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Fishwives of Paris

Lowkey, Christmas is Pagan AF

25 min23 december 2025

The Bûche de Noël and French Christmas Episode


It’s no surprise, in structure-loving France, that the menu for Christmas dinner is pretty much set in stone – or should we say, petrified in wood? After a veritable eating frenzy of oysters, foie gras, roasted capon, and more truffle-studded cheese than any accountant (or cardiologist) would recommend, on December 24th, most French people feast on a cake shaped into a log, complete with meringue mushrooms and chocolate bark. And before you go trying to link the Yule log to a manger, know that the bûche de Noël has got nothing to do with the birth of Jesus.


Tune in to discover:

  • How and why France co-opted a pagan tradition to turn it into a pastry marvel
  • Why we have the English to thank for making bûche de Noël an approachable home bake
  • Just some of the most out-there bûches on offer from celebrity pastry chefs
  • Why most French people deviate from tradition with a newer version of a bûche that’s easier, cheaper, and a whole lot lighter


Check out our Instagram to see photos of Caroline's Caga Tio creation from the episode @fishwivesofparis


We collaborated with Lucy Vanel of PLUM Lyon for a gorgeous meringue mushroom recipe which you can find on our episode webpage: https://www.fishwivesofparis.com/episodes/s1/the-buche-de-noel-episode/


Hosted by Lyon-based sommelier Caroline Fazeli & Paris-based food journalist Emily Monaco.

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Fishwives of Paris med Caroline Fazeli & Emily Monaco finns tillgänglig på flera plattformar. Informationen på denna sida kommer från offentliga podd-flöden.