Attention classic car enthusiasts: on Saturday June 21, the 2025 edition of the Motor Show en pays de Brie will take place at the Mouroux-Coulommiers-Voisins airfield in the Seine-et-Marne département Dozens of prestige vehicles and other classic cars will be on show at this major automobile gathering This major event is designed to show solidarity: all profits will go to the Scott&Co association as well as to other associations helping sick children The good news is that admission for visitors is completely free See you at the Coulommiers-Voisins airfield for this 2025 edition of the Motor Show en pays de Brie Refer your establishment, click herePromote your event, click here This is the challenge accomplished by the company TSF which has created permanent Parisian sets just a stone's throw from Coulommiers in Seine-et-Marne this project marks the first step of a larger initiative that will include A report in the company of Thierry de Segonzac specializing in rental equipment for film shoots which recreate the streets of the capital in full scale were inaugurated by the French Minister of Culture It is also here that Zinedine Zidane carried the Olympic torch to secretly film a segment for the Paris 2024 opening ceremony clip aired worldwide by France Télévisions at the end of July This more-than-life-like Paris was built on 1.5 hectares within a site that spans 50 hectares "in just 12 months," emphasizes Thierry de Segonzac A project that the president and founder of TSF had been nurturing for about twenty years which is the leading European film producer recalls the man who led FICAM (Fédération des Industries du Cinéma de l'Audiovisuel et du Multimédia) for fifteen years and chaired Pôle Media Grand Paris until 2019 Despite the availability of film studios in our country and the introduction of audiovisual national and foreign productions requiring large backlots continued to relocate This location also had to be able to accommodate the studio program we are developing in parallel." The backlot is indeed the first phase of the TSF Studios 77 project which will include 12 soundstages and 14 workshops and storage areas by 2026 When TSF identified this former airbase and wanted to acquire it assured of the support of the former mayor of the city the call for projects La Grande Fabrique de l’image had just been launched This part of the France 2030 recovery plan dedicated to cinema and the animation industry is implemented on behalf of the French government by the CNC (The National Center for Cinema and the Moving Image) and the Caisse des Dépôts "France 2030 promised us significant support if we were innovative and had an exemplary environmental footprint," says Thierry de Segonzac Its contribution represents nearly 15% of the overall budget for TSF Studios 77 including 20 million euros for the Parisian sets "Together with TSF’s self-financing capacity the France 2030 aid allowed us to secure banking support from our financial partners and then begin the construction of the backlot." The project kicked off in the summer of 2023 The task of designing this fake Paris was entrusted to set designer Johann George and his team with the goal of meeting the national and international demand for filming in the City of Light without facing its constraints (noise disturbances inconvenience to residents and shopkeepers film noisy or even dangerous scenes that would be prohibited in public spaces." The backlot replicates the typical architecture of Parisian neighborhoods from Haussmannian Paris to the industrial Paris of the 10th arrondissement which depict Paris from the 19th century to the present day Everything is modular according to the needs of the productions: a private mansion can be transformed into an embassy a carriage door can become a ministry porch or a passage in the 7th arrondissement… Even the metro entrance can be turned into a blockhouse or covered and converted into a marketplace "Productions can use these sets directly or adapt them to their needs They can modify them and create extensions," explains Thierry de Segonzac it's usually the production that dictates the demand The resources and sets are created for a specific production or need There are no markings on the ground or fake cobblestones The teams are free to add a surface coating (tiles etc.) "The challenge was to build these sets at a cost level that allows a producer to shoot here without it being more expensive than shooting on location in a natural setting it allows them to do much more," analyzes Thierry de Segonzac And it’s the performance we were able to achieve with Yann Arnaud who handled the structural work and construction This backlot is intended for both foreign and French productions especially for independent French productions that fall under Annex 3 or produce short films We are working on a pricing structure adapted to these types of productions we’ll ask for a bit of flexibility in terms of scheduling" in two workshops – one dedicated to carpentry and pre-assembly of installations and 47 doors of the Parisian backlot were created The teams built and molded the sets based on plans and photographs of buildings which were intentionally dirtied and aged to give a more lifelike appearance to this world-famous Paris are made of plaster mounted on wooden structures The backlot concept itself is eco-friendly It allows for modifications to the sets without demolition This advantage also saves production costs on demolition which accounts for at least 25% of the decoration budget We guarantee the protection of producers' rights over the sets they may build to partially modify them so they are no longer recognizable." Demountable the sets are designed to last for about fifteen years "We made sure to keep the carbon footprint as low as possible This will also be the case for our studios," adds the president of TSF "The sound stages will be heated by heat pumps and cooled by Canadian wells buried underground The roofs will be equipped with photovoltaic panels that will produce 2 megawatts of electrical power." During the second phase of the project TSF also plans to create a material library allowing producers to source eco-friendly set elements and materials on-site Thirty plasterers worked together – a first in France – on the Parisian backlot They are part of the army of little hands and craftsmen (designers riggers...) who helped build this fake Paris 140 people worked on the decoration teams and around 40 were involved in the construction and civil engineering teams "A film shoot typically brings together between 50 and 200 technicians not including the decoration teams who work on-site before the production arrives we estimate that about 300 temporary workers will rotate on projects being filmed and developed at the backlot who plans to integrate decoration students into the workshops This number will increase once the studios are completed Add to that the use of equipment suppliers These are direct and indirect economic benefits for the Seine-et-Marne region and its local workforce TSF's program is not limited to the Parisian sets In addition to the studios that will be built on a ten-hectare site the Maisoncelles-en-Brie location also offers a vast 30-hectare playground for productions to shoot their films "With a 360° unobstructed view of farmland free from noise and visual pollution," reports Thierry de Segonzac three battle scenes for the series The Walking Dead we started building a section of the Butte Montmartre It's up to a crew to expand it by constructing buildings." Thierry de Segonzac also points out that "the site is easily accessible It is located against the usual traffic flow and its congestion about forty minutes by car from the capital Productions can use public transportation or carpool They also have the option of staying nearby in bungalows 3 kilometers from the backlot or at hotels some of which are about ten minutes from the site" "French productions are considering establishing themselves permanently in certain areas of the backlot The BBC is also thinking about setting up two series there in the second half of 2025 we are primarily in the consultation phases but the backlot is generating curiosity and enthusiasm from professionals," says Thierry de Segonzac..» TSF has developed a tool that allows visiting productions to view 3D plans of the backlot The goal is to help them visualize and imagine how they could set up a shoot here Andre Rene Roussimoff moved to the United States in 1971 Known as "The Eighth Wonder of the World," he'd go on to wrestle for the World Wrestling Federation during the 70's and 80's becoming a WWF World Champions and Tag Team Champion she was primarily raised in the United States and grew up living with her mother Robin has led a quiet and private life in Seattle, far from the cameras. However, she did participate in the HBO documentary about her father, Andre the Giant. According to her Instagram account she may be associated with Titan Championship Wrestling Because of her young age, Andre's strained relationship with her mother, and his constant travel, Robin only recalls seeing her father in person five times (per CBS Sports). But although they didn't get to spend much time together, she still has fond memories of him. When asked about the difference between the persona vs the man for an interview at the release of the HBO Original Documentary Andre the Giant, Robin stated: From me, the persona never really touched me. When I saw him, he was dad. Because I saw him behind the ring. I didn't watch the matches, I saw him backstage, so I saw him before and after, but not during. Asked about what she loved most about him as dad, she responds: He was, truly, the gentle giant. You know, I never felt any fear around him whatsoever. And he really was such a cheerful person. It was great whenever we did get to see him. Robin was named as the sole beneficiary in his will when he died in 1996. Robin was aged 14. Andre the Giant met his wife, Jean, in the wrestling business during the early 1970's. They dated for a couple years before marrying. Jean gave birth to Robin in 1979, and split with Andre soon after. Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker after the far-right National Rally won the European election in France Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo says she's "stunned" by the decision to call the vote so close to the Olympic Games The election will take place on 30 June and 7 July - the Games start in Paris on 26 July the National Rally won more than double the votes of Macron's centrist alliance European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said "the centre is holding" an Italian under house arrest in Hungary has been elected as an MEP as has a 24-year-old YouTube prankster in Cyprus Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingThank you for readingpublished at 16:03 British Summer Time 10 June 202416:03 BST 10 June 2024We're closing this page soon - thank you for reading comes from our Europe correspondent Nick Beake in France Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRecap: Europe's centre right and far right celebrate after electionspublished at 16:01 British Summer Time 10 June 202416:01 BST 10 June 2024Image source with party president Jordan Bardella to her left Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingCentre-right wins comfortably in Greece but misses its targetspublished at 15:32 British Summer Time 10 June 202415:32 BST 10 June 2024Kostas KoukoumakasReporting from Athens Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis meets supporters on Sunday night The centre-right New Democracy won Greece's European elections - but outside their offices on Sunday evening It's been a few years since parties' supporters met in the centre of Athens after electoral victories "Our party did not reach the goal we set," says Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis "Many voters complained about everyday issues such as punctuality His ruling party got 28.3% of the vote - a comfortable win but 12 points lower than the figure in 2023 Greece's national elections Turnout was also a record low of around 40% the percentages of the far-right parties added up to around 17% and call themselves "anti-systemic" This could be the next big question in Greece Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing24-year-old YouTuber wins seat in European Parliamentpublished at 15:02 British Summer Time 10 June 202415:02 BST 10 June 2024Image source Fidias Panayiotou celebrates his victory at the European Union's parliamentary elections in Nicosia where voters have elected a 24-year-old YouTube star as an independent to the European Parliament “Fidias” - as he is known online - has 2.6 million followers on YouTube His most watched clips include a mission to hug 100 celebrities, pizza-eating contests, and dodging fares on Japanese bullet trains. Even though he has no political experience - and calls himself "a professional mistake maker" - his campaign attracted large numbers of young voters Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingNordic countries buck trend with victories for left and greenspublished at 14:54 British Summer Time 10 June 202414:54 BST 10 June 2024While far-right and centre-right parties performed well in most EU countries the Nordic countries bucked the trend - with strong showings for the left and greens in Denmark the Socialist People's Party received the largest share of the vote the right wing has advanced significantly," Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen says the most right-wing of the country's major parties but preliminary results put them fourth with 13.2% The centre-left Social Democrats emerged the largest party with an increased share of the vote while the Green Party and Left Party also saw their support increase the Left Alliance saw its vote share increase by 10.4 points to 17.3% while support for the far right Finns Party fell 6.2 points to 7.6% Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen voting on 1 June - she was attacked by a member of the public in Copenhagen on Friday Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingSpain's conservatives celebrate but socialists claim victory of sortspublished at 14:24 British Summer Time 10 June 202414:24 BST 10 June 2024Guy HedgecoeReporting from Madrid Alberto Núñez Feijóo from the conservative People’s Party (PP) celebrating victory in Spain's European election the leader of the conservative People’s Party (PP) hailed last night’s result as an "overwhelming” victory which marked the beginning of a new political cycle His party gained nine seats to secure a total of 22 benefitting from the collapse of the Ciudadanos party this was not the devastating blow to Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez the conservatives had hoped for "If Mr Núñez Feijóo has tried to present this election as a plebiscite on the prime minister it is very clear that he has lost that plebiscite,” said Teresa Ribera the lead candidate for the Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) which secured 20 seats with 30.2% of the vote But given the bruising nature of the campaign - during which a judicial investigation into Sánchez’s wife often hogged the headlines - the PSOE will feel it has emerged relatively unscathed Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingWhat does National Rally want?published at 14:08 British Summer Time 10 June 202414:08 BST 10 June 2024Laura GozziEurope reporter in Rome the 28-year-old expected to be National Rally's candidate for prime minister National Rally were the clear winners in France's European elections winning 31% of the vote - more than double the total of President Macron's centrist alliance given Macron only called the election last night it will be a while before we get the RN's finalised 2024 manifesto Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingWe'll beat the far right again says Macron's Europe ministerpublished at 13:59 British Summer Time 10 June 202413:59 BST 10 June 2024Let's head back to France now and President Macron’s decision to call a snap parliamentary election after losing the European elections to the far-right But Jean-Noel Barrot, France's Europe minister, tells the BBC's Newshour that Macron has beaten the far right before the political platforms that you're going to propose to your co-citizens We've been able to beat the populists and the nationalists in 2017 I'm sure that we can beat them again this year." Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingWe will seek to form liberal majority says von der Leyenpublished at 13:54 British Summer Time 10 June 202413:54 BST 10 June 2024Image source The result puts von der Leyen in a good position to secure the European Parliament's support for a second term as president of the European Commission European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says she will approach social democratic and liberal parties that she has worked with in the past to form a majority in the European Parliament Von der Leyen's Christian Democratic Union party (CDU) is part of the centre-right European People's Party grouping which looks set to retain its position as the largest bloc Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingIn the Netherlands while Freedom Party enjoys gainspublished at 13:39 British Summer Time 10 June 202413:39 BST 10 June 2024Anna HolliganReporting from The Hague The nuances: Centre-right parties had a strong showing Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingFrench and German presidents remember Nazi massacre victimspublished at 13:19 British Summer Time 10 June 202413:19 BST 10 June 2024In Oradour-sur-Glane the German and French presidents have commemorated the anniversary of a Nazi massacre The village was destroyed but rebuilt nearby President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said it is "fittingly on the day after the European elections that I say: let us never forget the damage done in Europe by nationalism and hate Let us never forget the miracle of reconciliation the European Union has worked." that we have to ensure the strength of this reconciliation is reborn." Presidents Steinmeier (right) and Macron at the memorial Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingEurope's right-wing will keep 'nipping heels' of pro-EU parties - Russiapublished at 13:08 British Summer Time 10 June 202413:08 BST 10 June 2024Image source Some reaction to the European elections now from Russia - where presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov says "right-wing" parties will continue to catch up with more pro-EU parties "We see a trend of increasing popularity of right-wing parties This is visible to the naked eye," Peskov says "Despite the fact that so far the pro-Europeans have maintained their leading position in time the right-wing parties will nip at their heels That is why we are closely watching this process." Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingItalian under house arrest in Hungary elected as MEPpublished at 12:54 British Summer Time 10 June 202412:54 BST 10 June 2024Image source Ilaria Salis is a primary school teacher from Monza An Italian woman on trial in Hungary and under house arrest for allegedly attacking neo-Nazis hopes for immunity under EU law after being elected to the European Parliament llaria Salis was a candidate for Italy's Greens and Left Alliance (AVS) party After being imprisoned for more than a year Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingGermany's AfD excludes top candidate from European Parliament delegationpublished at 12:34 British Summer Time 10 June 202412:34 BST 10 June 2024Image source ReutersThe top candidate for Germany's far right Alternative for Germany (AfD) will be excluded from the party's group at the European Parliament Maximilian Krah agreed to stop campaigning and resigned from the AfD's leadership board in May after saying in a newspaper interview that being a member of the SS did not make someone "automatically a criminal" It was already too late by that point for his name to be removed from the electoral ballot He has also been investigated by German prosecutors for allegedly taking payments from Russia and China - allegations he has denied Krah said on social media the decision sends the party down "the wrong path and sends a devastating signal to our voters" Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingAustria's far-right Freedom Party hails a 'new era'published at 12:29 British Summer Time 10 June 202412:29 BST 10 June 2024Bethany BellReporting from Vienna has told a crowd of cheering supporters tha his party's victory in the European elections marked “a new era in politics” Herbert Kickl pictured campaigning last week Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingUnusually Italy emerges from an election looking stablepublished at 12:14 British Summer Time 10 June 202412:14 BST 10 June 2024Laura GozziEurope reporter in Rome Giorgia Meloni has cemented her grip on Italian politics She used the European elections to boost her own popularity by putting her name at the top of her party's ballot and it proved a successful gamble: with 29% she has increased the share of the vote her party gained at the September 2022 general election But there is another success story in Italy The opposition centre-left Democratic Party (PD) performed better than many of its supporters had hoped It got 24% of the vote - its highest result since the 2014 general election The result will boost the PD