Balloons, champagne and a grand prize: come to the big party!

Balloons, champagne and a grand prize: come to the big party!

So, are you a beginner or intermediate in French, and fluency keeps moving farther and farther in the future?

Would you like to speak fluidly French in 5 months or less, and after that manage your own progress, with virtually no more investment in French classes?

I have the perfect program for you: the J’Ouellette® Intensif.

After 8 years of running this program, we are moving to a different structure of our programs.

Therefore, you should HURRY UP and register before April 29, if you:
– are an overachiever
– get motivated by the perspective of becoming conversational in 3-5 months
– want to check off “French” from your TO-DO list and move on to your next projects

Meanwhile, Monsieur Intensif is retiring with a lot of music, movies, culture, fun, and a huge prize for you, the party goers.

He’s moving on to a new, exciting phase in his life, full of travel and new experiences he didn’t have a chance to try

***We welcome your participation to the big party, and the person with the most comments will win the Grand Prize of the retirement: the program From Newbie to Oh, là-là !

1. La musique

What music is M. Intensif listening to?

He loves Zaz, and watches her every clip.

Do you like Zaz? I personally adore her 🙂

And now it’s your turn.

What French music do YOU listen to?
Comment below, for a chance to win the Grand Prize, and check out the J’Ouellette® Intensif before he retires, on April 29th.

2. Le camping

What’s better than going outside of Paris and forget about civilization for a bit?

Well… even there the French speak French ; )

Near the lovely village of Fontvieille and close to Arles, Camping Huttopia Fontvieille is a great site with enthusiastic staff and a lovely pool. Snack food and bar on site.

That’s where everyone can camp the way they like best. Camp with your own equipment (tent, caravan, or motorhome) on a beautiful individual pitch, in one of our Wood & Canvas tents to enjoy the experience of sleeping under a canvas roof with all the comforts, or in a wooden Chalet!

Think M. Intensif can resist?

Why, no!

So he’s planning a great outing with his friends at this beautiful campsite.

And now it’s your turn.

What French camping do YOU recommend?
Comment below, for a chance to win the Grand Prize, and check out the J’Ouellette® Intensif before he retires, on April 29th.

3. La baguette

The top boulangeries in Paris, known for the best baguettes, are:
1. Le Grenier à Pain
2. Éric Kayser
3. Boulangerie Julien

M. Intensif prefers Le Grenier à Pain – no surprises there: he’s all about top quality.

But, if you are a maverick and want to try to make your own, here’s a video that’ll show you how.

And now it’s your turn.

What French boulangerie do YOU recommend?
Comment below, for a chance to win the Grand Prize, and check out the J’Ouellette® Intensif before he retires, on April 29th.

4. Le dîner en blanc

One of the the most unique French experiences is Le Dîner en Blanc in Paris.

Did you hear about it?

Le Dîner en Blanc® is an annual meeting of friends meeting for an evening of dinner in an exceptional place revealed at the last minute.

Friends, and friends of friends, all dressed in white and behaving with the greatest decorum, elegance and etiquette, the guests gather for a “classy picnic” in a place usually public.

For one evening, the guests have the privilege of experiencing the beauty and value of a place characteristic of the city by participating in the unexpected.

Beyond the show and the elegance of the event, Le Dîner en Blanc® is above all a celebration of friendship, beauty and good taste inspired by the gallantry and noble values ​​that once French society.

Without cars or pedestrian traffic, Le Dîner en Blanc® is not disturbed by any disturbance, except for the astonishment and delight of a few passersby who, like the guests, wonder if they are dreaming.

A concept born in France 31 years ago: launched by François Pasquier and a handful of his friends in 1988 in Paris.

The event is held in the most prestigious places of the French capital: le Pont des arts, la tour Eiffel, la pyramide du Louvre, l’esplanade du Trocadéro, la place Vendôme, le Château de Versailles, l’esplanade de Notre-Dame, l’esplanade des Invalides, la Place de l’Étoile, les Champs-Élysées, la place de la Concorde and le jardin du Palais Royal.

