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Fishwives of Paris

Flipping the table on French food mythology and serving the real stories behind your favorite cuisine.


Latest episode

  • Tartiflette: Humble Beginnings or Brilliant Marketing?

    19:50|
    Tartiflette May Look Like an Old-School Dish, But It’s a Marketing Coup in DisguiseThe 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, bacon, onions, and melted Reblochon cheese is a baby by French food standards, invented in the ‘80s by a clever ski resort owner looking to make good on a dairy glut. But this is no simple case of terroir-washing, as Emily and Caroline are here to share.Tune in to discover:The story of how tax evasion led to the invention of the stinky, washed-rind marvel known as ReblochonWhy the roots of tartiflette run deeper than you'd thinkHow to recreate this French specialty at home – even if you can't get your hands on raw milk French cheeseIn this episode we mention Oma cheese from the Von Trapp family in Vermont.Hosted by Lyon-based sommelier Caroline Fazeli & Paris-based food journalist Emily Monaco.Follow us on Instagram: @fishwivesofparisWe are currently seeking partnerships. If that’s you, get in touch: bonjour@fishwivesofparis.com

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  • The Secret Lives of French Mushrooms

    23:58|
    Mushrooms Are Fun Guys – As Long as They Don’t Kill YaIf 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 underground caverns of the Catacombs.In this episode, you’ll learn:The role French pharmacies play in foraging for mushroomsWhy the French word for mushrooms might make you pauseWhy foraging in France is treated as sacred — and tightly guardedThe unsuspecting relationship between mushrooms and the catacombs of Paris How the Loire Valley incorporates tourism into mushroom productionWhy French shoppers fiercely prioritize hyper-local produceHow the French prepare mushrooms, including our favorite spot to enjoy them stuffed with snails, garlic, and butterPlaces, people & references mentioned:La Cave des Roches – A historic mushroom farm in the Loire Valley that now relies on tourism to survive economically challenging timesBruno Zamblera – A grower who still cultivates mushrooms underground, continuing a nearly lost traditionCafé de Musée – Where Escargots à la Bourguignonne are reimagined using mushroom caps instead of snails (Emily’s favorite) Mushroom dishes & recipes discussed:Duxelles – Finely chopped mushrooms cooked down with shallots and herbsSauce à la Forestière – A classic mushroom-forward French sauceThis episode is a journey through tunnels, traditions, and taboos — revealing how something as humble as a mushroom can tell the story of Paris, French food culture, and what it means to eat locally in a globalized world.Hosted by Lyon-based sommelier Caroline Fazeli & Paris-based food journalist Emily Monaco.Follow us on Instagram: @fishwivesofparisWe are currently seeking partnerships. If that’s you, get in touch: bonjour@fishwivesofparis.com
  • 8. Lowkey, Christmas is Pagan AF

    25:13||Season 1, Ep. 8
    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 cake shaped into a log, complete with meringue mushrooms and chocolate bark. And before you go trying to link the Yule log to a manger, know that the bûche de Noël has got nothing to do with the birth of Jesus.Tune in to discover:How and why France co-opted a pagan tradition to turn it into a pastry marvelWhy we have the English to thank for making bûche de Noël an approachable home bakeJust some of the most out-there bûches on offer from celebrity pastry chefsWhy most French people deviate from tradition with a newer version of a bûche that’s easier, cheaper, and a whole lot lighterCheck out our Instagram to see photos of Caroline's Caga Tio creation from the episode @fishwivesofparisWe collaborated with Lucy Vanel of PLUM Lyon for a gorgeous meringue mushroom recipe which you can find on our episode webpage: https://www.fishwivesofparis.com/episodes/s1/the-buche-de-noel-episode/Hosted by Lyon-based sommelier Caroline Fazeli & Paris-based food journalist Emily Monaco.Follow us on Instagram: @fishwivesofparisWe are currently seeking partnerships. If that’s you, get in touch: bonjour@fishwivesofparis.comWe are now proud partners of Goget
  • 7. Sh*tting All Over Champagne

    29:24||Season 1, Ep. 7
    The Episode Where we Party Poop on ChampagneDom 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 wines in the worldWhich glassware to choose and whyWhat the heck Dom Pérignon actually did to give him such a reputationHosted by Lyon-based sommelier Caroline Fazeli & Paris-based food journalist Emily Monaco.Follow us on Instagram: @fishwivesofparisWe are currently seeking partnerships. If that’s you, get in touch: bonjour@realfishwivesofparis.com
  • 6. Bread is Life

    40:14||Season 1, Ep. 6
  • 5. Hot Air Balloons & Regret: Beaujolais Nouveau Has Arrived

    27:36||Season 1, Ep. 5
    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 in the 14th-century banishment of the Gamay grape from bougier Burgundy. Once dismissed as a gimmick, this glou-glou (gluggable) red has evolved and Caroline and Emily are here to defend its honor.🎙️ Tune in to learn: • The story of the man who made Beaujolais Nouveau a 1970s global phenomenon • The winemaking technique that makes Beaujolais uniquely drinkable young • Why you might be wrong about not aging Beaujolais Nouveau • And whether pairing it with Thanksgiving dinner is genius… or just a marketing myth🎧 Fishwives of Paris — where French food myths go to die. Hosted by Lyon-based sommelier Caroline Fazeli and Paris-based food journalist Emily Monaco.Follow us on Instagram: @fishwivesofparisWe are now proud Goguette affiliates.  💌Want to partner with us? We’d love to talk to you about press and sponsorship opportunities here: bonjour@fishwivesofparis.com
  • 4. Satan’s Beverage & Toasted Colonialism: A Tale of French Breakfast

    36:14||Season 1, Ep. 4
    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 breakfastThe FWOP's take on bacon and brunch in FranceHow three caffeinated plants from three corners of the world: coffee, tea, and chocolate changed French mornings foreverWhat French people actually eat for breakfast (spoiler: it’s not croissants 🫣)Plus: Caroline and Emily spill their favorite breakfast spots in Paris (5 Pailles) and Lyon (Odessa and Le Déjeuneur).🎧 Fishwives of Paris — where French food myths go to die (and breakfast gets a reality check).Hosted by Lyon-based sommelier Caroline Fazeli & Paris-based food journalist Emily Monaco.Follow us on Instagram: @fishwivesofparisWe are currently seeking partnerships. If that’s you, get in touch: bonjour@fishwivesofparis.com