Taren Point Public School is holding La Belle Vie French market this Sunday. The 4rh edition of this French market will see stalls selling food, drink as well as fashion, homewares, art products – perfect to buy your Mother’s Day gifts.
TAREN POINT PUBLIC SCHOOL
The school has been a member of the Australian Association of French English Bilingual Schools for four years and the market is also in its 4th year. Previous years have seen attendance of 5,000 people at the La Belle Vie French Market.
FASS
Francophone Association of Southern Sydney (FASS), a local not for profit group which promotes French language and culture in the community, assists Taren Point Public School in making La Belle Vie Market happen. It’s involved in supplying volunteers on market day but also in the planning and organisation of the market event from an administration perspective.
LA BELLE VIE FRENCH MARKET This year there are more than 60 stalls offering fabulous French products across food, drink, fashion, homewares, art, as well as a Citroen Club car display and live music throughout the day.
LIVE MUSIC: ‘ACCORDI-ng To US’ will play from 9am to midday and singer, Christelle Nativel will perform from midday to close.
STALLS AT LA BELLE VIE FRENCH MARKET
French products for yourself and for others
A French Affair – tea towels and tablecloths
Au Revoir Les Filles – Parisian-style jewellery
Beju – hand crafted European jewellery
Big on Hats – wide-brimmed French hats and the iconic beret
Canal Plus – French cable TV
Decathlon – French sportswear
France at Home – your French supermarket online in Australia
French Cargo – diffusers, scents, body lotions, décor items, linens, jewellery, scarves and so much more
Fora Studios – unique and sustainable products for the modern garden, home and craft lover
Funked Up Eclectic Treasures – french/vintage inspired and funked up treasures
Holala Paris – French Homewares, designed in Australia and handmade in France
Janneys Vinney vintage
Jan Roach vintage
Kalaf Artwork – epoxy resin serving boards, serving knives, kitchen utensils, coasters and wall art
La Brocante’ with Kathy Finch – pre-loved, vintage, retro and collectable pieces
Le Van du Livre – French books
May Clementson vintage – French homewares
Mo Resin – jewellery with artistic designs embedded with materials such as Dutch Gold and Silver leaf into epoxy resin
Mrs Flowers – flowers straight from the Sydney Flower Markets to La Belle Vie French Market
Oatley Bay Candles
Pottery by Pottier – pottery and artworks
2nd Vie (previously Just Swiss by Chris) – sustainable items hand made using fabric sourced from local business or from charities: car tidies, cutlery holders, lavender bags that can be used and re-used around the house, out and about, in the car, or just for decoration.
Secrets of Eden – pretty flower crowns and headbands for the princesses in your life, and unique Macrame creations
Toothless – hand-made tooth fairy pillows
Whitelaw & Newton Decoupage Trays
Food & Drink stalls
Alexander Roastery – coffee
Baguette Brothers
Bella Icecream Van & Jumping Castles
Byron Bay Olive Co – Marinated olives, sweet garlic, extra-virgin olive oil and tapenade amongst other delicacies
Carne/Ash Rotisserie – rotisserie chicken and porchetta, roast potatoes
Cheese on Wheels
Choux Patisserie – beautiful éclairs
Citrus and Sugar – lemonade and delicious juices made from all real fruit, nothing artificial and no preservatives.
Crepe de France
Fils de Pomme – French botanical organic cider
Frenchies Bistro and Brewery – French style beers made for Aussies
Frencheese – raclette
French Oven – fine French pastry made my hand and not by machine
Great Southern mead & honey – honey fresh from the hive
Jeerys Tacos
La Bastide – charcuterie
La Bonne Crepe
La Bonne Fromagerie – cheeses
La Gitana – paella
Le BBQ
Le Saucier – home-made pasta, pasta sauces and fine finishing sauces
Le Secret Wines – French wines, characteristic of their region and from small family owned vineyards
Les Petits Gars
Madame Madeleine – Madeleines in original flavours including lemon butter, French Earl Gray, matcha, caramelised honey.