Now the number of guests are reaching over 15,000 and it was imported in over 100 cities worldwide.

Do you think that Monsieur Intensif can resist it?

That’s what retirement is for: adventure and checking off to-do’s from the bucket list.

He’s there!

And now it’s your turn.

Did you go to Dîner en Blanc® in your city? If yes, what can you share with us? If not, when will you go?

Comment below, for a chance to win the Grand Prize, and check out the J’Ouellette® Intensif before he retires, on April 29th.

5. Le voyage

Everybody goes to Paris, and we are also biased towards the city of light.

But where’s a Parisian to travel?

Bordeaux is the top favorite travel destination for the French, and here’s why:

1. It’s simple to reach by rail

2 The Queen call it “The very essence of elegance” (and this is one Lady we should believe)

3. It’s got the world’s greatest wine museum (and the wine isn’t bad either)

4. The food is incredible

5. Has 2962 restaurants

6. Art lovers are catered for, with a total of 11 museums

7. Amazing views from the Gothic St Michel church, whose free-standing spire is the tallest and most elegant building in Bordeaux

8. A beautiful river to wander beside: Garonne

9. Top-end shops gravitate around the Triangle d’Or, Bordeaux’s monumental heart, bounded by three fine boulevards (Cours Clemenceau, Cours de l’Intendance, Allées de Tourny)

10. Tons of day trips around the city

Monsieur Intensif is already planning his travels, buying his maps, cameras and calling his friends.

And now it’s your turn.

What cities do YOU recommend him to travel in France?
Comment below, for a chance to win the Grand Prize, and check out the J’Ouellette® Intensif before he retires, on April 29th.

6. L’amour

Mais, cher francophile, did you think that M. Intensif would have all this fun by himself?

Mais non !

Voilà Mademoiselle Immersion:

She’s not missing the trips, and she gives a great color to all the adventures M. Intensif has planned.

But the best part is that she inspires him to come up with the most fun and chic terms of endearment for her.

Here are a few I overheard the other day:

“ma bichette” (my little doe)

“ma cocotte” (my hen)

“ma poulette” (my little hen)

“ma minette” (my kitten)

“ma poupée” (my doll)

And his favorite declaration of love is “Je vis d’amour et d’eau fraîche” (I live with love and spring water.)

And now it’s your turn.

What French term of endearment do YOU love the most?
Comment below, for a chance to win the Grand Prize, and check out the J’Ouellette® Intensif before he retires, on April 29th.

7. Le restaurant

M. Intensif seems to need your help with this one.

How to find the best French restaurant in Paris: Michelin or Trip Advisor?

Funny how these two can never agree.

And he wants to wow his “cocotte” with the best of the best.

Although Michelin gave 3 stars 10 years in a row to the highly exclusive restaurant Epicure, 112 Rue Du Faubourg Saint-Honore Le Bristol, this exquisite place is not ranked their #1.

Here’s what an American writes about it:

Flawless

“We dined here finally after I had scheduled a table on two previous trips, yet cancelled due to being a bit intimidated by its reputation. We’ve dined at several 2 and 3 star Michelin restaurants. This was the best I’ve experienced. The service and food were near perfect. It was a pleasure to watch the staff work. It was classic fine service without being stuffy. Unfortunately, it was the same evening as the fire at Notre Dame, so my wife and I were saddened by that event. However, this was a truly special dining experience in a beautiful setting.”

Trip Advisor ranks Epicure as Paris’ Traveller’s choice 2018 winner, while Michelin’s top pick is Alain Ducasse’s Plaza Athénée restaurant.

Forbes is possibly in love with this one, though:

“One of the most celebrated chefs in the world, Alain Ducasse is often criticised for being a brand more than a chef. Ducasse Enterprises currently operates 23 restaurants in seven countries earning Mr Ducasse a total of 19 Michelin stars, and while the chef might rarely cook for clients nowadays, he is constantly in the kitchen seeking ways of reinventing French cuisine. And his Parisian flagship restaurant at palace-hotel Plaza Athénée certainly stands out from the rest in a bold move to honour ‘naturality’.”

