16.42 - Why Is the Baguette Sacred in France?
Tomas k - Senior News Editor 
Today at a Glance: Your FREE weekly newsletter
Bonjour mes ami(e)s !
It’s wonderful to have you back here with me today. Bienvenue !
In this newsletter, you’ll find three wonderful fresh articles taking you to France beyond the cliché.
And later today, PAID subscribers will receive the 16.42.a edition of le Bulletin - Not PAID yet? It’s not too late to upgrade and have tonight’s edition arrive in your inbox →
À bientôt !
Warmly,
Judy
24.10.26
1. MyFrenchLife™ Magazine new articles
“There are many talented contributors to MyFrenchLife Magazine and I thank all of you for sharing your experiences with us in such an engaging manner.
You take us right across France & deep into many worm-holes. We delight in discovering
and learning more about France beyond the cliché”
Merci
Judy
Our list of valued Contributors →
A reminder that ‘The Writers Room’ now resides here →
a) I Thought French Style Was About Clothes
by Jenny Becker
I moved to France expecting chic. Instead, I discovered I was trying to learn a language with a pair of sneakers.”
Before I moved to France, I thought French style lived somewhere between a navy trench coat and a perfectly tied silk scarf, with impossibly clean white sneakers carrying the whole operation along as though they had never once encountered mud, gravel, or an overenthusiastic Labrador.”It all looked wonderfully effortless.”
I assumed, rather confidently, that becoming French was simply a matter of buying the right things. Which, in hindsight, is a wonderfully American way to misunderstand France.”
It started with the sneakers. Les baskets. They seemed to be everywhere. White. Spotless. Timeless…” wrote Jenny.
b) La Boulangerie – Part One: Sacrée Baguette!
Richard Holdsworth
Why a loaf of bread in France is more than food. From daily bakery visits to national pride and craftsmanship, the baguette exemplifies how ordinary objects can become part of French identity.
As a lad in the Yorkshire Dales, I helped my mother bake our weekly bread. It wasn’t a chore; I loved the kneading, the rising dough in a big bowl by the open fire, and the hollow sound of a done loaf when my knuckle tapped its bottom. It was wholesome, nourishing, humble, nothing exceptional. So, one of the surprises about France is how sacred the baguette is! ‘ wrote Richard.
c) A (brief) Moment of Delight, Paris 2022
Jenn Bragg
It was on a sunny day in May, when the chill of early spring moves aside to make way for summer. Sitting in my tiny Parisian studio, I had a hankering for a salad from my local bakery. I visualized lush butter lettuce surrounded by neatly organized sections of bright shredded carrot, small pink radishes scored at their white tips and a patch of finely sliced turnips — all tucked neatly into a bowl with tuna on top. With dessert to follow, bien sûr.”
I grabbed my purse and left the apartment. My eyes ached briefly in the natural light as I stepped out onto Rue…” wrote Jenn.
2. INVITATION & RSVP:
The MyFrenchLife™ French BookClub is back. DISCUSSION EVENT: 7 & 8 NOVEMBER 2026
We’re reading Live Fast (Vivre Vite) by Brigitte Giraud, the 2022 Prix Goncourt winner, and you’re invited to join us. I’ll be hosting, together with returning co-host and valued contributor Keith Van Sickle, who suggested this book.
It’s not too late to get the book and start reading, in French or English; our discussion will be in English. RSVP is essential to receive the access link.
I’m looking forward to many of you joining us in a lively chat.
HERE you’ll find the invitation and RSVP form→ This event is across many time zones - check the time for your location←
Judy
3. Merci mille fois
“Thank you for subscribing to ‘le Bulletin’, the newsletter of MyFrenchLife™ Magazine.”
Judy MacMahon
Merci mille fois d’être ici, mes ami(e)s. Thanks for being here.
THIS IS FRANCE AS IT HAPPENS…
My thanks this week to Jenny Becker, Richard Holdsworth and Jenn Bragg, who each found France in the small, ordinary things: a pair of shoes, a loaf of bread, a salad from the bakery. If one of them made you smile, tell them so in the comments under their piece.
And a question for you:
What did you expect France to be, and what did it turn out to be instead? Were your expectations different from your experience?
There’s still time to join us for the BookClub on 7 and 8 November. We’re reading Vivre vite (Live Fast) by Brigitte Giraud, in French or English, and RSVP is essential to receive the access link - see it above.
Merci mille fois d’être ici, mes ami(e)s. Thanks for being here.
À bientôt !
Judy
judy@myfrenchlife.org
Thanks for reading ‘le Bulletin’! This post is public, so feel free to share it.
‘le Bulletin’ is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support us, I personally ask you to consider becoming a free or annual subscriber.
Here’s how you can stay in touch & personalise your le Bulletin experience, and deepen your French connection.
? Here you can UNLOCK EXCLUSIVE FRENCH STORIES:
Become an annual member and save! Enjoy exclusive, intimate glimpses into France and French lives delivered straight to your inbox.
⭐ How you can BECOME A CHERISHED MIGHTY SUPPORTER:
If you love le Bulletin, you can help us share more stories of remarkable French women and authentic French experiences. Plus, enjoy special perks!
? Perhaps you’d like to SHARE THE INSPIRATION:
Gift le Bulletin to friends and family who admire the strength and spirit of French women. It’s the perfect way to share your passion for France.
? And don’t forget… you can always EXPLORE THE ARCHIVES:
Discover even more inspiring stories in our complete newsletter archive. Perfect for satisfying your Francophile cravings whenever suits you, wherever you live.
