Nino Ferrer - Mirza

Each year, as the British summer approaches we begin to swap our large umbrellas for those mini ones that you can take anywhere; there is widespread confusion between chamomile tea and calamine lotion; male shoppers in the Bedminster Wilkinsons stop wearing t-shirts and the collective calloused foot of the British populace is released from its shoe-based captivity into the pedestrial freedom of the flip-flop. As an ode to all shoes-that-have-proper-foot-retention, I present herewith this delicious slice of French groove which features a most excellent foot-stomping organ solo, guaranteed to elicit vigorous foot-tapping capable of displacing an unsecured beach flip-flop along a trajectory of up to three metres.

Comme un navire qui s'éveille au vent du matin, mon ame rêveuse appareille pour un ciel lointain

Sur les fruits et les fleurs, viennent danser les couleurs

Delizia - J'ai rendez-vous

It's another beautiful day, so here's another summery track to stomp your feet to. This song sees Delizia cursing her dilapidated old bicycle as she races to make it on time to her first date!

Sous les pavés, la plage

I LOVE my neighbourhood. I never cease to be inspired by all the colour, the creativity and community spirit in the Stokes Croft, Montpelier and St. Werburghs districts of Bristol. Okay, so it might be a bit rough-round-the-edges and the recent rioting has not helped to dispel people's preconceptions of the area, but I don't mind - I've never felt so at home.

Sylvie Vartan - Ne t'en vas pas

Something for you to dance «le jerk» to this Friday. Have a great weekend!

C'est mon Amérique à moi, tant pis si elle est trop bien pour moi

Last time we were in London, Kate and I decided to explore the docklands area. Specifically, we wanted to pay a visit to the handsome 1940’s diner located on Trinity Buoy Wharf - reminiscent of Henry’s Diner in the film noir The Killers (1946).

Nancy Holloway - Tu n'es pas venu

One of my all time favourites by Nancy, hope you like it.

Y'a pas qu'au fond de la piscine que mes yeux sont bleu marine

A light lunch at Clifton's wonderful Lido.

Les Gam's - C'est Bien Fait Pour Toi

A super catchy Gallic rendition of Judy's Turn To Cry.

Et mon coeur qui s'arrête sur ton coeur qui sourit, et c'est Bristol, bonjour

It's now five years since I left Paris, yet there's still something comforting to waking up with FIP on the radio, drawing the curtains and catching a glimpse of the orange Citroën Dyane across the street and sitting down to freshly baked vegan viennoiseries.

Recipe: Vegan Lemon Polenta Cake

Ingrédients:

2 x lemons
120g instant polenta
150g plain flour
250g caster sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
200 ml sunflower oil
150 ml warm water
10 (yes, 10!) tablespoons soya yogurt


Directions:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius
2. Juice and zest one and a half lemons; finely slice the remaining half.
3. Line an 18cm cake tin with greaseproof paper.
4. Mix the instant polenta , flour , sugar , baking powder and lemon zest in a mixing bowl.
5. Using a fork, beat in the soya yoghurt.
6. Slowly add the water, oil, lemon juice and beat with a fork until emulsified.
7. Lay the finely sliced pieces of lemon in the bottom of the tin and pour in your cake mix.
8. Bake for 60 minutes.
9. Wait for it to cool then turn the cake upside down and remove the baking paper.
10.Voilà! Time to eat!

Bon appétit!

Les Surfs - If You Please

A 7-inch slice of merriment from Madagascan sextet Les Surfs.

Sous le soleil exactement, juste en dessous

Clifton is so beautiful in the sunshine.