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    Home

    French Food Guides

    Let Jill be your local French food guide online. From choosing the best Parisian teatime by arrondissement to one of the best patisseries from Paris’s famous chocolate, pastry and macaron shops. Plus check out the top 20 Best Macarons and Best Hot Chocolate in the City!

    Planning a day trip from Paris? Or perhaps a weekend or longer not too far from the capital? Check out our Food Travel Guide from Paris to whet your appetite. More posts are below!

    stalls of fruit and vegetables at a French market

    AT THE MARKET

    Fresh Produce

    Fun facts around seasonal French fruit and vegetables plus recipes

    panoramic view from the top of the historic tower in Dijon

    FOOD TRIPS IN FRANCE

    French Travel Guides

    Day trips from Paris by road or train

    PARIS SWEETS

    Top Pâtisseries

    Don’t miss Paris's famous French pastries - and more!

    TEATIME

    Best Tea Rooms in Paris

    From cosy tea rooms for French teatime (goûter) to a more lavish afternoon tea to celebrate. Choose from the updated and growing list of Jill's favourites by location (arrondissement).

    Paris Tea Room Guide
    cake stand of French teacakes
    • Renoir garden and famous swing he painted in Montmartre
      Escape the Crowds at the Café Renoir Montmartre
    • stalks of rhubarb in a crate at the market
      Rhubarb (Rhubarbe)
    • punnets of strawberries
      Strawberries (Fraises)
    • French Charlotte potatoes at the market
      Potatoes (Pommes de Terre)
    • chocolate shop window in Paris showing the typical French Easter traditions with bells, chicks, eggs and hens
      Easter Chocolate in Paris - Why do the French Have Bells?
    • boxes of various different French macarons from Paris to taste for the ultimate guide
      Best Macarons in Paris
    • carrying shopping bags Paris metro
      Rue Du Bac - Paris Pastry Street
    • mug of French hot chocolate in front of a Paris skyline at sunset
      Best Hot Chocolate in Paris - Your Local Guide

    Jill's Macaron & Patisserie Books

    See book reviews. Both books are no longer in print so, if you see a copy, grab it while you can. I'm excited to announce my new e-book series coming out in 2025! Stay tuned by signing up to the exclusive waiting list to be informed first.

    blue recipe book cover for Mad About Macarons

    THE MACARON COOKBOOK

    How to Make Macarons (2010)

    The 1st macaron recipe book published in the UK, and has inspired many now-professional bakers since 2010 (also in Dutch, Hungarian, Spanish.)

    No longer in print
    pink cover of patisserie recipe book Teatime in Paris by Jill Colonna

    BEST OF FRENCH BAKING

    Teatime in Paris (2015)

    Make popular teacakes, tigrés, éclairs, choux buns, tartlets, mille-feuilles – with your guide to top Paris pâtisseries. A great value gift for bakers and Francophiles.

    No longer in print

    COMING SOON!

    New E-Book

    Your favourite recipes from the website with a twist plus new ones exclusively written in this new e-book. Sign up below to be the first to know when it's out in Spring 2025!

    Waiting List

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    Jill Colonna standing in a French patisserie lab holding a giant whisk over an oversized mixer bowl
    Welcome

    Bonjour - I'm Jill

    As a cookbook author and founder of Mad About Macarons since 2010, I’ve spent 30+ years perfecting foolproof French recipes in Paris—so you don’t have to! Expect step-by-step guidance, lower-sugar treats that don’t skimp on flavour, plus insider food and market guides to help you taste France like a local. If I can do it, so can you - no fancy techniques required!

    Meet Jill

    Popular Recipes This Week

    • 3 bowls of pea soup with fresh peas and pods
      French Pea Soup (Potage Saint-Germain)
    • small individual asparagus clafoutis with parmesan sauce basil top
      Asparagus Clafoutis - French Asparagus Recipe for the Oven
    • tray holding slices of toasted French toast or Pain Perdu in a boulangerie in France in front of baguettes
      Best French Toast Recipe (Pain Perdu)
    • folded thin chocolate crepe pancakes 2 with designs
      Chocolate Crêpes Served French Style

    Latest recipes

    • homemade croutons made with garlic and French bread topping for a pea soup next to a ramekin of more croutons
      How to Make Croûtons in the Air Fryer - with Garlic
    • whisking a hot parmesan cream sauce in a saucepan next to a block of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
      Parmesan Cream Sauce
    • long-stemmed cocktail glasses filled with light and fluffy strawberry mousse topped with strawberries and served with French tuile cookies
      Strawberry Mousse
    • creamy lemon sauce poured over roasted white asparagus, served with potatoes and roast chicken
      Creamy Lemon Sauce for Chicken
    elegant storefront of a confectionary shop in Aix selling calissons

    TRAVEL GUIDES

    Food Guide to Aix-en-Provence

    My insider guide to Aix - from Calissons, hot chocolate to great restaurants.

    Aix Guide
    boxes of various different French macarons from Paris to taste for the ultimate guide

    LOCAL DIY GUIDES

    Best Macarons in Paris

    My insider, updated free guide. Avoid the tourist traps and discover my top 20!

    Top 20 Macarons
    crates of fresh tomatoes in all shapes and colours at the French market in Provence

    What's in Season?

    Les tomates

    Celebrate the start of tomato season with fun facts and tons of seasonal recipes.

    Tomato Guide

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