Madleine Bakery – freshly baked madeleines
Pistou – traditional French deli foods
Sacre Bleu! (Caneles and Co)
Stephs Gourmet Foods
The Original Smoke & Spice Company – herb and spice mixes
Tonton Bread – bread and pastries
Wendy’s Crafts – jam, marmalade & relish
Club stalls
Citroen Car Club
FASS Book stall
Meccano Modellers Association
Taren Point Public School Enviro stall
Want to participate in a future edition of La Belle Vie French market?
Contact Anyes McLean via email at [email protected]. Stalls must have a French connection, to ensure the authenticity of the market.
KEY INFO FOR LA BELLE VIE FRENCH MARKET
WHAT: La Belle Vie French Market
WHEN: Sunday 1 May 9am to 3pm
WHERE: Taren Point Public School,
HOW MUCH: Entry by coin donation at the gate – all proceeds assist the learning programs at Taren Point Public School
For other events with French links check out our what’s on in April article (the what’s on in May will be online this Sunday).
As we prepare to farewell 2021, we thought we’d take a look at the highlights of French culture in Australia this year on Matilda Marseillaise. We’ve had celebrations of French food and wine to art exhibitions, festivals and other events with French themes. We’ve interviewed people across many areas including international touring artists and local French and francophone people. Join us as we look back over 2021.
French culture in Australia: French Food days
Food is an extremely important part of French culture in Australia as much as in France. January was of course the month of the Galette des Rois which is always one of our most popular posts and has become the go-to resource for French and Francophiles in Australia to find out where they can buy this special cake around Australia.
We also wrote about Cheese Lovers’ Dayfor the first time with a focus on cheese subscriptions and celebrated Mouldy Cheese Dayin October. As always, Christmas was celebrated with the Bûche de Noël.
French culture in Australia: Drinks Days
You can’t have food without something to drink and we continued our French wine varietal series throughout the year with facts about the varietals and recommendations from French wine importers in Australia. We also celebrated World Bartenders Day with French cocktails.
We looked at French spirits and liqueurs: Chartreuse Daywith a look at the history of the green drink and a day celebrating another often-green drink: Absinthe Day. In addition, we discovered strong French links in one of the most popular spirits of the moment: gin. We also celebrated another spirit that you probably don’t associate with France: vodka.
Australia’s borders were still shut due to COVID-19 so festival time didn’t feature any international acts in 2021. 2021 highlights instead were French themed shows or shows from artists with French linksat Adelaide Fringe, Adelaide Festival and Sydney Festival. These provided opportunities to enjoy French culture in Australia.
Particularly strong French links were found in performances at Adelaide Fringe including music in different styles, theatre and more. The White Mouse told the story of Australian French Resistance leader, Nancy Wake. Louise Blackwell and the Paris Settook us to Paris for the night.
By the time June came, Adelaide Cabaret Festival was able to bring in a few international acts including Brent Ray Fraser, who paints with a very unique and personal tool. Kim David Smithgave a strong nod to Marlene Dietrich with his show Mostly Marlene also at Adelaide Cabaret Festival.
Auburn in South Australia’s Clare Valley was transformed into a French village and a celebration of French culture in Australia for a weekend at the inaugural Auburn Frenchfest, which will return in 2023.
Le Festivalwas held over 4 separate events throughout the year, bringing 4 weekends of French joy to Brisbane.
French and francophone culture in Australia: National Days
An international exhibition of a different scale and type, Van Gogh Alivealso toured in 2021 and continues to tour Australia. Our Hearts are Still Open, a photographic exhibition and book were recently unveiled in Sydney and we chatted to Australian-born photojournalist Tony Maniaty about them.
