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Dry January vs French January: how France’s wine culture is adapting to drinking less
Vigneron columnist Jonathan Hesford gives his advice on enjoying l'art de vivre without overindulging
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Self-service mini shops spread in rural western France
The ‘supérettes’ are in areas without easy access to a shop
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When and why do we say c'est la sardine qui a bouché le port de Marseille?
Marseille, a ship, a very big sardine, and a stereotype
Local speciality: Le Mans rillettes
The slow-cooked pork dish is an apéro favourite
In some ways an ancient precursor to the now omnipresent ‘pulled pork’ (but cooked in fat), rillettes is the original slow-cooked, heavily salted and shredded belly or shoulder meat spread. Le Mans in Sarthe is the dish’s spiritual home, popularised there in the 19th century.
The rival Tours version of rillettes is less fatty.
Serve on bread or crackers with gherkins.
