From the origins of the Michelin Guide to the good (and bad) food trends in France – this week’s La Belle Vie newsletter offers an essential starting point for eating, talking, drinking, and living like a local.
La Belle Vie is our regular look at the real culture of France – from language to cuisine, manners to films. This newsletter is published weekly and you can receive it directly to your inbox, by going to your newsletter preferences in “My account”.
Hello readers,
If there’s one thing the French are proud of, it’s definitely their food. It’s also a subject I tend to bring up a lot during these weekly columns, and it’s something I could talk about endlessly.
This week, the Michelin Guide released its 2026 edition, highlighting starred restaurants throughout France. Fun fact: the guide was created for the 1900 Universal Exposition and given to anyone who purchased tyres. The idea was to encourage people to travel more by car across the country – and in turn, use more tyres.
REVEALED: What makes the French proud?
But dining in starred restaurants can cost a fortune. Fortunately, the Michelin Guide created a label called the Bib Gourmand, which recognises restaurants offering a full meal for around €40 to €45 (excluding drinks) or even less!
I actually tested one that is on the list in Paris – Kodawari Ramen (6ème arrondissement). One of my favourite things to eat (besides French food) is any type of Asian cuisine – especially any sort of noodles in any sort of broth. This spot has been popular for years. When it opened, there was always a huge line of people waiting outside at all hours of the day – it eventually became unmanageable.
The restaurant recently installed a system where you arrive in front of the restaurant, scan a QR code, and it will tell you the approximate waiting time. It’s definitely worth it.
10 choices for French Michelin-style dining for under €40
I was reading a book recently by Ruby Tandoh, Why We Eat the Way We Eat Now, where the author discusses various food trends that have emerged with social media. Instagram and TikTok are filled with recipes, restaurant recommendations and what’s trending in every part of the world.
In Paris, the trend that I’ve noticed is restaurants that offer sharing plates. The idea is to order 2-3 plates per person, which allows you to try everything on the menu in small portions.
Now my disdain for this practice is shared by many French influencers who are “tired” of having to share plates with the whole table and think three times about grabbing that last stuffed pepper or mini focaccia, which has already been cut into five slices. Whatever happened to being free to eat a whole plate of something you chose yourself?
Well, I’ve got the perfect option for you – and on top of it all, it’s reasonably priced. The Bouillon Chartier restaurants in Paris were originally created in the late 19th century with a very practical social goal – to provide affordable meals to working-class Parisians.
The first location opened in 1896 near Grands Boulevards (9ème arrondissement), during a time when industrialisation was drawing large numbers of workers into the city who needed quick, inexpensive meal options. The term “bouillon” referred to a simple broth-based meal and is used widely in restaurant names across the country.
The Paris dining trend that’s delicious, traditional and cheap
What makes Bouillon Chartier restaurants distinctive is their shared tables, rapid turnover, handwritten bills on paper table cloths, and a menu focused on classic French dishes at low prices.
This is something I would recommend to anyone who is looking for a French experience. I’ve heard some say they think the quality of the food is not high enough, but I have to disagree – you’re paying less than €10 for some dishes, it’s simple cuisine, with basic ingredients and classic recipes. It’s truly à la bonne franquette quoi !
French Expression of the Day: À la bonne franquette
Another thing I would recommend to people is any culinary festival you can come across. In my part of Brittany, every year, we have the traditional Fête de la Coquille Saint-Jacques (literal translation: scallop party). It’s a seafood festival dedicated to celebrating the scallop harvest, the local speciality.
It’s definitely a popular regional event held in different port towns each year, featuring fresh scallops sold directly by fishermen, cooking demonstrations by chefs, tastings, music, and cultural activities. This year it is held in Erquy (Côtes-d’Armor, Brittany) on April 25th to April 26th.
There’s an incredible ham festival (Foire au Jambon) in Bayonne (Basque Country), which I have yet to try out, also happening every year in April.
Everything that changes in France in April 2026
Dining and Cooking