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The first exclamation of “Oh, la la!” comes to mind when you see Eva Longoria gracefully strolling through picturesque France, sporting a variety of fashionable outfits, as she shares the best of the country’s sights, people, flavors, and charm in her new eight-episode CNN travel and food series, “Searching for France.” It premieres Sunday, April 12, with two episodes weekly at 9 p.m. ET/PT, and will be available the following day, April 13, and subsequently on demand through CNN’s subscriber streaming service. Longoria, an award-winning actress, producer, director, entrepreneur, and activist, seeks the essence of faraway lands, as she did in her previous CNN journeys: “Searching for Mexico” and “Searching for Spain.” Why France this time? “I’m a die-hard Francophile,” says Longoria, who was born and raised in Texas and speaks fluent French and Spanish. “For the past 20 years, my acting career has brought me back to France time and again. It’s my second home. But those trips were more about work than enjoyment. Now I’m looking for something deeper. An adventure. So I intend to truly experience France, savor its world-renowned cuisine, and explore the country’s rich history.”
French Bliss, the world’s number 1 tourist destination
France offers countless attractions for tourists. It is the most visited country, with a record 102 million international travelers expected in 2025, according to the French Ministry of Economy. Follow Longoria’s magnificent ode to Paris, filmed with great beauty, as well as her inspiring journeys through the diverse regions of Alsace, Bordeaux, Brittany, Burgundy, and Provence. Longoria guides you to a wealth of pleasures and treasures. Filled with laughter and camaraderie, Searching for France radiates good vibes.
“France has set the standard in haute cuisine,” Longoria explains. “Its commitment to craftsmanship, coupled with a relentless spirit of innovation, has kept its gastronomy at the forefront of modern cuisine. With ‘Searching for France,’ we had the opportunity to spend time with chefs, artisans, and families who preserve and develop this extraordinary legacy.” A stellar cast of chefs guides Longoria through a series of memorable culinary experiences, accompanied by lively conversations about gastronomy, epic events, and key figures in the history of French cuisine.
Among the hotels and restaurants lauded in Searching for France is Le Meurice in Paris, helmed by chef and restaurateur Alain Ducasse, who has amassed an impressive 21 Michelin stars throughout his career. His elegant floating restaurant, Ducasse sur Seine, is the setting for a mouthwatering episode that brings together Longoria and Eric Ripert—author, television personality, chef, and co-owner of the three-Michelin-starred Le Bernardin in New York—for an extravagant seven-course feast that pays homage to the culinary grandeur of France. Joining them at the table are prominent American food journalist, author, and podcaster Lindsey Tramuta and rising French chef Mory Sacko of the one-Michelin-starred Mosuke , who is creating his own tantalizing contributions to French cuisine, influenced by his mother’s West African heritage and the precise Japanese vision that Sacko admires. He, like other emerging chefs in France, is leaving his brilliant and unique mark on the expanding gastronomic landscape.
Chefs welcome Longoria into their kitchens. Nina Métayer, named Pastry Chef of the Year in 2023 by the International Union of Bakers and Confectioners and World’s Best Pastry Chef in 2024 by the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, creates exceptional desserts in her futuristic, computer-equipped kitchen. Chef Mickaël Reydellet of La Parisienne bakery, winner of the prestigious Grand Prix de la Baguette in 2025, teaches Longoria the art of kneading dough, and together they deliver freshly baked baguettes to the Élysée Palace, the residence of French President Emmanuel Macron. Julien Alvarez, head pastry chef at Ladurée, instructs Longoria in the intricacies of making the coveted macarons, those delicate sandwich cookies made with egg white meringue, almond flour, and filled with buttercream, ganache, or jam.
