At least four of my closest friends are vacationing in France this summer. And with a list of home improvements as big as the Eiffel Tower, you can guess where I’ll be. Right in my own backyard, that’s where.

So today’s blog is devoted to all things French. The only catch is that they are all right here in Miami. No expensive plane flights or feeling Euro-poor for me. I plan to savor the flavor of France without even packing a bag.

Let’s start with cuisine. Miami’s French restaurants may not compete in number with say, Italian, Cuban or Argentine parrillada joints, but they do exist. And they will make you happy. When I’m craving a big ol’ plate of steak and frites, I head for Brasserie Les Halles in Coral Gables. The waiters are unfailingly pleasant and the ambience makes you feel as if you’re at a bistro along Boulevard St. Germain. Menu items include brasserie standards like coq au vin, poulet roti (roast chicken), cassoulet and a decent crème brulee. Another plus: they are nice to children. This is something that always elicits a generous tip from moi.

My favorite French hang is pricey, but still cheaper than a night in Paris. La Goulue is an upscale new bistro located in the equally upscale Bal Harbour Shops. Need a fromage fix? This is your place. The bread is crusty, the house rosé rocks, and the waiters are only slightly less haughty than the mall’s shopkeepers. The food here, quite simply, has captured my stomach in a big way. I pine for La Goulue’s lobster and cheese croque monsieur, their heavenly pesto-smothered escargot, seductive salads and sinful lemon tarte. La Goulue means “the glutton” – and it is easy to turn into one here. I don’t mind forking over the big bucks for food like this. You may even spot a celeb or two. I saw Shaq stroll by on Valentine’s Day. He was carrying a jewelry bag (perhaps with some nice ice?) for lucky Mrs. Shaq.

If it’s French culture you crave, then it’s Alliance Francaise to the rescue. This French cultural center offers language courses, films, concerts, wine tastings and other special events throughout the year. Alliance Francaise is located close to downtown Miami, and is great place to meet other Francophiles.

Fête de la Musique, a worldwide celebration of summer held each year on June 21st, originated in France. This year, Miami’s Fête de la Musique will take place at Gusman Center for the Performing Arts and will feature a world music concert and other fun activities. Fête de la Musique is sponsored by the French Consulate, which is an excellent local resource for information about France, including visas, passports, studying and working abroad and more.

If creating a delightfully French home environment is your goal, I can recommend two places. Country French, on Red Road in South Miami, is a beautiful home decor store offering French table linens, candles, soaps, fragrances, antique furniture and knick-knacks. A new store just opened on MacFarlane Road in Coconut Grove called the French Way (or something similar). From my drive-by peeks in their window, I've seen candles, lavender sachets, jacquard linens, olive oil and other cool stuff for Francophiles. You can’t miss the store – it’s catty-corner from CocoWalk, the Grove’s big outdoor mall. Now try saying “catty-corner from CocoWalk” ten times fast…

Some final French tips before I sign off: check out the newly opened Cefalo’s Wine Cellar & Spirits to sample flights of French wine; try getting a table at Café Pastis in South Miami (I have never been able to – the place is packed around the clock and friends rave about it); stop in for a bite at Le Bouchon du Grove (another extremely popular bistro in the heart of Coconut Grove); engage in multi-course haute cuisine heaven at La Palme d’Or, the Biltmore Hotel’s très élégante (and expensive) French restaurant. And for Bastille Day fun this July 14th, head over to Les Halles or Hotel Sofitel and hoist a glass of Champagne.

One final thing, if you decide to go to La Goulue, please take me with you!

Around Miami : french restaurants

French Twist