Fishwives of Paris

The Tarte Tropézienne is one of the most famous desserts on the French Riviera, but it wasn't invented by a French pastry chef. In this episode, Emily and Caroline uncover the surprising story behind Saint-Tropez's signature pastry. From Polish immigrant baker Alexandre Micka to Brigitte Bardot's unexpected role in naming the dessert, they explore how a family recipe became a French icon. Along th...

Did you know some of the world's most sought-after wines are made with mold? In this episode of Fishwives of Paris, Emily Monaco and Caroline Fazeli explore the fascinating world of Botrytis cinerea, the fungus known as "noble rot." While this mold can devastate vineyards when conditions are wrong, under the right circumstances it transforms grapes into some of the world's most celebrated sweet wi...

The croque monsieur may look like nothing more than a fancy grilled ham and cheese, but Paris' favorite café sandwich has a surprisingly strange history. This week, Emily and Caroline trace the origins of the croque monsieur from Belle Époque cafés and the bustling markets of Les Halles to modern Parisian versions topped with truffle, caviar, and artisanal cheeses. Along the way, they unpack the b...

Have you ever sat down at a restaurant in France and realized the entire experience feels… different? The meal takes longer, the waiter seems oddly unbothered by your schedule, substitutions are met with distain, and somehow dinner starts feeling less like a transaction and more like a ritual. This week, Emily and Caroline have invited gastronomy guide and chef Allison Zinder to explain how the re...

In this episode of Fishwives of Paris, we dig into the surprising political power of food, using one very specific (and very French) example: asparagus. From a real-life diplomatic moment involving former French President François Hollande to centuries-old traditions of royal spectacle, we'll explore how food has long been used to shape public image, signal power, and reflect national identity. Al...

No one loves a maximalist style American charcuterie board more than we do. The thing is - it's not *actually* what would count as charcuterie here in France. On this week's episode, we are talking about what actually counts as charcuterie in France, and why the way we eat it today looks so different from how it’s traditionally served. Listen in as we break down the real meaning of charcuterie, fr...

What actually is a bistro, and why does Paris seem to have a different word for every type of restaurant? In this episode of Fishwives of Paris , Emily Monaco and Caroline Fazeli break down one of the most misunderstood concepts in French food culture. From cafés to brasseries to bouillons, the lines between these establishments used to be clear, but today, they are anything but. Along the way, th...

In this episode of Fishwives of Paris , Emily and Caroline unpack the real story of Marie-Antoine Carême, the ambitious pastry chef who rose to cook for diplomats, emperors, and tsars, and helped shape modern French cuisine. Beyond the dramatized version, Carême was a master of image and storytelling, even spreading myths about his own life. While he was not a spy, he was deeply connected to power...

Potatoes are one of the most iconic ingredients in French cuisine today. But for centuries, the French refused to eat them. In this episode of Fishwives of Paris, Emily Monaco and Caroline Fazeli uncover the strange and fascinating story of how the humble potato went from feared outsider to beloved staple of French cooking. Once thought to cause leprosy and plague, potatoes were even banned in Fra...

Mexican food in France is often treated as cheap street food, but chef Carla Kirsch is challenging that narrative. In this episode of Fishwives of Paris , we sit down with the Mexican-born, French-trained chef behind Alebrije in Lyon to talk about bringing Mexican cuisine into the French fine dining world. We dig into why French diners expect Mexican food to be inexpensive, why spice still scares...

Is beef bourguignon really a rustic Burgundian peasant dish? Or is it one of France’s greatest culinary PR successes? In this episode, Emily Monaco and Caroline Fazeli dig into the surprisingly modern (and non-Burgundian) origins of beef bourguignon, how it became a symbol of “traditional” French home cooking, and why the version most of us recognize today owes a lot to Parisian restaurants, Escof...

Crêpes Are Not Street Food (Mostly) Crêpes may be one of France’s most iconic foods, but chances are you have been eating them wrong, or at least misunderstanding what they are. In this episode of Fishwives of Paris , Emily and Caroline break down the myths surrounding crêpes, explain why treating them as street food is mostly a tourist habit, and unpack the deep regional identity behind Brittany’...

