal in France without wine to go along with it. With the various regions producing different types of wine and a complicated classification system, sometimes having a guide around to help you make sense of it all could be really helpful.BUY

Travel

Rick Steves’ France—Hate him or love him, this slightly nerdy travel guy (ok, really nerdy travel guy) may not be the most styling or hip man in travel out there, but he knows how to plan great and easy-to-do trips. Steves not only hits some of France’s best spots, he also gives great tips on how to plan an easy and fun vacation. BUY

101 Beautiful Small Towns in France—Part coffee table book, part travel inspiration, this book showcases beautiful photos and descriptions of my favorite part of France—the small villages. Scattered throughout the country and having their own unique character and beautiful old stone buildings (and well dressed older French men playing boules in the town square), the small towns of France are what really give this beautiful country its character. BUY

Lonely Planet France—The Lonely Planet books are great for listing extensive information on lodging options, restaurants and activities in each town, all while mixing in a little history at the same time. This is a great all purpose guide book that will definitely help you out when planning a trip to France.BUY

Hungry Traveler France—The best part of any trip to France is of course the food. This series of books breaks down all the regional foods of France, helping you to understand not only what you may be seeing on the menu, but also what things are best in what parts of the country.BUY

Paris Metro Map—If you are going to be spending much time in France navigating the Metro, investing in a little laminated map like this one is probably a good idea. You can keep in your pocket or purse and it won’t take long to easily decipher the best routes to anywhere in the city you want to go. BUY

Language

Rosetta Stone Level 1 & 2 French—Want to brush up on some French before your trip? Or are you just trying to refresh that rusty high school French for good measure. Whatever your reason for wanting to work on your French skills, this software program is proven to work wonders at teaching not only grammar and vocabulary, but also helping with proper pronunciation. BUY

Larousse French/English Dictionary—This is a great companion to have for any Francophile. Not only will it help on your next trip, you can brush up on words you may have forgotten and look up pesky vocabulary you have never learned. BUY

501 French Verbs—Anyone trying to learn French should for sure invest in this handy grammar book. Listing out all of the major French verbs and clearly delineating how they are conjugated is immensely helpful for mastering the difficult French language.BUY

Bonjour Les Amis: French Made Easy for Children—Want to get your kids ahead of the learning curve and start teaching them French at an early age? With this book you can start your kids down the road to fluency by teaching them the basics in French.BUY

French Flash Cards—With these colorful, picture flashcards on a ring, you may feel like they are only for kids, but I find these things to be a great learning tool. Not only will they help you associate the word with a picture, instead of with the English word (the best way to learn), you can carry them around and practice your vocabulary anywhere from on the bus into work to your couch while watching tv. BUY

Magnetic French Poetry—What better way to work on your French then play with magnetic poetry on your fridge. Create phrases, work on your grammar and leave up funny French phrases. The perfect gift for anyone who loves France (and the French language!)</BUY

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Miscellaneous

Boules Set—It doesn’t get any more French than the well dressed older men in courtyards and town squares playing boules on any given day. The French game in which players try to throw large metal balls closest to a smaller ball on gravel fields is an integral part of French life. Buy your own set and the next time you go to France you may even be able to challenge some of the old men and impress them with your skills.BUY

Aavaranches Toulouse Lautrec Poster—An iconic post-impressionist painter, Toulouse Lautrec’s painting once advertised soirees at local Paris nightclubs, though this poster shows the iconic and famous Mont Saint Michel. The bold, bright colors make for great, bright décor. BUY

Medina French Market Basket—This basket is the perfect accessory to bring along on your trips to the markets in France. Not only is it super stylish, but it can hold a lot of fresh fruit, vegetables, cheese or whatever other goodies you pick up on market day.BUY

France Soccer Jersey—Do you love your Bleus? Worship Zisou and remember precisely when the French won the World Cup in 1998? Even if you aren’t the ultimate French soccer fan, you can look styling in this great French soccer jersey.BUY

Cashmere Scarf—The French love scarves. Having about as many ways to tie them as types of cheese, a soft cashmere scarf is the number one essential French accessory. Not only will it help you blend in on the streets of Paris, it can also keep you warm and help you look French in your hometown.BUY

Provence 2009 Calendar—The olive groves, the sun drenched valleys, the brightly yello fields of sunflowers—Provence is a picture perfect kind of place. With great light, bold colors and beautiful scenery, Provence is a photographers dream, and also the kind of place you may want to look at day in and day out hanging on your wall (and counting down to your next trip to France?).BUY

Marseilles Soap—The soap of Marseilles is famous worldwide. Using beautifully scented natural ingredients from the region (sage, lavender etc.), this beautifully smelling soaps will get you clean and have you reminiscing of France all at the same time.BUY

Lavender—I love buying loose French lavender every time I’m in the south of France. When I get home I make little sachets of the beautifully smelling and relaxing ingredient and give them to friends as gifts. I also like sticking these little sachets in my underwear drawer. It just makes everything smell so lovely. BUY