Lavender syrup has long been made in Provence, France, where fields of fragrant lavender bloom every summer. This homemade version uses freshly harvested culinary lavender blossoms to create a delicate floral syrup that pairs beautifully with coffee, tea, lemonade, sparkling water, cocktails, and desserts. The flavor is subtle and elegant—never overpowering—when steeped for the proper amount of time.

    Croissants, though famously French, actually trace their roots to Vienna, Austria! Their ancestor is the kipferl, a crescent-shaped pastry that dates back to at least the 13th century. Legend says Viennese bakers created it to celebrate the defeat of the Ottoman Turks — the crescent shape imitating the symbol on the Ottoman flag.