Chef Jared Van Camp's new West Loop restaurant is almost ready. We got an early look, and we haven't been this excited for an opening in quite a while. more ›

Don't be fooled by the name - Toni Patisserie is a good source for all your favorite French cafe standards, sweet and savory. more ›

Serge Gainsbourg’s influence extends beyond his country’s borders, so Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life, is worth seeing even if you’re not so into the French thing. The film makes its Chicago premiere tomorrow night. more ›

Don’t be fooled by their simple appearance. Crafting the perfect crepe is anything but an effortless endeavor. Thin and delicate, they take a skilled hand and plenty of precision. Most importantly, great crepes require creativity in both execution and presentation. They should be works of art - great tasting works of gastronomical art. Luckily, the folks at Icosium Kafe have some real artists in their kitchens. more ›

As if dating in this city isn't treacherous enough, finding a restaurant with the right "romantic night out" feel complicates matters even more. Luckily for you, Chicagoist is always on the lookout for intimate spots that will sweep you and your hot date off your feet. Cyrano's Bistrot is one of those rare spots that provides a foolproof date night. It was warm, it was cozy, they had live music, and the food was fantastic. Paris might be the city for lovers, but Cyrano's makes us believe that Chicago has at least a fighting chance. more ›

Jean Paul Belmondo, in Mississippi Mermaid, tells Catherine Deneuve's character: "You're so beautiful it hurts to look at you." That isn't exactly the sort of statement one could assert to be true or not (though many have tried), but after an incredible 50 years captivating audiences onscreen we must admit that if it is, it must hurt so good. more ›

The French, it seems, can make an art out of almost anything. Perhaps it is the saccharine drawl of the language. Or maybe it’s the intoxicating effect of the wines. Whatever the reason, they seem to be able to infuse everything from their art to their food with an unmistakable joie de vivre. Nowhere is that love of life and the good things more evident than in the delicate art of French pastry. Anyone looking to savor a little of that art for themselves need look no further than Bonjour Bakery Cafe. Its is a little piece of Paris right in the heart of Hyde Park. more ›

Two of your favorite Chicagoist foodies, Roger and Caitlin, combined forces and visited the newly opened Maude’s Liquor Bar to find out if it lives up to its hype. Roger: I loved it. Caitlin: I flippin’ hate this place. more ›

While Argyle St. may be the destination spot for big bowls of phổ and bánh mì sandwiches, some claim that the pastries and treats at La Patisserie P demand a trip up north. La Patisserie P offers a unique bakery experience, as they cater to their neighborhood niche. more ›

Joan Nathan has authored a terrific new cookbook about French-Jewish cuisine, offering a set of recipes many food lovers have never seen. "Quiches, Kugels and Couscous: My Search for Jewish Cooking in France" takes readers through this previously under-documented food culture and includes twists on many traditional french specialties. more ›

In France, the release of the year's first Beaujolais Nouveau is the occasion for a giant party. The third Thursday of November marks the date, and the wine is shipped around the world in secret and cannot be opened before that time. The wine is meant to be drunk extremely young, so it all has to be drunk now - after one or two years, it won't be fit for much. more ›

Katherine Shillcutt, writing for the Houston Press, has created one of the funniest visual representations of food information that we have ever seen. We are slightly biased, as we're suckers for Venn Diagrams, but the concept is particularly interesting. Officially based on "Texas diners" but applicable to any average American, the diagrams show where American versions of ethnic cuisines and the authentic versions of those cuisines overlap. more ›

Ah those French can be so incestuous. Sébastien Tellier's first big tour was with sonic brethren Air, and his latest disc Sexuality was produced by sonic opposite Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo of Daft Punk. Tellier creates frothy compositions that at times just barely hold on to terrestrial grounding, constantly threatening to gently rise into the upper reaches of the atmosphere. more ›

Tuesday night's show at Logan Square Auditorium was like a junior high hipster sock hop infiltrated and humped to within an inch of its life by the glowstick toting rave nation. Girls and their boytoys pogoed in unison -- with uniformly plastered smiles upon their sweat drenched mugs -- to the sugary sweet beats and NSFW come-ons chirped by French pop chanteuse Yelle. We would define the room's mood as exuberant bordering on noo-kyoo-ler. In short; it was pretty awesome. more ›

We’ve been a big fan of Le Colonial for a long time, and after visiting the posh French/Vietnamese restaurant a couple of weeks ago we remembered why. That particular part of River North, replete with restaurants of all shapes and sizes, doesn’t usually impress us with the quality of its offerings – but a few excellent dining options can be found if you look hard. The Chicago outpost of Le Colonial is in the midst of the Oak Street shopping district, but don’t let that fool you – the food isn’t just for viewing. more ›