and lend credibility to its leader who has seemingly managed to find her footing after just over a year at the helm of the country's biggest opposition party Smaller parties in the governing coalition will have some thinking to do Forza Italia - the party founded by late media tycoon Silvio Berlusconi - won slightly more votes than the once-mightly League party emerged from the European elections as a pretty stable country - much more so Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingWe can't ignore far-right support says Czech presidentpublished at 12:00 British Summer Time 10 June 202412:00 BST 10 June 2024Rob CameronReporting from Prague The Czech president Petr Pavel says the rise in support for extremism in Europe “cannot be ignored” In a post on X, external pro-western leader and firm advocate of providing military support to Ukraine – says Europe “needs to take notice of these voices” and examine why support for far-right conservative nationalist parties was increasing he said in his view the EU’s basic orientation on security or democracy was unlikely to change after these elections "Anti-system" parties won around 30% of the vote in the Czech Republic and will fill five of the country’s 21 seats in the European Parliament They range from far-left to far-right as well as single-issue parties such as "The Motorists" who won largely on opposition to the EU’s Green Deal and its plans to phase out petrol and diesel cars even the main opposition ANO – which has up until now been part of the liberal Renew Europe grouping – increasingly employs the Eurosceptic rhetoric of the far right and Emmanuel Macron at D-Day events last week Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingElection result a lightning bolt says French foreign ministerpublished at 11:30 British Summer Time 10 June 202411:30 BST 10 June 2024Image source ReutersHere's more reaction to France's snap parliamentary elections - first from President Macron's foreign minister I think it's an election of clarification to lift the roadblocks Today the French electoral landscape shows that 40% of those who voted chose a far-right list…yesterday's result is a lightning bolt in political life Sebastian Chenu - a member of the far-right National Rally which comfortably won the election - says his party is ready to go again: we called for it and since we called for it Emmanuel Macron would press the button… yes we are ready and at the end of the week we will have our 577 candidates set up." Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingCalling election before Olympics 'hard to understand' says Paris mayorpublished at 11:14 British Summer Time 10 June 202411:14 BST 10 June 2024The mayor of Paris says she is having "difficulty understanding" why President Macron chose to call parliamentary elections just weeks before the city hosts the Olympic Games The ballot will take place across two rounds on 30 June and 7 July while the Olympics will get under way on 26 July Anne Hidalgo - a member of the Sociast Party which opposes Macron - describes the president's decision as "another move I am having difficulty understanding" "Like a lot of people I was stunned to hear the president decide to do a dissolution," she says it's really something that is extremely unsettling." Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo and Tony Estanguet president of the Paris 2024 Olympics Organising Committee Breaking news for everyone's consumption Several people in France are part of a Listeria outbreak linked to eating cheese made by one company identified cases of Listeria infection in people who consumed cheese made by Fromagère de la Brie Food Safety News has contacted the agency to confirm details of the outbreak The initial investigation led to the withdrawal from sale and recall of all cheese made from raw and pasteurized milk manufactured by Fromagère de la Brie on its site of St Siméon a village in the French region Île-de-France environmental and food traceability investigations are continuing to identify the origin of contamination Affected brand names are Fromagere de la Brie Creams and cheeses were marketed until April 9 under different national brands and retail stores French authorities urged people with any of the affected products to not consume and return them to the place of purchase for a refund Some of the cheese was exported to Austria and Luxembourg where it has also been recalled Fromage a la Truffe d’été and Le coeur de la Fromagere Coulommiers 45 percent Reflet de France is part of the recall All dates of Loiseau branded Brie de Meaux Coulommiers and Orvannais with lot codes starting FB19 are affected All lots and dates of Hennart brand Boule de Raisin Fleuricreme and Plateau du Voyageur are involved as well as certain Hennart brand Brie de Meaux AOP jeune and Brie de Meaux AOP half affine Brillat Savarin and Brie de Nangis of the Beillevaire brand and all dates and lots of Coulommiers of the Fromagerie du Dolloir mark are also implicated Listeriosis is a serious infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes It can lead to serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children and others with weakened immune systems as well as miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women If the infection spreads to the nervous system The incubation period is usually one to two weeks but can vary between a few and up to 90 days (To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.) Indulge in regional products and specialities from the Paris Region! Brie cheese from Meaux and Melun, watercress from Méréville, peppermint from Milly-la-Forêt, not to mention Brie beer and button mushrooms—Paris Region boasts tons of delectable local products. These are certified “Paris Region Food Tour” and “Made in Paris Region”, labels that guarantee quality and authenticity for the consumer. A showcase for French culinary heritage, the Paris Region Food Tour label highlights and promotes the best dining locations in the city and surrounding region. Gourmet stopovers including six major spectacular sites: The route includes the Hotel de la Marine (the first to open its doors), the old Poste de Versailles, the Halle Gourmande of Saint-Ouen, the Cité du Goût in Noisiel, the French Pavilion from the Milan World Expo, reconstructed in Tremblay-en-France, and the Maison des Fromages de Brie in Coulommiers. The Food Tour takes you to unique cultural sites where you’ll meet local producers wholly devoted to their craft and expertise. The complementary “Made in Paris Region” label is meant to recognise the cultural richness of the region and the people who help create it. Authenticity, local quality and pride… the certified producers proudly represent the colours and flavours of Paris Region! Brie in Seine-et-Marne is what cheese is to French cuisine: inseparable! Meaux, Melun, Coulommiers, Montereau are all Brie-producing towns in this department located east of Paris. There’s no disputing the worldwide fame of this soft cow’s milk cheese with its beautiful blossomed rind! While waiting for the opening of the Brie cheese house in Coulommiers, La *Maison du Brie de Meaux welcomes you for a discovery tour of Brie de Meaux AOP. Discover the different stages of its production, from harvesting the milk to the cellar ageing. You’ll be an expert in no time! Watercress is prevalent in Essonne, due to the presence of pure springs, essential for its growth. In a protected natural setting, the watercress of Méréville—an iconic product of Paris Region—stands out from other watercress for its sweetness and smoothness. The Villa Paul watercress farm is located in the heart of the Juine Valley, a natural reserve in Paris Region. The Barberot family has been cultivating organic watercress for five generations on 3.5 hectares. Besides the fresh bunches of watercress, other products are sold on the farm: soup, sauce base, aperitifs, and more. Take a guided tour with the farmers to learn more! The craft beer boom keeps delivering incredible products. Try different 100% pure malt beers, made exclusively with the barley grown at the farm of the Rabourdin family brewery. These artisanal craft beers are unfiltered, unpasteurised, and contain no added carbon dioxide or preservatives. White, blond or amber, these beers come in three varieties to suit all tastes: Briarde, refreshing and fruity; Brie, authentic and spicy; and Terrano, slightly tart. Plan a visit to the brewery, which always includes a tasting session. Milly-la-Forêt peppermint is a robust, aromatic, perennial plant resulting from a cross between spearmint and black mint. Its peppery leaves are used to flavour dishes, desserts and herbal teas, for a guaranteed refreshing touch. A genuine place of conservation and promotion, the National Conservatory of Plants is at once a nursery, a botanical garden, an agricultural research centre and an interpretation centre. Round off a sense-awakening walk through the rich collections of over 1,500 plants, including peppermint, with a stroll through the Conservatory’s astonishing museum. Want to learn more about botany, cultivate your own seeds, grow herbs and medicinal plants, or transform wild plants into delicious recipes, health formulas or vegetable dyes? You’re in the right place! In Méry-sur-Oise, in a former stone quarry that ran until the end of the 18th century, you’ll find one of the last mushroom farms in the Paris Region. For four generations, the Zamblera family has cultivated mushrooms in the many tunnels created by previous quarry operators. Six varieties are grown at La Marianne mushroom farm: classic button mushrooms (Paris mushrooms), grey, pink and yellow oyster mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms and poplar mushrooms. These fresh mushrooms will delight all gourmet fans. You don't have permission to access the page you requested. What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed. the towering grappler stood nearly 7 feet tall and weighed over 500 pounds shortly before his death in 1993 due to heart failure Although a number of professional wrestlers have transcended the squared circle to become worldwide stars—Hulk Hogan, Jesse Ventura, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson among them—few have captivated the public quite like André the Giant. Born André René Roussimoff in Coulommiers It’s fitting that André’s mythological proportions have led to a number of myths surrounding his life from an exaggerated height (he was often billed as 7 feet 4 inches) to his propensity for drinking hundreds of beers We’ve sifted through some of the more sensational stories to separate fact from fiction Before becoming a superstar in wrestling, André René Roussimoff grew up as the middle of five children. Throughout his childhood, André’s