Why subscribe?

Food, wine, France, good living and inspiring others are my biggest passions. It is my mission to share that passion with you through my words, recipes and images.
Creating great content — whether it’s recipes that really work or travel stories that will truly transport and entice — takes time. By subscribing to this newsletter, you are not only guaranteed a regular dose of inspiration delivered straight to your inbox several times a week, but you will also be supporting dedicated journalism and food writing.
Here’s a taste of what you can expect:

  • Seasonal recipes that really work
    (the only thing you’ll need is a kitchen scale!)

  • Learn more about wine
    (the who, what, when, where, how and why)

  • Meet some of the world’s most dedicated chefs and producers

  • Discover beautiful French destinations

  • Meet expats who have realized their dreams and started a new life in France

  • Immerse yourself in French culture
    (books, history, music, art beauty, fashion and much more)

  • Every now and then, I’ll also take you to exciting destinations outside France!

  • PLUS…
    Learn to cook delicious and nutritious plant-based recipes while still enjoying the French life! From restaurants to épiceries and from bloggers to leading chefs, plant-based eating in France (and the rest of the world!) is revealing how making conscious food choices not only means a huge, positive impact on our health and planet, but that it has come a long way in terms of taste and culinary sophistication.

    The French Life is a reader-supported publication. To support my work and receive exclusive posts and cooking videos, please consider becoming a paid subscriber.

Stay up-to-date

You don’t have to worry about missing a thing! All subscribers can expect The French Life delivered straight to their inbox. (Do remember to always check your spam folder!) I post free content regularly during the week, but signing up to a paid subscription for as little as $4.75 a month, will ensure you get access to all my exclusive content, including videos and my mini-cookbook, Plant-Based Eating With Joie de Vivre, which features 12 delicious recipes inspired by French and Italian cuisine. If you sign up for The French Life Friends plan ($175), I will provide tailored culinary and lifestyle advice for plant-based eating … with joie de vivre!

About me

My name is Paola Westbeek, and I am a food, wine and travel journalist. Though I have always loved all things French, my passion for the country and its culture really started to blossom somewhere in my early 20s during a trip to the Alsace region. I was captivated by the landscape, culture, music (play me an old Aznavour record and all is good in the world again), and, of course, the food and wine. Each subsequent trip saw me falling for the charms of France even more. So much so, that I have devoted a large part of my career to declaring my love for the country — through words.
I am the Food & Drinks columnist for Reader's Digest UK (read me in every issue of the popular monthly magazine). My work has been featured in other UK publications such as FRANCE Magazine and French Property News. I had a regular culinary column in French Property News and was responsible for the food and drink news pages of FRANCE Magazine.
I regularly write for leading France publications published in the Netherlands, such as Leven in Frankrijk and En Route (which featured my culinary columns). Additionally, I write for respected gastronomic journal, Bouillon. My work also regularly appears in award-winning travel magazines such as b.spirit.
Besides writing about France, I am also chief editor for DUTCH (the only magazine about the Netherlands, published in Canada and the US and available in digital form internationally). Interested in working together? Have a look at my website and a selection of my work. Want to grab a copy of my mini-cookbook, Plant-Based Eating With Joie de Vivre? Click here!


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French cuisine, wine, travel, culture & good living

People

Food, wine & travel journalist specializing in France. Food & drinks columnist for Reader's Digest UK.