Resources

Bonjour and welcome to my French farmhouse kitchen!

This page is where I share the tools, ingredients, and inspiration that make cooking and slow living such a joy in our home. Many of these are items I use daily or have learned to love through family traditions in France. I hope they help you feel more confident and inspired in your own kitchen.

(Some links below are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend what I truly love and use myself.)

1. Kitchen & Cookware Essentials

These are the pieces that make French cooking easier and more enjoyable:

• Dutch Oven / Cocotte: My go-to for soups, stews, and cassoulet. My trusty dutch oven and the one I really want: Staub 7 qt. Cocotte
• Cast Iron Skillet: For searing vegetables and making rustic tarts. Check it out here
• Baking & Roasting Dish: For roasting vegetables and meats. My favorite dish (it’s extra large).
• Tart & Quiche Pans: A must-have for quiche Lorraine and sweet fruit tarts. Favorite quiche pan
• Sharp Bread Knife: Key to cutting sharp, even slices. Here’s the knife I love and use everyday.
• Versatile Paring Knives: One of the most important tools in my kitchen. Opinel knives.
• Immersion Blender: Perfect for soups and sauces. Immersion blender
• Olive Wood Butter Spreaders: We use these daily.

Tip: You don’t need a huge collection of gadgets. Just a few well-made tools go a long way in French farmhouse cooking.

2. Pantry Staples & Ingredients

A well-stocked French pantry is the heart of good food. These are some essentials I keep on hand:

• Olive Oil & Vinegar: My favorite everyday olive oil
• Sea Salt & Fleur de Sel: French finishing salt
• Herbes de Provence & Fresh Herbs: You can purchase these, or make your own Herbs de Provence
• Dijon Mustard: Classic Dijon
• Jams & Honey: Perfect for tartines and baking. I like this brand. But, homemade jams and local honey are best.
• Flour: I prefer Stone Milled Organic Flour. My current favorite.

3. French Pantry Resources

Bring the charm of a French kitchen into your own home with these trusted online shops for authentic ingredients and pantry staples. These are wonderful sources for olive oils, sea salts, jams, flours, and other French essentials you often see in my recipes.

• Simply Gourmand: A lovely U.S.-based source for French grocery staples — from Dijon mustard and chocolate to herbs and baking goods.
• Cuisinery Food Market: A convenient online market offering high-quality frozen foods — including French pastries, seafood, and prepared dishes — perfect for keeping easy French favorites on hand.
• Yummy Bazaar: A gourmet marketplace offering French and European foods, perfect for stocking your pantry with unique finds.
• The French Pantry: A curated California-based importer with beautiful French pantry products — butters, jams, and more.
• The French Farm: A family-run shop importing fine French foods and kitchenware — a wonderful mix of pantry and lifestyle items.
• Mon Épicerie Française: An authentic French grocer that ships directly to the U.S., ideal for truly imported biscuits, condiments, and chocolates.

Along with my mother and grandmother’s wisdom, these books have shaped the way I cook and live:

• Mastering the Art of French Cooking – Julia Child
• The Cook’s Atelier: Recipes, Techniques, and Stories from Our French Cooking School  – Marjorie Taylor and Kendall Smith Franchini
• French Country Cooking – Mimi Thorisson
• The Cooking of Southwest France – Paula Wolfert

4. Living & Lifestyle Books for Health and Joy

French-inspired living is about more than food — it’s about health, balance, and savoring life. These books explore how traditional, intentional ways of eating and living can improve well-being and bring more joy to everyday routines:

• In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan – A simple, thoughtful guide to eating whole, unprocessed foods: “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” It aligns beautifully with the way my French family cooked — seasonal, nourishing, and never overcomplicated.
• French Kids Eat Everything by Karen Le Billon – An interesting look at how French food culture helps raise children who love real food. It’s full of practical tips and stories that show how mealtimes can be both structured and joyful, for young and old alike.
• Joie de Vivre by Harriet Welty Rochefort – Explores the French philosophy of living well: slowing down, finding joy in simple rituals, and embracing life’s little pleasures.
• French Women Don’t Get Fat by Mireille Guiliano – A classic on portion control, mindful eating, and finding pleasure in food without guilt. I love her focus on savoring meals and walking as part of daily life.
• The French Don’t Diet by Dr. Will Clower – A refreshing take on health and weight, this book emphasizes enjoying real food, slowing down, and listening to your body rather than following strict diet rules. It echoes the French approach to eating with pleasure, balance, and moderation.
  

How to Use This Page

Come back often — I’ll update this list as I discover new favorites or create helpful guides for you.