sister couldn’t pronounce his name, instead calling him “Dédé.” His family soon adopted it as André’s nickname growing up the story has been exaggerated to the point where Beckett and Andre are the only occupants in the truck though it's unlikely Beckett paid him any particular attention the unlikely pairing has inspired several plays André had grown so dramatically in the interim that his parents did not recognize the stranger who knocked on their door they realized they had even seen him wrestle on television under an alias without ever knowing they had been watching their own son André’s dimensions were the result of acromegaly, a disorder of the pituitary gland that causes uninhibited growth hormone secretion Because his body was so generous in its strength André rarely (if ever) lifted weights for additional power His resistance training seemed to come in the form of moving his friends’ cars around during nights he was out drinking with friends The smaller vehicles could be easily slid over to tight spaces or turned to face the opposite direction While André’s height and girth proved to be problematic when it came to traveling—most vehicles made for uncomfortable rides that required him to slouch—his hands and fingers posed special challenges Said to have fingers so large that silver dollars could pass through his rings André could never use a conventional rotary phone without sticking a pencil in the dial; learning to play the piano was also out of the question since one finger would strike three keys at once It’s said that Ferre possessed otherworldly strength and that he single-handedly killed 85 men during a battle while armed only with an axe He also got a taste of different opponents along the way wrestler/promoter Adnan Alkaissy invited André to Iraq to take part in a wrestling event he stayed in a custom-made bed at the Shara Hotel and was scheduled to wrestle a match where he would lose to Alkaissy with a yearly wage of $400,000 (more than $2.6 million today) and plenty of people think the whole thing was just a publicity stunt nothing drums up excitement quite like a giant On June 25, 1976, a unique exhibition bout took place at Shea Stadium when boxer Chuck Wepner, one of the main influences for the character of Rocky Balboa, faced off against André the Giant The match ended when André threw Wepner outside of the ring where “The Bayonne Bleeder” failed to make it back inside before the count of 20 “Although [Wepner] was able to make it to the end of the 15th round against Muhammad Ali and it gave fans an excuse to pack the arena when he finally got his revenge on Khan during a “stretcher match” that November “This went on for like 30 seconds,” Roberts said “Giants fart for extremely long periods of time.” When he wasn’t traveling for his wrestling engagements André largely kept to himself in his North Carolina ranch home which featured a tree growing through the middle of each of its three stories Because shopping could be a cumbersome experience the home shopping channel that had launched in 1986 His friends recalled that André bought several steam cleaners and lots of porcelain butterflies from the channel Cribbage is a card game that André loved and was known to play backstage at wrestling events. Wrestling legend Frank Dusek claimed that during one particularly rough game for the Giant when he was beaten by over 60 points he easily ripped the deck of cards in half and told Dusek they could play more later his co-star in the 1987 film The Princess Bride André once drank enough to pass out in a hotel lobby hotel employees arranged a velvet rope around his slumbering frame so he wouldn’t be disturbed André the Giant’s prolific drinking is the stuff of legend even if most of the stories are a touch overblown So it must have come as a surprise when André revealed during an appearance on Late Night with David Letterman in 1984 that he’d stopped drinking beer 14 months earlier But he didn’t stop drinking completely; he simply switched to two or three bottles of white wine at a time While André could drink far more than the average man, the extent of his enormous appetite for food was also without compare. Although he didn’t order excessively big meals on a regular basis, his friend Tim White revealed the true extent of André’s ability to eat André could walk into a restaurant and consume up to 12 steaks and 15 lobsters in a single sitting gorging on food was also a professional obligation: His massive frame was part of his appeal in the ring the most notable being Fezzik in 1987’s The Princess Bride But he had been seen much earlier in a dramatic role André appeared in costume as the Sasquatch in a two-part episode of The Six Million Dollar Man starring Lee Majors André wasn’t a creature at all but a cyborg protecting an alien race But André the Giant played just as big of a role on the inaugural card That night, André was involved in a “$15,000 Body Slam Challenge” against Big John Studd. As the name suggests, the first man to body slam his opponent would win $15,000. André, of course, came out on top, and when he got the bag of money, he proceeded to toss the cash into the audience until Bobby “The Brain” Heenan 12-minute music video where she played the daughter of a struggling gas station owner her father is also being bullied by WWF stars like The Iron Sheik and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper This leads to her finding treasure in a secret cave along with The Goonies her family’s creditors don’t accept the treasure as payment so Lauper just summons André the Giant to scare them all away André didn’t disappear for the entire length of his on-screen suspension. He briefly made appearances in the WWE as “The Giant Machine” and performed under a mask—though when you’re built like André the Giant André wasn’t the only wrestler to partake in this silly gimmick Hulk Hogan also appeared as the Hulk Machine at one point and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper even showed up as the Piper Machine No one was fooled; some may have been entertained André the Giant’s native language was French, and while he spoke English well enough, it was something he still struggled with. And since his role as Fezzik in The Princess Bride required him to have a few lines of dialogue, audiences needed to understand what he was saying. Director Rob Reiner came up with the solution: He would record all of André’s lines for him André would listen to them over and over on a pair of headphones so he could memorize the sounds of every word André’s closest friendship from The Princess Bride might have been with an actor who didn’t even appear in any scenes with him. Actor Fred Savage recalled that he was a WWE superfan at the time the film was shot and that André made a special visit to the set to see Savage even though his part was already completed Savage also said that André sent him Christmas cards every year from that point on André’s behavior rarely escalated to the point police were needed, but there was an exception. On August 21, 1989, he was in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, when he confronted local KCRG cameraman Ben Hildebrandt for filming him wrestling without his permission André slapped him upside the head and broke his camera Police officers confronted André and told him he needed to be arrested for assault and criminal mischief The Giant initially refused before officers talked him into going voluntarily He paid a $100 fine and the cost of the camera Known for playing practical jokes on his friends, André also enjoyed causing mayhem among the general population. One such example came on a night in 1977 when André and fellow wrestler “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes decided to get into a little bit of trouble Unwilling to cram into a tiny cab along with their friends after a night of drinking André and Dusty chose to walk back to their hotel they came across a pair of horse-drawn carriages that they then decided to race 15 blocks the wrestling duo were already back at the hotel and denying any involvement André the Giant didn’t even realize his size was caused by a disease until he was 23, when doctors in Japan discovered he had acromegaly Doctors tried to convince André to have the surgery again this time after he had heart surgery at Duke University in the 1980s His friend Jackie McAuley claimed that he said at the time “If this is the size that God wanted me to be His physical condition was reportedly so diminished at this point that André spent his remaining years in wrestling in pain and able to perform only basic maneuvers some of Andre's most famous matches—like the bout with Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania III in 1987—were nowhere near what he had been able to do earlier in his career who was disliked by the Giant simply because he used a lot of the stuff while wrestling He stubbornly said ‘André’s gimmick is being a giant and mine is baby oil.’ He never backed down from André and they never got along because of it.” Because of his massive size, André could cause almost anyone in the world to do a double-take. While he was used to adults staring at him, it bothered the Giant when kids would grow visibly nervous or scared in his presence. “Often when I go to home of people who have small children, the children will run from me, even though they have seen me on television,” he said Throughout his career, André the Giant was portrayed as both the most beloved wrestler in a given company, and the most despised. And he was wildly successful as both: As a performer, André landed on the top of Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s lists as both the Most Popular Wrestler (1977 and 1982) and Most Hated Wrestler (1988) when he wrestled Hulk Hogan for the World Heavyweight Championship Most fans who grew up during wrestling’s ‘80s boom period likely remember his feuds with other top good guys (a.k.a André traveled to France for his father’s funeral his mother convinced him to stay for a few days to celebrate her birthday André agreed and stayed in a hotel outside of Paris and spent time with old friends and family Sadly, on January 26, André the Giant passed away from congestive heart failure in his hotel room at the age of 46 When the WWE established its Hall of Fame in 1993. André the Giant became their first-ever Hall of Fame inductee as well as the sole inductee in the class of 1993 A video reel of André’s highlights was shown during Monday Night Raw to announce his posthumous induction It was a fitting tribute to a wrestler that had left a huge mark on both wrestling and popular culture The 1998 film My Giant was partly inspired by André the Giant becomes friends with a towering man named Max who he’s drawn to because of