Tartiflette May Look Like an Old-School Dish, But It’s a Marketing Coup in Disguise The French are masters of après-ski delicacies like cheesy raclette, fondue, and tartiflette – hearty dishes with loads of melty cheese to help you warm up after a day on the slopes. But while tartiflette may look like a time-tested creation with deep Savoyard roots, the reality is that this casserole of potatoes,...

Mushrooms Are Fun Guys – As Long as They Don’t Kill Ya If you see Paris mushrooms on a French menu, don't go assuming they've been grown in the French capital – these days, about 70% are actually grown in China. Their name is a reference, not to their provenance, but to their roots: Paris mushrooms first gained acclaim in the gardens of the palace of Versailles before their culture moved to the un...

The Bûche de Noël and French Christmas Episode It’s no surprise, in structure-loving France, that the menu for Christmas dinner is pretty much set in stone – or should we say, petrified in wood? After a veritable eating frenzy of oysters, foie gras, roasted capon, and more truffle-studded cheese than any accountant (or cardiologist) would recommend, on December 24th, most French people feast on a...

The Episode Where we Party Poop on Champagne Dom Pérignon’s French Wikipedia page claims he invented Champagne – but the truth is way cooler than that. The world’s best-known sparkling wine has roots in English cider-making and has a host of intrepid local widows to thank for its deliciousness, not to mention its renown. Tune in to learn: How Champagne accidentally became one of the most lauded wi...

CEO Apollonia Poilâne on how Poilâne defied baguette trends, inspired Dalí, and threads a century of history into each loaf Watch full episodes in 4k on Youtube Follow us on Instagram , TikTok , Facebook , and join our Facebook group . Mentioned in this episode: Rate, Review, and Subscribe! Get our Bastille Day box! Find it here! https://cart.winedinecaroline.com/fw-summer-box/

Every third Thursday of November, French bartenders across the hexagon pull millions of corks, unleashing aromas of banana Runts and regret: it’s time for Beaujolais Nouveau , a wine whose release date is literally written into law, and whose marketing has included everything from Japanese Beaujolais baths to hot-air-balloon deliveries . Beaujolais Nouveau has a surprisingly deep history, rooted i...

Forget bacon and eggs, in France, breakfast doesn’t even come on a plate. 🥐☕️ Instead, it’s all about the bowl, a ritual shaped by global trade, 17th-century aristocrats, and a serious caffeine habit. Tune in to learn: Why the French word for lunch, déjeuner , actually means breakfast The FWOP's take on bacon and brunch in France How three caffeinated plants from three corners of the world: coff...

French wine appellations are often treated as ancient institutions, but many are surprisingly modern, and new appellations are still being created today. In this episode, legendary Northern Rhône winemaker Yves Cuilleron explains how Seyssuel, a once-famous vineyard region planted before Côte-Rôtie, disappeared completely during the twentieth century and is now being rebuilt from scratch. From Rom...

Camembert is one of France's most iconic foods, but its history is far stranger than most people realize. Was it really invented by a Norman farm girl and a fugitive priest during the French Revolution? Why did trains help make it famous? Why can't Americans buy authentic Camembert de Normandie? And what happened to the original molds that once covered the cheese? Caroline Fazeli and Emily Monaco...

The baguette is one of the most recognizable symbols of France, but its origins are far more complicated than most people realize. Emily Monaco and Caroline Fazeli explore the myths surrounding the baguette, from Napoleon and Metro construction workers to labor laws and industrial baking. They uncover the Austrian influences, technological innovations, and historical events that shaped modern Fren...

The Real Fishwives of Paris is the French food and wine podcast that flips the table on tradition. Hosted by Lyon-based sommelier Caroline Fazeli and Parisian food journalist Emily Monaco, we bust myths, explore culinary history, and tell the untold stories of French cuisine and wine culture. 🎙️ Launches September 15th! 🍷 Learn about French food traditions, wine education, Paris food culture, Lyo...