What awaits you? A feast for the palate
In search of French gastronomy, discover pots, trays, bags, and baskets overflowing with culinary delights. A hearty boeuf bourguignon and a truffle hunt with dogs in Burgundy. The rare blue lobster from Brittany’s Atlantic coast. Fresh oysters from the sea, plentiful and served in a thousand ways. In Marseille, France’s oldest city, Longoria helps chef Emmanuel Perrodin prepare an impressive bouillabaisse. At La Ola restaurant in Marseille, a select group of female chefs showcases delightful creative freedom. One of them, Khouloude Ben Thayer, prepares a lamb tatin, a reinterpretation of the classic French apple tarte tatin. At the stunning Château Angélus vineyard in Bordeaux, Michelin-starred chef Thibault Gamba presents dishes of goat cheese and turbot dressed with duck broth and an exquisite wine. At Maison Nouvelle , another renowned Bordeaux restaurant, chef Philippe Etchebest, known for his appearance on Top Chef and awarded two Michelin stars for his success at Hostellerie de Plaisance in Saint-Émilion, delights Longoria with a duck breast roulade in an exquisite sauce. And at the magical Le Prince Noir restaurant in Bordeaux, Longoria enjoys a boeuf bavette and silky sturgeon with caviar sauce, a creation of the ingenious chef Vivien Durand.
Dreamers, thinkers, and innovative doers
Young, talented chefs like Hanz Gueco in Paris, whose restaurant Le Cheval D’or is located in Belleville, a historically working-class neighborhood known for its diversity, immigrant population, and artists, are generating additional excitement. Gueco, of Filipino descent, reinvents Parisian café classics with an Asian twist. Visionary winemakers and farmers are also implementing innovative techniques that prioritize sustainability, such as Château Palmer in Bordeaux, a highly prestigious wine region. Château Palmer’s now fully organic ecosystem is designed to grow vegetables, raise animals, and produce high-quality wines. Its acclaimed ancestral roots stretch back more than four centuries, but its forward-looking efforts are driving its family and staff to move forward productively.
Burgundy produces many prestigious wines, some of which sell for thousands of dollars a bottle. Longoria toasts with Jeremy Seysses, co-owner of Domaine Dujac , a coveted producer of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, specializing in Grand Cru and Premier Grand Cru appellations, with its organic farming practices and elegant style.
Numerous regions and splendid reasons
Longoria reflects on the endearing mosaic of French destinations. Here are some of her highlights.
On Alsace: “The geography of northeastern Alsace says it all. To the west lie the French Vosges Mountains, and to the east, just beyond the Rhine River, the German Black Forest. It’s a border region, a frontier zone: on one side, France; on the other, Germany. No wonder things get complicated! In a place where borders shift and identities blur, perhaps the truth lies in the food.”
On Bordeaux: “Wine has shaped the history, gastronomy, and even the architecture of this region… The city’s wine museum: its curves are designed to evoke the swirl of wine in a glass and the shape of the river that for centuries has carried [the wine] from the city to the port, bringing wealth and prosperity. Where else but Bordeaux could such a glorious and extraordinary tribute to wine be built? Wine is more than a passion; it is poetry for the soul. Its inhabitants are known as Bordelais. They have mastered the art of the good life.”
Regarding Brittany, which borders the English Channel: “This rugged coastal region and everything that defines its unique identity—be it its Celtic origins, its world-class seafood, or the salt in its famous butter—comes from there… Brittany is a sacred place where the sea beckons to its shores… surrounded by the longest coastline in France. Its inhabitants live to the rhythm of this wild emerald sea.”
On Burgundy: “It’s not just about the generosity of its people, but about the deep connection of their lives to the land and tradition. They say that wine is simply the medium through which the land and the seasons speak to us. The soil of Burgundy whispers its history and character through the world-class wines produced in its mosaic of vineyards.”
On Provence: “There’s a reason why, when we dream of a perfect place, it looks a lot like Provence. It’s a lavender paradise. The sun-drenched landscape of this corner of southern France is world-famous. The glamour of the French Riviera. Its beauty is timeless, but this place never stands still. A wild wind sweeps through this region. It drives people to reach new heights of creativity.”
“With Eva as our guide,” adds Amy Entelis, executive vice president of talent and content development at CNN Worldwide, “Searching for France” “transports viewers through centuries of French history, revealing how the country’s traditions, culture, and culinary innovation came together to shape one of the world’s most influential gastronomic legacies.” Viva France!
Searching for France is led by Hyphenate Media Group, the US film and television production company of Cris Abrego, executive and screenwriter, and Longoria.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
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