his potential in the movie industry Max was played by the 7-foot-7-inch Gheorghe Mureșan Max becomes a real positive force in the life of Crystal’s character before the giant succumbs to heart failure A version of this story was originally published in 2018 and has been updated for 2024 © 2025 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved Before becoming a superstar in wrestling, André René Roussimoff grew up as the middle of five children. Throughout his childhood, André’s sister couldn’t pronounce his name, instead calling him “Dédé.” His family soon adopted it as André’s nickname growing up André’s dimensions were the result of acromegaly, a disorder of the pituitary gland that causes uninhibited growth hormone secretion On June 25, 1976, a unique exhibition bout took place at Shea Stadium when boxer Chuck Wepner, one of the main influences for the character of Rocky Balboa, faced off against André the Giant Cribbage is a card game that André loved and was known to play backstage at wrestling events. Wrestling legend Frank Dusek claimed that during one particularly rough game for the Giant when he was beaten by over 60 points While André could drink far more than the average man, the extent of his enormous appetite for food was also without compare. Although he didn’t order excessively big meals on a regular basis, his friend Tim White revealed the true extent of André’s ability to eat That night, André was involved in a “$15,000 Body Slam Challenge” against Big John Studd. As the name suggests, the first man to body slam his opponent would win $15,000. André, of course, came out on top, and when he got the bag of money, he proceeded to toss the cash into the audience until Bobby “The Brain” Heenan André didn’t disappear for the entire length of his on-screen suspension. He briefly made appearances in the WWE as “The Giant Machine” and performed under a mask—though when you’re built like André the Giant André the Giant’s native language was French, and while he spoke English well enough, it was something he still struggled with. And since his role as Fezzik in The Princess Bride required him to have a few lines of dialogue, audiences needed to understand what he was saying. Director Rob Reiner came up with the solution: He would record all of André’s lines for him André’s closest friendship from The Princess Bride might have been with an actor who didn’t even appear in any scenes with him. Actor Fred Savage recalled that he was a WWE superfan at the time the film was shot and that André made a special visit to the set to see Savage even though his part was already completed André’s behavior rarely escalated to the point police were needed, but there was an exception. On August 21, 1989, he was in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, when he confronted local KCRG cameraman Ben Hildebrandt for filming him wrestling without his permission Known for playing practical jokes on his friends, André also enjoyed causing mayhem among the general population. One such example came on a night in 1977 when André and fellow wrestler “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes decided to get into a little bit of trouble André the Giant didn’t even realize his size was caused by a disease until he was 23, when doctors in Japan discovered he had acromegaly Because of his massive size, André could cause almost anyone in the world to do a double-take. While he was used to adults staring at him, it bothered the Giant when kids would grow visibly nervous or scared in his presence. “Often when I go to home of people who have small children, the children will run from me, even though they have seen me on television,” he said Throughout his career, André the Giant was portrayed as both the most beloved wrestler in a given company, and the most despised. And he was wildly successful as both: As a performer, André landed on the top of Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s lists as both the Most Popular Wrestler (1977 and 1982) and Most Hated Wrestler (1988) Sadly, on January 26, André the Giant passed away from congestive heart failure in his hotel room at the age of 46 When the WWE established its Hall of Fame in 1993. André the Giant became their first-ever Hall of Fame inductee The 1998 film My Giant was partly inspired by André the Giant Here’s everything you need to know about the wrestler dubbed the Eighth Wonder of the World An 85-year-old Frenchman has finally tracked down the descendants of an American soldier who died during World War Two shortly after tousling his hair and giving him some chewing gum Robert Gohin has memories from a very young age of the conflict.  “I remember the Germans being in the streets breaking down the door of a nearby house and taking away the man who lived there I also remember the planes flying overhead although our town was never bombed,” he told The Connexion.  Read more: British veteran of D-Day landings in France dies aged 104 who lived in a hospital due to his father being a nurse saw a US soldier being stretchered in.  He had been shot by one of the few remaining German soldiers in a skirmish and was severely injured.  he said something to the other American soldiers “He ran his fingers through my hair and stroked my head I vividly remember that he had such a gentle voice.”  before succumbing to his injuries a short time later A plaque was placed by the town of Coulommiers (Seine-et-Marne) at the site where the captain was shot.  Mr Gohin was part of a band that played the US anthem in remembrance of the Libération and memories came flooding back.  which once again made him think back to Captain Benz.  “Something clicked in my mind when I saw my son and I realised that he [Captain Benz] probably had a child back in the US that I reminded him of he decided to write to the American embassy in Paris to try and help his father find Captain Benz’s descendants Responses included letters from the University of Michigan Mr Gohin discovered that Captain Benz had a daughter he had never met His wife was pregnant when he left for France and so he only knew about her through letters.  “I was the reminder of the daughter he had never met,” concluded Mr Grohin Mr Gohin and his son doubled efforts to find the family but the lead had gone cold as the captain’s wife and daughter had married and therefore changed names.  Read more: How a Frenchman became a GI on Omaha beach in WW2 Mr Gohin’s son suddenly received an email from a woman living in Florida who had been surprised to hear of these French people looking for a US soldier who died during the war She was even more surprised by their name: her mother was also a Gohin spoke French and told Mr Gohin’s son that she might have more luck searching for the captain’s family as she was in the US and spoke English.  She managed to find the captain’s grandson who lived half an hour away from her in Florida.”  but photos and names managed to convince him.  “He had never heard the tale as neither his grandmother nor mother knew it either We managed to give him back a piece of his history,” said Mr Grohin.  Captain Benz’ grandson and the woman who helped find him were due to travel to France for the 80th anniversary of the Liberation this year Mr Gohin was able to locate where the captain was buried and has subsequently visited his grave: “Believe me I had tears in my eyes when I looked at his tomb If I was allowed to live free in my country All my life I have felt this gratitude towards the Americans.  “The captain died for my freedom and that was why I wanted to track down his family I wanted to tell them his story and let them know he is still in my heart.  “I wanted them to understand how much it mattered to me “I would love to meet them properly in person but I am relieved that I could at least tell his story.”  Mr Gohin played a role in his local remembrance celebrations in August as a flag bearer and his story was told to a large audience.  He was also awarded a US flag by the president of a veteran’s association as thanks for honouring the memory of American soldiers.  “That flag is extremely precious to me,” he said Many remained in France during the occupation ‘All I have is this precious image and the story behind it’ With more than one million visitors last year the cemetery is one of the region’s most-visited D-Day sites Valentin de Boulogne: Beyond Caravaggio will be on view at the Musée du Louvre Martyrdom of Saints Processus and Martinian The United States is one of more than 30 countries that received cheese from France potentially contaminated with Listeria Listeria monocytogenes was detected in Coulommiers The product was part of a mass recall of raw and pasteurized cheese made by Fromagère de la Brie Santé publique France, the public health agency, identified two cases of listeriosis in women who consumed cheese made by Fromagère de la Brie at its site of St Siméon Food and Drug Administration spokeswoman confirmed to Food Safety News that the country had received some of the cheese “The FDA is aware of the issue and we are investigating with the cooperation of the firm’s U.S We are not aware of any illnesses at this time are “Explorateur” and sold in three different sizes – 1 kilogram recalled 29 cases of l’Explorateur soft ripened cheese because it had the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The Fromagère de la Brie brand recalled 22 cases of the cheese for the same reason The company said it was one of several importers notified of a potentially positive test result for Listeria monocytogenes No illnesses were connected to either recall The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) in Hong Kong urged the public not to consume a type of cheese imported from France due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes Cheese Brillat Savarin of the Bordier brand was imported by Classic Fine Foods (Hong Kong) Ltd 352802 and 352803 and best before dates from April 12 to May 7 Preliminary investigation found the importer had 11 pieces of the affected product and all of them had been distributed had the same implicated product but with lot numbers 1900307B 1902791 and 1903446B and best before dates Feb A recall in Australia was expanded to include Organic Spring Pty Ltd products sold at Spring Street Cheese Cellar in Victoria Chaource St-Simeon 250 gram with best before dates of Feb 2019; Brie de la brie 3 kilogram with best before dates of March 1 2019; and Explorateur Mini Sous Coque 125 gram with best before dates of Feb coli O26 was detected and Jacquin recalled Pouligny Saint-Pierre raw milk PDO goat cheese with the brand name “P. Jacquin et Fils.” Government officials reported other countries that received the cheese included Austria, Belgium The food fight began when a Bergen County fifth-grader