By Nanette Wiser
Our beaches are better than Cannes. We can rock a beret with our swimsuit and tan lines. And Pinellas County features some incroyable French cuisine and desserts. What better time than summer to live the French lifestyle, starting with a morning croissant and ending the evening with French bubbly at Flute & Dram?
FRENCH LIFESTYLE: It’s easy to incorporate French life into our daily routine. Begin at home by sitting down to your meal unplugged. No rushing. Stop small talk and start discussions. Walk more and cook fresh meals from local markets and boutiques. Say oui to new adventures. Don ballet flats, a crisp white shirt or an LBD with pearls. Less is more. Arrange fresh flowers on your tables and bedside and stop stressing about the little things. Live and let live, que sera sera. Play music (jazz, classical, Django Reinhardt) and enjoy a café au lait and chocolate daily. For French décor, shop Vintage Marche, Left Bank boutique, Designer Consigner (Chanel) Simply Chic and ReTreat.
FRENCH DESSERTS: My mom in New Jersey loves the vanilla lavender and pina colada macarons from Bradenton’s Macoranage which I order online at www.lovemacaronage.com. Take home dessert from the French restaurants or pop over to these delightful shoppes featuring French treats: Café Soleil, Cassis Bakery, Gateau O Chocolat, Le Macron French Pastries, Wandering Whisk (order online), Swah-rey, William Dean and Alesia. Coming to Corey Ave. is CoCo Addiction, hand-crafted French chocolates.
FRENCH VINO: French wines do not need to be expensive. We’ve found some great deals for Sancerre at Trader Joe’s and Rolling Oats. For tastings, check out Vino Simpatico’s events on FB.
FRENCH RESTAURANTS: From the onion soup to the pate, pommes frites to coq au vin, I love every dish in our local French bistros. I often pick up pate, wine and brie at Trader Joe, Fresh Market and Bella Vino for a picnic at the Florida Botanical Garden, with a lavender centerpiece and my Pandora playing Josephine Baker. We look forward to the re-opening of La Croisette in May, with an expanded patio and French-inspired dishes.
Here are some of our faves:
Alsace French Bistro: Charming décor and authentic dishes, from quiche at brunch to specials (mussels with frites), crepes, Croque Monsieur, duck a l’orange and savory beef bourguignon. Tierra Verde
Bacchus Wine Bistro: Dine on foie gras, escargots, steak au poivre, pate, lobster salad, charcuterie, smoked salmon, tuna carpaccio or take-home dishes, French wines, cheese and more. Happy hour 4-7pm with small plates (4.50) and vino specials. DTSP
Chez Colette’s French Bistro: A petite jewel, with joyful crepes, fragrant onion soup, charcuterie, duck leg confit and seafood pasta Cognac flambe (scallops, shrimp). Belleair
Café De Paris Bakery: Pick up your pastries, baguettes and café for a beach picnic or enjoy breakfast or lunch at the cafe. Indian Rocks Beach
Café Largo: Chef Dominic’s boutique French wines, delectable appetizers, sensational entrees (tournedos of beef tenderloin, seafood) and chocolate souffle are my personal favorites. White linen table, French music and casual elegance is the catch of the day. Largo
Cassis: The ultimate alfresco lunch/dinner/brunch hotspot and artisan cocktail rendezvous on Beach Drive, Chef Duclut combines traditional Euro Brasserie fare and American classics with a French twist. We love the bouillabaisse, heirloom tomato tarte, salmon and tenderloin, styled with flair. DTSP
Flying with Jerome: Tues.-Sun., this hideaway serves hedonistic pastries, homemade breads, French crepes, croissant French toast and a puff pastry filled with asparagus, poached eggs, bacon, hollandaise sauce. Clearwater
Gulf Bistro: The best coq au vin, seafood gratinee, duck and lobster bisque in town with stand-out specials (Snapper Provencale, Scallops Au Saffron) and my fave, sauteed pork tenderloin topped with brie cheese in a berry sauce. Madeira Beach
The Left Bank Bistro: Charming patio and interiors, stunning cocktails, live jazz, happy hour Mon.-Fri. 3-6pm and delectable small plates such as grilled shrimp, duck foie gras, escargot and unique mussels and seafood presentations. St. Petersburg
Marquise Café: Shirred eggs oven baked with bacon, cheese and heavy cream with baguette and side salad, quiche, crepes, Nicoise salad or the Parisian Sandwich (baguette, salted butter, ham old-style, unsweet French pickles) light up your day like the Eiffel Tower at night. Pasadena
Parts of Paris: Make a pilgrimage for the rack of lamb with blueberry/mint chutney, vegetarian cassoulet and fish of the day. Start off with the braised octopus served with couscous, crispy wafers and wasabi sauce. Safety Harbor
P. S. We dedicate this story to our publishers’ French cat Sammy, rescued from New Orleans post-Katrina. Sammy loves his morning fresh catches by Papa Pete. Sammy is a chartreaux, a pedigree that dates back to French royalty.