La Petite France is an authentic French bakery that has been established in Stafford Springs for 25 years. We are located on the main street (route 190) of Stafford Springs, CT. Join us for a journey into the best of French culture: food!

 The farmers' markets season is starting!

Come get fresh tasty products and support your local vendors!

La Petite France will be at the fllowing markets:

• Ellington - Saturdays from 9am to 12:30pm at Arbor Park (Main street) starting May 2nd (http://www.buyctgrown.com/ellingtonfarmersmarket)

• Storrs - Saturdays from 3pm to 6pm at EO Smith parking lot starting May 2nd (http://www.mansfieldct.org/town/current/events/farmers_market/index.htm)

• Simsbury - Thursdays from 2pm to -6pm at Simsmore Square starting June 4th (http://www.simsburyfarmmarket.com/)

• Coventry - Sundays from 11am to 2pm at the Hale Homestead starting June 7th (http://www.coventryfarmersmarket.com/)
   

The tradition of Easter

Easter is known as one f the main religious celebrations as it commemorates Jesus’ resurrection. Easter also represents the fun time of egg hunt for the kids and an occasion to enjoy good food with the family.

Where does the tradition of the Easter bells bringing chocolate eggs come from?

In the Christian tradition the church bells do not ring for three days starting good Friday to show grief. The kids were traditionally told that the if bells remained silent it was because they were travelling to Rome. They usually came back with a lot of presents: chocolates in the shape of eggs that they hid in people’s yards.  

Anecdote : In the 17th century, Louis 14th used to offer the nicest eggs laid in the kingdom that he had decorated with gold foil to his favourites.        

Did you know ?
The Easter Island with its mysterious statues was named this way after the Ductch navigator, Jakob Roggeveen discovered it on Easter Sunday in 1722.

See the recipe of the traditional Alsatian lamb cake on the recipe page

Mardi gras, what is it?

For all, Mardi Gras is a synonym of beignets and Carnival. But who really knows the origins of this holiday? A little explanation and recipes ideas.

In Italian, Mardi Gras is Carnevale, a word that comes from “carne levare” (literally “remove the meat”), an allusion for the lean days to come.

The Carnival, like many Christian holidays, has a pagan origin. It dates from the Roman March Calends holidays that celebrated Nature’s awakening with agrarian rites. On this occasion, bans were disobeyed and costumes allowed.

In the Christian calendar, Mardi gras is the day preceding Lent, a forty day period between Ash Wednesday (symbolizing the biblical return of Adam to dust) and Easter Sunday (the resurrection of Christ).

Before this period of privation, it was in the habit of partying and eating fatty foods. Carnival was represented by a grotesque dummy which was burnt on Ash Wednesday, first day of Lent.

The Carnival theoretically lasts from Epiphany to Ash Wednesday, but once it used to climax during the meal of Mardi gras, with an abundance of meats and pastries.

Since many people gathered for the parties they had to prepare pastries which were cheap and also quick to make. It was also about using the butter, oil and eggs leftover before the 40 days of fasting that were following; hence the tradition of beignets, waffles, crępes and other local specialties. This tradition of eating crępes and beignets remains strong in France.

Nowadays, Mardi gras is celebrated in different ways throughout the world. It is predated by numerous carnivals of which the most known are the carnival of Venice (established in the 15th century with the approval of the pope) and the carnival of Rio de Janeiro (celebration introduced by the Portuguese which was going to become the grand ball that we know in the middle of the 20th century). In the U.S. New Orleans keeps the tradition going.

Chandeleur Day 

 Crępes, beliefs and rituals! 

On Chandeleur Day, it is with pleasure that everyone, young and old, follow the tasty tradition of flipping crępes. The main interest consists in savoring this delectably light and crispy dessert, but you can also follow the superstition… In fact, many legends surround Chandeleur, here are some favorites.

Generally, flipping crępes on Chandeleur Day ensures good fortune throughout the year. More specifically, young women who hope to marry have to flip the crepe six times in a row without dropping it! It is a difficult exploit to accomplish, but according to the legend, it will guarantee them to meet the ideal fiancé within the year. Finally, flipping crepes with one hand, and holding a coin in the other will ensure prosperity to everyone.

Not all historians agree on when people started to eat this treat. Some of them compare the crępe and the cereal pancakes that the Romans used to eat in honor of Proserpina during the feast of Lupercalia. Others say that the roundness of the crepe and its beautiful golden brown color symbolize light and sun and thus is reminiscent of the prophecy of San Simeon about Christ. Anyway, everyone will enjoy tasting crępes on Chandeleur Day.

 Tips to make good crępes… 

The crępe batter may be flavored in different ways according to the individual’s taste. You can add alcohol (orange liqueur, Cognac, Armagnac or rum…) as well as vanilla, bitter almond extract, or orange blossom. Finally, don’t forget to add a bit of salt and sugar to your batter to give it unparalleled texture and taste. And if you have a tip to make your crępes even more delicious, come and share it with us!

Valentine's day

Loves codes, from yesterday to today 

A european medieval belief  says that on February 14th, birds start mating. The tradition of writing on this occasion dates from the famous Father Valentine’s letter (the lovers’ priest), the day of his death.

From a few decades ago until now, the lovers send cards more and more elaborate.They are illustrated with symbolic red hearts, lovers, Cupid and his bow and arrows. Some are very sophisticated, decorated with paper ribbons, feathers, lace, braid and knots, they can even be perfumed.

During the Middle Ages, Valentine’s Day was one of the most popular celebrations of the year in Europe. While he was imprisoned in the London Tower in 1415, Charles, Duke of Orleans, sent his wife a card for Valentine’s Day, perpetuating in this way the love myth.

The cards signed with little crosses to say 1000 kisses reveal a tradition that dates from the beginning of Catholicism: the cross symbolized faith. When one signed with a cross, the cross had to be kissed… which is how the cross became a kiss!

In all Europe, on Valentine’s Day, enthusiast lovers would elaborate diverse practices and strategies to express their attachment to their chosen one. In Wales, wooden spoons were shaped like keys and hearts thus showing to the addressee how they could free the loving sender’s heart. To declare their love, after choosing their Valentine, the lovers wrote their chosen one’s name on a balloon they then tied to their sleeve.

In the Middle Ages, it was the young ladies who left it up to chance and luck to find their Valentine, their beloved. Birds were spring and love messengers. If a young lady saw a robin, she would marry a sailor. A sparrow, she would have a happy marriage with a not very rich man. A goldfinch, she would marry a wealthy man.

On February 14th, when a woman had her eye on a man, she dropped a lace handkerchief… Lace comes from latin laqueare and means “to catch”. This lace handkerchief was to catch the beloved’s heart.