was eliminated early in the 84th annual North Jersey Spelling Bee and the first virtual one, after failing to spell "ricotta." another speller failed where a Kentuckian might have prevailed asked to spell the Southern stew "burgoo." Then a seventh-grader was ousted in the fifth round when offered the French word "gratin," referring to food covered in buttered crumbs The next speller felled by a lack of gastronomical lexis was a Passaic County seventh-grader, whose undoing was the spice "marjoram." disqualified another contestant in round seven an eighth-grader from Passaic Arts & Science Charter School a seventh-grader from West Brook Middle School in Paramus with the words growing only more inscrutable and the comestible challenges seeming interminable Elhadary added an errant "e" to the end of "bouilli," a dish of boiled beef But her misspelling did not immediately hand the trophy to Villalobos who still needed to spell "Coulommiers," a type of Brie cheese Villalobos said her studies in French helped but she happily acknowledged that the rest of her preparation came down to the age-old art of cramming She praised Elhadary as stiff competition and said the contest grew "intense" as it came down to just the two Villalobos said she was "shaken up and excited." The Passaic student's path toward a national spelling bee began in her classroom when she finished in second place but her friend declined to compete in the schoolwide competition Asked how she felt finding herself in the top spot of her region will receive a trophy and a $1,000 scholarship from the bee's sponsor, LAN Associates whose matriarch was the first winner of the North Jersey Spelling Bee in 1935 she will continue on to the national competition Schools: Hundreds of teachers receive COVID vaccines in Paramus Ramapo Indian Hills: Board hires search firm seven months after superintendent's departure Even though this was the contest's 84th year the spelling bee did not run as smoothly as one would expect of an octogenarian event With the coronavirus pandemic still an issue for schools several districts had to bow out of their own spelling bees bringing the number of contestants from Bergen and Passaic counties down to 31 technical glitches plagued the first virtual bee for the region a sixth-grader from Paterson's Charter School for Science and Technology managed to hang on through seven rounds of recurrent connectivity issues Nicholas Katzban is a breaking news reporter for NorthJersey.com. To get breaking news directly to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter Email: katzban@northjersey.com  Twitter: @nicholaskatzban  diners and health gurus have turned it into a menu staple and a sought-after superfood their Gallic counterparts do not understand the leafy green vegetable translates unappetizingly as “curly headless cabbage.” In a nation that loves just about every comestible its terroir can put forth kale is a reminder of the dietary deprivation of World War II that made boiled cabbage an unpleasant fixture of the dinner table a city that tends to embrace trends it considers très Brooklyn kale (so ubiquitous in Brooklyn that it could be named the borough’s official vegetable) evokes the classic Parisian shrug But there are stirrings of a movement to make France pay attention led by a 29-year-old American who has transformed herself into the Joan of Arc of kale found herself without a job in 2011 after quitting as an Ogilvy & Mather account manager in New York to follow her husband to Paris She also found herself without a beloved food she had eaten since her childhood in Pittsburgh “I went to so many farmers and restaurants showing them photos of kale,” Beddard said “No one had any idea what I was talking about One night I was out to dinner with my husband and I said ‘What if I try to bring kale to Paris?’ ” Working from her apartment on a shoestring budget complete with a website that dutifully reports kale sightings she has passionately pitched kale to chefs and vegetable farmers “I knew deep down that if I could get farmers to grow it I could create a kale community in France,” Beddard said “My mission is to make kale as common as lettuce.” She is under no illusion that she will earn a living from kale But if her kale project turns a profit one day “Why would the French ever care about this large coarse-leaved cabbage?” asked Sanaë Lemoine a French writer in Brooklyn who helped found a food blog called The Walkin Kitchen (and cooks a lot with kale) “They don’t need magical vegetables or superfoods They already have a tradition of eating balanced meals In Beddard’s encounters with the French some have bridled at this American who presumes to instruct them about an ancient piece of their culinary heritage One of France’s largest food distributors laughed at her when she proposed that he ask his farmers to plant kale But with the help of a quiet charm and an advertising executive’s enthusiasm They include organizing several kale events at small restaurants and cafes including what was billed as Paris’ first official kale evening at the upscale bistro Verjus last year a hip new bistro in a working-class neighborhood in eastern Paris is using kale as a garnish for calf’s head and to anchor salads with fresh apple sauces and Comté cheese she will help create cocktails with kale juice at Silencio the club in central Paris designed by the filmmaker David Lynch The first farmer to embrace Beddard’s project was Hermione Boehrer who has started growing organic baby kale and selling it for about $15 a pound Sundays at the outdoor organic food market on Boulevard Raspail but it was almost like fate,” Beddard said Beddard provided her with seeds that she had brought from England for a curly leaf kale called Halbhoher Grün Krauser The first crop last year was eaten by insects but this year’s harvest has been a smashing success Beddard also contacted Joël Thiébault the high-end farmer who grows more than 1,500 varieties of nonorganic fruits and vegetables outside Paris and recently it was selling briskly at an outdoor market When Beddard has questions about soil content or predatory insects a large organic-produce operation on the East Coast of the U.S And she has become a walking Wikipedia entry on the history and culture of kale A visit to Boehrer’s farm is like a trip into that history Her 30-square-foot house is lighted at night with two bulbs powered by a wire attached to the cigarette lighter of her truck She washes herself and waters her fields with rainwater caught in huge vats She plants chervil and mustard among the kale to discourage insects She harvests her vegetables and herbs by hand “Not just anyone can come here,” she said “I don’t have time for guests.” the food writer Jean-Claude Ribaut and this reporter) bought two wooden crates of kale who specializes in vegetables at Arpège his three-star Michelin restaurant in Paris Passard had agreed to see what he could do with this strange new ingredient; even though he grows his own fruits and vegetables His six-course lunch started with a crescent-shape pastry stuffed with turnips Kale-filled ravioli in a sweet tomato bouillon followed served with purées of turnips and celery The meal ended with a tribute to the peasant: stuffed cabbage Kale leaves were wrapped around tiny cubes of potato and chopped onion and kale; a bouillon was made of green tomato Passard spoke effusively about what he called le kahl with all the gravity of a marriage proposal: “Will you send me some seeds?” Stay secure and make sure you have the best reading experience possible by upgrading your browser many of the world's biggest stars have set up shop in Paris while filming given that Paris is such a cinematic character Many cult films have put the capital in the foreground: Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain That's why we're taking you on a cinephile's stroll through the streets of Paris to find out where all these films were shot The Count of Monte Cristo, where was the film shot in Île-de-France?Discover the fascinating settings of the film The Count of Monte Cristo in Île-de-France, between history and cinema. [Read more] The Killer: where in Paris was David Fincher's film shot?Shot discreetly on the streets of Paris in November 2021, the trailer for The Killer reveals the Latin Quarter as seen through the eyes of David Fincher. [Read more] don't forget to check out our other guides to the seventh art Cinema: which film to see today, this Tuesday May 6, 2025?Not sure which film to see today? Well, we've got plenty of films to show near you. [Read more] Cinema: our guide to cinema releases by genreComedy, drama, horror, action - if you don't know what to choose, we've got you covered! Discover all our guides to current and upcoming cinema releases, sorted by genre. [Read more] Cinema: the most eagerly awaited films in cinemas at the end of 2024Click here to discover our selection of the best films not to be missed as 2024 draws to a close. [Read more] Two separate product recalls have been enlarged in France as more details emerge has recalled all of its products linked to a salmonella outbreak It comes after France’s health ministry linked at least 15 cases of salmonella to the chocolates in the lead up to Easter on April 17 Read more: Kinder chocolates recalled in France in run up to Easter is expanding its recall from around 2,000 cheese products to around 24,000 after discovering the source of a potential Listeria contamination camembert and coulommiers under the brands Normanville and Graindorge These cheeses are sold in the supermarkets Auchan Read more: Recall alert: French supermarket cheese recalled due to listeria risk The following chocolate products have been recalled in France Kinder Mini Eggs mix et Kinder Mix (including various types of packaging) See a full list here The Belgian food safety agency (AFSCA) announced on Friday (April 8) that it had ordered the shutdown of production at the Kinder chocolate factory in Arlon (Belgium) that was identified as the source of the salmonella contamination “The group deeply regrets this matter and offers its sincere apologies to all (consumers and) business partners,” it stated Ferrero advises anyone who has bought one of these products not to consume it to keep it and to contact its consumer support team on 08 00 65 36 53 or contact.fr@ferrero.com coulommiers and camemberts from brands Normanville Traditions de Normandie and Nous anti-gaspi are included in the recall The products on recall should be stamped with the following: FR 14.371.001 CE Lactalis states that it believes it has found the source of the potential listeria contamination No cases of listeria have as yet been recorded Customers who have bought a cheese product on recall can phone 0800 120 120 for more