France

The economy might prevent you from traveling abroad this summer, but that shouldn’t stop you from having a Parisian getaway here in Chicago. We turned to Frenchman Dominique Tougne, executive chef at Bistro 110, for some French-flavored local activities that will make it feel as if you’re spending a long weekend in Paris.

Day 1
Art attack
To get a taste of turn-of-the-20th-century France, head downtown to the Loyola University Museum of Art (820 N Michigan Ave) which is offering “Rodin: In His Own Words,” a collection of 36 of French artist Auguste Rodin’s bronze sculptures (including a smaller version of his most famous, The Thinker) as well as his published writings and original letters. “Probably one of the most beautiful museums in Paris is the Rodin Museum,” Tougne says. “I think it’s really great for us to have a little piece of this museum here in Chicago.” Another exhibition in the museum, “Paris-Chicago: The Photography of Jean-Christophe Ballot—An Architectural Dialogue,” looks at the relationship between the historic architecture of Paris and Chicago’s modern buildings. (Paris and Chicago are sister cities.) Want more? Attend the free lecture (given in both French and English) that discusses Ballot’s photos at Alliance Française (54 W Chicago Ave, 312-337-1070) Thursday 18 at 8pm. Both shows are on display through August 16. Once you’ve gotten your French art fix, grab a bite at Tougne’s Bistro 110 (110 E Pearson St, 312-266-3110). The chef says you can’t go wrong starting with a bowl of French onion soup and ending your meal with some authentic créme brulée.

Day 2
Let the games begin
The game petanque, pronounced “pay-TAHNK,” is like a French version of bocce. Players stand in a small circle and throw hollow metal balls as close as possible to a small wooden ball (called a cochonnet). “It’s a very well known sport in France,” Tougne says. “Some people, of course, are professional and are extremely precise. But it’s really a game everyone can play—even kids.” On Saturday 20, you can check out the action at the fourth annual Petanque tournament on Grant Park’s softball fields, hosted by the Chicago Petanque Club. Afterward, treat yourself to some authentic French pastries: Vanille Patisserie (2229 N Clybourn Ave, 773-868-4574) in Lincoln Park serves entremets (a.k.a. mousse cakes) and tarts. “Maybe this sounds pretentious, but this is my favorite pastry shop in the nation,” he says. “I think they are doing an unbelievable job there—they have the best croissants!”

Day 3
Dinner and a movie
A visit to the new mega Whole Foods (1550 N Kingsbury St, 312-587-0648) isn’t exactly like visiting a Paris market, but the experience of shopping at “Whole Paycheck” isn’t why Tougne is sending you here. He wants to turn you on to the shop’s fromage department. “They have a beautiful cheese selection,” he says. Pick up classic French cheeses, such as a St. Marcelin or petit Basque. “These are two very different kinds of cheese—the St. Marcelin is soft and runny, the other is more dry—but the flavor of both is at the top.” Also be sure to choose a good bottle of Bordeaux and baguette de pain (Tougne says Red Hen also carries an excellent selection of fresh baked breads) before stopping by the video store to rent his favorite French film, the silly farce The Dinner Game. It’s also available via Netflix. “The wine, the cheese, and this movie—it’s a great French escape!”

OTHER FRENCH FAVORITES
Bourgeois Pig (738 W Fullerton Ave, 773-883-5282) The Lincoln Park café has a mini Eiffel Tower at its entrance.
Bistro Campagne (4518 N Lincoln Ave, 773-271-6100) This quaint restaurant is all about rustic French cooking, right in the heart of Lincoln Square.
Penelope’s (1913 W Division St, 773-395-2351) It’s not a French boutique per se, but it is one of the few shops in the city to carry French cult label A.P.C.
Genevieve Lethu (900 N Michigan Ave, 312-423-9948) This Michigan Avenue outpost of the French housewares boutique offers china, glassware and table accessories.

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