“Which one, which one?” to quote Yzma from “The Emperor’s New Groove” (oh, maybe you didn’t want to know this quirk of mine after all : ))

But maybe you could pitch in and help M. Intensif choose the one that would be the most memorable.

And now it’s your turn.

What restaurant do YOU recommend and why?
Comment below, for a chance to win the Grand Prize, and check out the J’Ouellette® Intensif before he retires, on April 29th.

8. Les films

The big day of the Retreat Party is approaching.

Two days left, and Monsieur Intensif wants to see a good French film with his sweetheart, Mlle Immersion.

Are you challenged by the French verbs, pronunciation, genders?

Connecting with the French culture could be a fun way to practice the language every day, and French films can be of great help.

We found the top 10 French films of 2019: he now has to pick one:

10
Nicky Larson et le parfum de Cupidon (2019)
Film de Philippe Lacheau avec Philippe Lacheau, Elodie Fontan, Tarek Boudali

9
L’Heure de la sortie (2019)
Film de Sébastien Marnier avec Laurent Lafitte, Emmanuelle Bercot, Pascal Greggory

8
Une intime conviction (2019)
Film de Antoine Raimbault avec Marina Foïs, Olivier Gourmet, Laurent Lucas

7
Les Invisibles (2019)
Film de Louis-Julien Petit avec Audrey Lamy, Corinne Masiero, Noémie Lvovsky

6
Rebelles (2019)
Film de Allan Mauduit avec Cécile de France, Yolande Moreau, Audrey Lamy

5
Minuscule 2 : Les Mandibules du Bout du Monde (2019)
Long-métrage d’animation de Thomas Szabo et Hélène Giraud avec Thierry Frémont, Bruno Salomone, Stéphane

4
Grâce à Dieu (2019)
Film de François Ozon avec Melvil Poupaud, Denis Ménochet, Swann Arlaud

3
Mon Inconnue (2019)
Film de Hugo Gélin avec François Civil, Joséphine Japy, Benjamin Lavernhe

2
Le Chant du loup (2019)
Film de Abel Lanzac (Antonin Baudry) avec François Civil, Omar Sy, Mathieu Kassovitz

1
Edmond (2019)
Film de Alexis Michalik avec Thomas Soliveres, Olivier Gourmet, Mathilde Seigner

And now it’s your turn.

What film do YOU recommend and why?
Comment below, for a chance to win the Grand Prize, and check out the J’Ouellette® Intensif before he retires, on April 29th.

9. La fête

Not many can pride themselves for throwing an authentic French party, but we’re here to help.

Martha stewart studied the little details that you too can consider, if you want to give your guests a taste à la française.

Entertaining is an art, and it’s one that the French seem to have mastered. There’s an elegance, style, and a certain, je ne sais quoi.

The idea is to hold a picturesque gathering that somehow feels nonchalant, to make entertaining seem more like secondhand nature than actual skill.

Here are 7 secrets that can make your party a big hit:

1. Entertain “en plain air” (outdoors)

2. When decorating, less is always more

3. Give your guests activities

4. Have plenty of wine

5. Think small bites over big portions

6. For dessert, think savory, not sweet

7. Above all else, savor the moment

…after all, this is the way to master “le savoir vivre”.

And now it’s your turn.

Which one of the 7 secrets above will you use for YOUR parties?
Comment below, for a chance to win the Grand Prize, and check out the J’Ouellette® Intensif before he retires, on April 29th.

After you leave your comment, please SHARE this page with your friends, and spread the fun. They’ll love you for it! : )

À la prochaine,
Llyane

Photo credit: Tatyana Markovtsev, A.G. photographe, telegraph.co.uk, senscritique.com, marthastewart.com