information Baguette, pizza, Kinder, cheese: How do food recalls work in France? Recent power cut in Spain and Portugal is warning to holidaymakers to ensure they are prepared for worst-case scenario The resort is set to remain open to the public and not only to professionals Storms from the weekend will persist across some areas As the confectionery capital of the world, Paris has no shortage of candy shops. To succeed in a sea of macarons and madeleines, these confiseries must prove that they're the cream of the crop—a feat that family-run chocolate shop À la Mère de Famille has continuously accomplished for two-and-a-half centuries À la Mère de Famille was founded in 1761 by Pierre-Jean Bernard After relocating from Coulommiers to the heart of Paris Bernard set up shop in a corner building at 35 he attracted Parisian passersby with an array of sugary specialities a new team of chocolatiers continues to keep the shop's spirit alive worked as the store's confectioner and supplier—took over the business with his children 10 more À la Mère de Famille shops have popped up across Paris offering their old-fashioned treats like candied fruits and Montmartre Palet biscuits (their specialty) to audiences all over the city even with these new sites, the little store on rue du Faubourg Montmartre remains the most beloved À la Mère de Famille location this corner store will always have an extra special place in Paris' rich history “After offering the finest products for two and a half centuries the historical store is now a legendary address whose façade has not changed since the end of the 19th century,” À la Mère de Famille tells My Modern Met it is an exceptional heritage that never ceases to reinvent itself.” À la Mère de Famille: Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube Colorfully Decorative Storefronts Reveal the Story of Paris Interview: Founder of MessyNessyChic Explains How to Visit Paris Like a Local in New “Non-Guide Book” 130-Year-Old Video Footage Lets You Explore Everyday Life in 1890s Paris Want to advertise with us? Visit My Modern Met Media Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening Get instant access to ITR on your home screen Add ITR Wrestling to your Google News feed > WWE Chairman Vince McMahon has paid tribute to Andre The Giant on what would have been his 75th birthday Writing on Twitter McMahon described his late friend as “A titan of stature Andre The Giant passed away in his sleep on January 27th 1993 Andre Roussimoff was born on May 19th 1946 in Coulommiers Andre began his wrestling career in Paris in 1964 before moving to the United States in 1973 A titan of stature, strength, athleticism, and heart. Thinking of my friend Andre the Giant on what would have been his 75th birthday. pic.twitter.com/ndihPHwxrA — Vince McMahon (@VinceMcMahon) May 19, 2021 After moving to the States Andre enjoyed a long unbeaten streak and feuded with the likes of Harley Race and famously Hulk Hogan After a series of matches in the early 1980’s Hogan and Andre The Giant met at WrestleMania III The match ended with Hogan hitting the famous “bodyslam heard around the world” for the win Hulk Hogan paid his won tribute to Andre earlier this year, describing the Eighth Wonder Of The World as his “big brother recalling how he taught him to respect the wrestling business The former World Heavyweight Champion began to appear more sporadically and appeared for WWE for the final time in 1991 The giant Frenchman continued to struggle with his increased weight and his body began to breakdown severely restricting his mobility and ability to perform Andre wrestled his final match in December 1992 Andre also enjoyed a successful acting career famously appearing in The Princess Bride in 1987 A former WWE Champion has announced their wedding engagement AEW Women's Champion Toni Storm wants to wrestle this Academy-Award winning actor CM Punk has opened up on the women wrestler's role in WWE A WWE Hall of Famer's daughter is currently training to become a pro-wrestler New update has emerged on Chelsea Green's WWE contract Potential date revealed for Cody Rhodes' WWE return A popular WWE Attitude Era star has opened up on his in-ring comeback thoughts A recently released WWE star has taken to social media to issue a cryptic message to fans the Île-de-France Origin-Destination ticket will change It is gradually being replaced by a new single-fare ticket in Île-de-France: the Ticket Métro-Train-RER Origin-Destination tickets outside the Ile-de-France region will continue to be distributed at the stations concerned,Origin - Destination ticket books are no longer sold, The price of an Origine - Destination ticket is now €2.50 (and €1.25 at the reduced fare) as is the  Métro-Train-RER Ticket.If you still have any Origine - Destination tickets left they are still valid and you can continue to use them.  the Ticket t+ will gradually be replaced by two new single-fare tickets .. Visit Paris and the surrounding area as much as you want All you need to know to visit Paris and the Île-de-France region in public transport The keys to better understand the Ile-de-France network Transilien is committed to making passenger information accessible to all Accessibility: partially compliant 93% (RGAA 4.1)  Read the report À la Mère de Famille shop front | © À la Mère de Famille / Alexandre Guirkinger Bernard created the first walk-in paradise for Parisians with a sweet tooth The products that were sold when it was first opened are very much the same as those that are still on the shelves today From classic praline rochers to les Folies de l’Écureuil along with florentins and a unique range of Montmartre palets biscuits there’s always been an impressively wide and mouthwatering selection Les Folies de l’Écureuil | © À la Mère de Famille The business has expanded over the years Naturally À la Mère de Famille has changed hands over the centuries the second wife of one of Pierre-Jean Bernard’s stepsons took over the business when her husband died in 1807 She raised her four children on her own and while the store had already worked up a good reputation she helped it develop into the cherished household name it has become today Delicious treats at the oldest chocolate shop in Paris | © À la Mère de Famille The shop stayed in the family until Étienne Dolfi a confectioner and supplier to the company À la Mère de Famille shop interior | © À la Mère de Famille / Alexandre Guirkinger Jane and Jonathan all picked up their father’s love for confectionery and expanded the business across Paris While there used to only be one À la Mère de Famille in Paris little else has changed at the legendary chocolate shop in Montmartre since the 18th century you’re greeted by a traditional façade showcasing row upon row of old-style sweet jars antique lampshades and mosaic flooring also plunge customers back into the past Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy À la Mère de Famille interior | © À la Mère de Famille With over two and a half centuries of expertise, À la Mère de Famille’s time-tested secret recipes have a proven track record of tantalising their customers’ taste buds and the ingredients have largely stayed the same Caramels sachet | © À la Mère de Famille ‘We are very conservative and are committed to preserving this heritage’ Steve is in charge of the artistic direction of À la Mère de Famille and contributes to the creation of new delicious products with a keen eye for tradition One of the main values that has not changed at À la Mère de Famille is the commitment to relying on their own trusted artisans rather than ordering sweets in from elsewhere The Négus de Nevers (a tender caramel tasting of chocolate or coffee) crafted to perfection by carefully selected artisans À la Mère de Famille interior | © À la Mère de Famille / Alexandre Guirkinger transform cocoa into chocolate and dried fruits into praline’ ‘To produce everything ourselves and to master the process from beginning to end is to guarantee the regularity the taste and the excellence of our products What has changed in recent years is only our mastery of chocolate’ As the French nation has become more health-conscious increasingly dubious of sugary intake and keen to eat more fresh fruit certain aspects of the recipes have changed Delicious praline chocolates at À la Mère de Famille | © À la Mère de Famille the candied chestnuts are served low in sugar but it also intensifies the chestnut flavour The modernised recipe took four years to master À la Mère de Famille also offers delicious traditional ice cream which is made from the finest quality fresh fruit Some of the boxed sweets are made from real fruit À la Mère de Famille’s fruity sweets | © À la Mère de Famille There’s also an emphasis on freshness at À la Mère de Famille with all cakes – from candied fruit bakes to rose praline cakes and from Folies de l’Écureuil (almonds and hazelnuts that are roasted coated with dark chocolate and sprinkled with cocoa powder) to lemon cakes – baked on-site daily the shop is constantly inventing new trends is a chocolate gâteau with layers of soft biscuit dark chocolate ganache and crunchy chocolate leaves chocolate has always been the shop’s main focus but macarons have become one of À la Mère de Famille’s specialities Dried fruit and fruity ganache are added to the shop’s macarons to craft a unique combination Some of their most popular flavours include pistachio nut Whether you plan to buy a box of colourful macarons try a selection of fruit jellies or taste the shop’s best-selling chocolates À la Mère de Famille’s products all come delightfully gift-boxed Box of chocolates | © À la Mère de Famille À la Mère de Famille, 35, rue du Faubourg Montmartre, Paris, France Jade is an English travel writer & journalist whose love of languages led her to Paris She has bylines in The Guardian and The Times amongst other publications Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in November Guides & Tips Scenic Road Trips to Take From Biarritz See & Do Hacks Every Tourist Should Know When Visiting the Eiffel Tower See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Autumn Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in December See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Summer Art The Best Photography Galleries in Paris Guides & Tips This Is Europe's Ultimate Road Trip See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in September See & Do 10 French Theme Parks You Should Be Visiting Instead of Disney See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in July See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in October US: +1 (678) 967 4965 | UK: +44 (0)1630 35000 tripssupport@theculturetrip.com © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd are among the many heritage