The art of living well: food, wine and art in the Languedoc, Perigord and Dordogne. Too often neglected by travellers, these regions offer the fascination of unspoiled countryside, antique villages and art treasures. This is the land of prehistoric caves, truffles and fine wine offering a taste of the 'real France' where charm and authenticity reign. Make a new discovery in France!

Crêpes Suzette

Crêpes come in all variations and really are some of the simplest dishes to create. The true art comes in creating the multitude of fillings and sauces that accompany them. Sweet or savoury, crêpes options are endless. Crêpe Suzette is one of the most popular recipes and one of my favourite desserts. It was created by accident by a fourteen year-old assistant waiter, Henri Carpentier, in 1895 when preparing a dessert for the Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VII, and has remained a favourite in countries world over.

Crêpes
1 cup flour
4 large eggs
1 1/4 cup milk
1 pinch of salt
1/2 stick unsalted butter
vegetable oil for oiling pans

Sauce
1/2 stick unsalted butter
3 tablespoons sugar
1 orange, juice and grated rind
1/3 cup orange liqueur (such as Cointreau or Grand Marnier)

For the crêpes, whisk together the flour, eggs, milk and salt. Blend until the batter becomes smooth and creamy. Add the melted butter and whisk together. Let batter sit in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or overnight. Lightly oil 1 (6-inch) crêpe pan and set over medium heat. Pour about 1/4 cup batter into pan and swirl until the pan is coated. Cook crêpes until the top begins to look dry, about 60 seconds. Turn and cook the other side 30 seconds, wiping the pan with an oiled paper towel if crêpes begin to stick. For the sauce, in large skillet, melt the butter until foamy. Add sugar and stir until dissolved. Add orange rind and juice and bring to a simmer. Turn heat down to low. Fold each crêpe in half and place 2 at a time in the warm sauce. Using tongs or spatula, fold crepes in half again. Repeat until all crêpes have been added. Work quickly so the first crêpes do not absorb all the sauce. Warm liqueur briefly and pour over the pan of crêpes. Using a long match or igniter, ignite the sauce. Remove pan from heat. When flames subside, place crêpes on dessert plates. Dust with confectioners sugar; garnish with orange slices and serve. Voilà!

France is a shoppers haven. From traditional handicrafts to high style fashions, gastronomic delights to objet d'art, you can find it all in France. This month's top 5 focuses on the best things to buy while in France. It was tough to narrow it down but here they are...

# 5 Food & Wine
Foie gras, fondue, moules, escargots, ratatouille, patisseries, crêpes, an impressive ménages of fromages... is your mouth watering yet? I could go on and on. The French offer some of the most sophisticated cuisine, which is often superbly presented and très chic. Of course this can all be washed down with fantastic wines such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and let's not forget Champagne and Cognac, two of my personal favourites. A true epicurean will certainly find themselves filling up their luggage with many gastronomic delights on their travels.

# 4 Santons
These darling little figurines, usually cast out of terracotta, are a traditional Provencal product which became popular during the French Revolution when churches were closed and large nativity scenes were prohibited. The name "santons" derives from the Provencal "santouns" meaning "little saints". They soon began appearing in homes to recreate nativity scenes and are now crafted not only based on religious themes, but to portray the daily lives of Provencal townspeople and tradespeople.

# 3 Designer Goods
Home to designers such as Chanel, Christian Dior, Yves Saint-Laurent, Hermes, and Louis Vuitton, just to name a few, France has long been synonymous with chic fashion and haute couture. If your passion includes shopping for some of the best designer labels than you will surely delight in a shopping spree in Paris.

# 2 Perfume
The perfume industry in France dates back to the 14th Century when the cultivation of flowers for their perfume essences became notable. By the 18th century, flowers and aromatic plants were being grown in Grasse for the formulation of perfume, and to this day it remains the country's perfume capital. Once used solely by royalty and nobility in Renaissance times, the practice of wearing perfume has now become a standard daily ritual. France remains the European centre of the perfume trade where the industry is a thriving business. When visiting France, make sure to pick up your own bottle of Chanel No 5 still considered to be the most popular and coveted perfume.

# 1 Souleiado Fabrics
These beautiful painted fabrics are artworks in themselves. The fabrics originally imported from India, became highly popular in France during the 17th Century, so much so that they were banned by the Crown to sponsor their own textile manufacture. This only made the popularity rise, and after the Revolution the production was once again permitted. Later in the 1930s the Demetry family, concerned with the preservation of old traditions, assembled an archive of over 40,000 printing hand-blocks and began to manufacture the beautiful fabrics under the name Souleiado, which translates to "a ray of sun piercing the clouds after a rain" from an old Provencal dialect. They have now become one of the most popular items to purchase in France and understandably so. In fact I have my very own Souleiado table cloth gracing my kitchen table.