French and francophone film
The Alliance Française French Film Festivalreturned to the big screen in March and April 2021. Highlights for us included Bye Bye Morons, Missamong those that we reviewed. Countless others were also enjoyed. Because of COVID-19 lockdowns throughout Europe for much of 2020, Australian audiences were the first to see a number of films shown at the AFFFF 2021 including Eiffel and Delicious. We interviewed incoming Artistic Director of the festival, Karine Mauris.
One of our most read film reviews this year was for a film which is now on SBS on Demand: Roxane. With most of the Eastern states in lockdown over several months of the year, our articles about previous festival films available on streaming services were also well-read.
We interviewed Sydney music duo Goldfynchon the occasion of their release of the beautiful escapist song “Ballooning over Paris” something we all longed to do with Australia’s closed borders. Baby et Lulu’s much anticipated Album Trois was finally released and we chatted to Lara Goodridge. Pauline Maudy of MZAZA toured her show “Take me to Paris” around Queensland.
Our favourite French festival So Frenchy So Chic announced a return to Melbourne and Sydney in February 2022.
French culture in Australia via theatre
2021 saw the return of French theatre to Australian stages. Brisbane French Theatrepresented its original play Us and Them. Perth French Theatreinvited you to the circle of illusionists and after many false starts, Melbourne French Theatrewas able to present its new show, The Candidate.
French culture in Australia in sport
The French Rugby team Les Bleus played 3 test matches against Australia’s Wallabies in Sydney and in Brisbane. We told you where you could watch them around Australia.
Other French happenings
Adelaide’s Les Deux Coqs in conjunction with Holdfast Bay City council started Rendezvous Market, a European Marketwith foods and crafts from many European countries being represented.
Glasshouse Fragrances’ launched a French inspired collectionjust in time for Bastille Day with delicious scents of Montmartre Macaron and Sacred Heart.
We made sure you knew your French (and Belgian) dogs from the imposters for International Dog Dayin August.
In November, Sacreblue, the Embassy of France in Australia’s brand new website dedicated to French culture in English was launched and we were finally able to announce our partnership with them.
Interviews
We interviewed cabaret singer Caroline Ninand director Craig Ilottabout L’Hôtel, an immersive theatrical world of French intrigue which made its worldwide debut at Adelaide Cabaret Festival in June.
We interviewed a man who is perhaps Australia’s most famous French television chef, Gabriel Gatéfor International Chefs Day.
One of the first international productions to visit Australia since COVID-19 struck and closed our borders in March 2020 was The Little Prince, direct from Marseille to the Sydney Opera House. We interviewed Chris Mouronwho adapted the book for stage, Ebony Bott of the SOHabout the logistics of bringing an international team to Australia, and staging a large show during COVID-19 times. The Little Prince is making a return to Sydney for a limited season of shows in early January – read our interview with Lionel Zalachas and Laurisse Sulty
We chatted to Michael Boyd, illusionist and also show director of Cabaret de Paris which started its Australian tour with new lead, Rhonda Burchmore.
We spoke to Australian author Pip Drysdale about her thrilling novel The Paris Affair.
Délidoor, creator of prepared meals of many cuisines delivered to your door in Sydney;
Le Fermier, a range of herbs and spices inspired by various French regions;
Babel Books, an online second-hand bookstore selling books in French and in English;
Ma Petite Librarie, an online store selling books in French in Australia,
My Little French Club, an online resource for French language activities for children; and
Eyes on Floyd, French and French-inspired clothing and accessories for women.
We supported local French businesses by getting them to contribute their recommendations for Christmas gifts for francophiles. When many of the Australian states went back into lockdown, we let you know where you could purchase French take-away food.
Sofitel Adelaide, its French restaurant Garçon Bleu, and street level champagne bar Déjà Vu, were long awaited additions to Adelaide’s 5-star hotel and dining scene.
The French Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry held events both virtual and in person, where permitted, throughout the year including the French ANZ Business Days 2021 business forumwhich covered a number of interesting and pertinent topics.
It’s been a busy year! What have your highlights been? Is there anything you’d like to see on Matilda Marseillaise in 2022?