treasures that lend themselves to the game and reveal their secrets for the occasion Paris and the surrounding region are also taking part this town steeped in history is well worth the detour Fontainebleau is taking part in the Journées du Patrimoine Heritage Days 2024 at the Maison des Compagnons in Fontainebleau le programme est mis à jour en fonction des annonces officielles Heritage Days 2024 at the Maison Forestère de la Garenne Gros Bois Heritage Days 2024 at the Hôtel Aigle Noir in Fontainebleau Heritage Days 2024 at the Médiathèque de Fontainebleau Heritage Days 2024 at the Musée des Sapeurs Pompiers Once again this year, the Château de Fontainebleau is opening its doors to the curious for a weekend, on the occasion of the Journées du Patrimoine 2024 Don't miss these lively days in the château and its grounds on September 21 and 22 The 800-year-old château has seen a succession of the greatest kings The historic monument was a "family home"to the kings of France in the same way as the Château de Rambouillet the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye and the Château de Versailles which became an imperial palace after the French Revolution and features the only surviving Napoleonic throne room It continued to be used by kings and emperors until the reign of Napoleon III and Eugénie the Renaissance-style château and its grounds are popular with tourists who come to admire the palace's 1,500 decorated and furnished rooms as well as the various exhibitions on display Events and celebrations throughout the year give visitors the chance to discover the palace in a whole new light In September, the Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days ) give us the opportunity to enjoy this exceptional monument and its treasures Discover the activities and workshops planned for this weekend of free visits Jardin Anglais at the Château de Fontainebleau Ready for a day at the Domaine des rois in Seine-et-Marne Amcor Flexibles has officially opened a recently renovated packaging manufacturing facility in Coulommiers and has also launched a new range of pouches for the packaging of medical devices Amcor Flexibles has completed a major investment to increase its capacity and production expertise in sterilisable packaging applications AF Coulommiers supplies sterilisation pouches and reels to hospitals and medical device manufacturers AF Coulommiers has also announced the launch of a new medical pouch which it claims offers “reassurance in safety and performance” For use in hospitals for the packaging of surgical equipment Amcor Ultra pouches are extremely resistant and are suited to all hospital sterilisation processes with unique resistance for steam sterilisation at the inauguration of the Coulommiers facility Amcor Flexibles vice president Medical Europe sales and marketing Didier Lepee said: “Our history with pouches began 30 years ago when the first pouch consisted of one side paper and one side film “That idea originated from an Amcor sales representative who witnessed a nurse combining film and wrapping paper to comprise a pouch whilst in hospital “AF Coulommiers has always led innovation within the market fully peelable pouches and now we have the Amcor Ultra pouch for healthcare packaging” Amcor Flexibles vice president Medical Europe operations we are consistently the first to create new innovations This therefore requires that we are first to outline the manufacturing environment standards within our facilities and continue to lead within the European market “We are seeing numerous products that do not have the same standards as our products coming in from the Far East and other low-cost countries We feel obliged to uphold our standards as the market leader the investment here came naturally as part of that journey “With the launch of our new product and our state-of-the art manufacturing facility we have an expectation that Amcor Ultra is going to create new standards within the hospital pouch market” He said that the hospital market is currently experiencing a predicament He explained: “Every three to five years they need to invest in sterilisation containers for surgical instruments These containers are often difficult to sterilise and can also raise concerns regarding the maintenance of sterility after sterilisation The container cost of use and thorough maintenance is also considered an issue for hospitals “These concerns have resulted in hospitals requiring an alternative “Amcor Ultra promotes a reassurance of safety and performance Orye said: “It is often thought that Europe is not a competitive place to produce We can deliver great products with high quality compared to the risk you may take when buying products from unreputable sources “The team here have managed to undertake a comprehensive renovation project “It has taken approximately 25,000 hours without incurring one single health and safety incident It really is testament to what a team can do when safety is taken seriously” UK pallet and packaging sector reports pressured market Poll finds three-quarters of voters say councils failing to tackle litter UK Packaging Awards 2025 | Entry deadline approaching US SEC rules on Amazon shareholder proposal on plastic  With over 25 years’ experience in flexible packaging The UK Government’s Resources and Waste Strategy sets out how the country will preserve material .. Is the government right to delay EPR to 2024 View results of this poll Robin Christensen-Roussimoff has led a life that intertwines with her father's legacy while carving out her identity She is the only child of André Roussimoff and despite her father's immense fame and influence in wrestling and popular culture Robin has maintained a relatively private life But where is André the Giant's daughter today Read also Robin Christensen-Roussimoff was born on 16 March 1979 in Coulommiers, France. She is the only child of the famous professional wrestler André the Giant, whose real name was André René Roussimoff, and Jean Christensen, an American publicist. Robin Christensen-Roussimoff poses for the camera Photo: @TheGiant46 (modified by author)Source: TwitterHer parents met in the early 1970s while Jean worked for the WWF and had a brief relationship that resulted in Robin's birth and their relationship deteriorated shortly after her birth leading to her mother raising her primarily in Seattle Growing up, Robin had limited interaction with her father due to his demanding wrestling schedule. She saw her father only five times during her childhood. The limited interaction kept him on the road for approximately 298 days a year during his prime. Read also Shane Gillis' net worth rises significantly after Netflix deal and SNL Her relationship with WWE is primarily professional; she receives royalties from their use of André's name but has expressed feelings of disconnect from the organisation. She has commented on how today's wrestling landscape differs from when her father was active noting that he might have struggled to adapt to modern promotional styles Robin has appeared in several notable projects Her performances have contributed to her recognition as an actress, although she remains more private about her personal life than many in the industry. Robin's involvement in her father's legacy includes appearing in the HBO documentary Andre the Giant, which revisits her father's life and career. Read also According to Naija News and Times of India This wealth primarily stems from her career as an actress and former wrestler She also received a significant inheritance from her father which included various assets and royalties from WWE for using her father's name in events and merchandise Despite her famous lineage, Robin maintains a low-key lifestyle in Seattle, Washington. She has a modest social media presence, mainly using Instagram to connect with fans while keeping much of her personal life private. Read also Why the Kristen Bell plastic surgery rumour isn't fading away Andre the Giant's daughter lives in Seattle Despite being the daughter of a once-famous wrestler she prefers to stay out of public scrutiny She was born in France but raised in the United States Tuko.co.ke shared an article about Alana Springsteen's dad. Alana Springsteen has captivated global audiences with her vocal prowess and songwriting skills fans are intrigued about her family background With over 1.9 million monthly Spotify listeners the musician's path can only get brighter in years to come Find out how Springsteen's dad has played an incredible role in making her one of the fastest-rising country and pop artists in this article These are questions people immediately wonder when they see photos and videos of André René Roussimoff or the individual aptly nicknamed “The Eighth Wonder of the World.” While the actual numbers varied over the years because of entertainment promotion and age there is no doubt that the pro wrestling legend was no normal-sized human being Although the native of Coulommiers, France will not go down as the tallest performer to ever grace a WWF ring — that honor goes to Jorge “Giant” Gonzalez — he will rank as one of the tallest ever at an immense 7’4″ Professional wrestling has always been known for having larger-than-life characters but none embodied that more than Andre the Giant For comparison, legendary NBA giants Manute Bol, Gheorghe Muresan and Shawn Bradley were just a few inches taller than Andre the Giant Despite being in an industry chock full of people that would stand out in a crowd, he was still a colossus among giants. It’s why he has only been beaten a handful of times during his illustrious wrestling career In a fictional world of pre-determined fights, and David’s overcoming Goliath all the time, imagining anyone beating the behemoth known as Andre the Giant was far-fetched even for the fantastical realm of professional wrestling When Andre the Giant became a pro wrestler at 18 in 1964, he looked far different than the monstrous 520-pound Gollum that gave kids nightmares when he was Hulk Hogan’s nemesis in the lead up to their legendary bout at Wrestlemania III he was a lean and svelte athlete who likely would have been on a basketball court dunking on other Frenchmen if he had grown up a few decades later he quickly became a renowned star in the circus world of pro wrestling Some of Andre the Giant’s favorite extracurricular pleasures were alcoholic beverages and food Legend has it that Andre the Giant could eat 12 steaks and 15 lobsters in one sitting and then wash that down with upwards of 24 cans of beer It’s a stunning amount of alcohol at one time but by drinking that much booze he was not only filling the belly of a gigantic individual but also trying to drown out the intense joint pain he developed from being as large as he was More About: