There’s one essential in France that simply can’t be ignored. It's cheap as chips, eaten daily and is in almost every household – the French baguette. It's popular for sandwiches, which we Brits invented, but can it be the foundations of a sandwich to beat Marcus’s favourite egg and cress on sliced white? Baguette in hand, he hits the market looking for filling-spiration, and it’s not long before he’s found one of the most French things of all… a stall selling dozens of rotisserie chickens.\n\nThat inspires a classic chicken, lettuce and mayo baguette sandwich. It’s good, but is it the best? Marcus thinks he can do better, so he visits a local baker who grows his own wheat and grinds it into flour to use in his sourdough bread. The baker invites Marcus to join his team for a shift in the bakery, where he helps bake the day’s loaves. Marcus takes one away with him to make what he thinks might just be France’s most famous sandwich… the croque monsieur. A budget-friendly, dressed-up cheese and ham toastie that couldn’t be easier to make.
Source: BBC 2
Series 1: Episode 8
We have many things in common with our French neighbours: a passion for rugby, the colours of our flags and a love of dogs. But it’s fair to say we don’t always see ...
05-02-2026
BBC 2
Series 1: Episode 7
In Provence, the markets and shops are awash with an extraordinary array of fresh fruit, all locally produced, and it’s got Marcus thinking. Back home, we love our fruit-b ...
04-02-2026
BBC 2
Series 1: Episode 6
There’s one essential in France that simply can’t be ignored. It's cheap as chips, eaten daily and is in almost every household – the French baguette. It's pop ...
03-02-2026
BBC 2
Series 1: Episode 5
Marcus is visiting a local farmers' market, where each week a local French chef impresses the crowds with a live cooking demo. However, he’s been told that this time, a Br ...
02-02-2026
BBC 2
Series 1: Episode 4
In Provence, you don't have to walk far or turn too many corners before you find yourself surrounded by local produce. But there's one particular fruit that is synonymous with t ...
29-01-2026
BBC 2
Series 1: Episode 3
There is one thing in France which seems even more important than food: sport - be it football, tennis or pétanque. Marcus combines the French passions of food and sport ...
28-01-2026
BBC 2
Series 1: Episode 2
There is one beautiful thing that Brits and the French have in common, and that’s the pride we take in our local dishes. Marcus was born and bred in Lancashire, where they ...
27-01-2026
BBC 2
Series 1: Episode 1
When you think of French food, certain things spring to mind: wine, cheese, frogs’ legs. But often it’s a simple ingredient at the centre of the greatest Proven&cced ...
26-01-2026
BBC 2
Series 1: Episode 15
Marcus’s time in Saint-Remy is nearly at an end. During his trip, he’s been a sous-chef, been run over by goats, searched for snails, steered a combine harvester, an ...
27-05-2024
BBC 2
Series 1: Episode 14
Marcus has a VIP guest coming for dinner, the mayor of Saint-Remy’s sister, and he really wants to impress. As she is a bit of a history buff, he decides to do some resear ...
24-05-2024
BBC 2
Series 1: Episode 8
We have many things in common with our French neighbours: a passion for rugby, the colours of our flags and a love of dogs. But it’s fair to say we don’t always see ...
05-02-2026
BBC 2
Series 1: Episode 12
There are simple ingredients in the cupboards and gardens of British homes that can economically transform a humdrum dish into a flavourful feast: herbs. Where would tomatoes be ...
22-05-2024
BBC 2
Series 1: Episode 1
When you think of French food, certain things spring to mind: wine, cheese, frogs’ legs. But often it’s a simple ingredient at the centre of the greatest Proven&cced ...
26-01-2026
BBC 2
Series 1: Episode 4
In Provence, you don't have to walk far or turn too many corners before you find yourself surrounded by local produce. But there's one particular fruit that is synonymous with t ...
29-01-2026
BBC 2
Series 1: Episode 3
There is one thing in France which seems even more important than food: sport - be it football, tennis or pétanque. Marcus combines the French passions of food and sport ...
28-01-2026
BBC 2
Series 1: Episode 7
In Provence, the markets and shops are awash with an extraordinary array of fresh fruit, all locally produced, and it’s got Marcus thinking. Back home, we love our fruit-b ...
04-02-2026
BBC 2
Series 1: Episode 13
When in France, it’s very easy to focus on the savoury food offerings. That's not surprising with the incredible meat, fish, veg and cheese in such beautiful abundance. Bu ...
23-05-2024
BBC 2
Series 1: Episode 5
Marcus is visiting a local farmers' market, where each week a local French chef impresses the crowds with a live cooking demo. However, he’s been told that this time, a Br ...
02-02-2026
BBC 2
Series 1: Episode 6
There’s one essential in France that simply can’t be ignored. It's cheap as chips, eaten daily and is in almost every household – the French baguette. It's pop ...
03-02-2026
BBC 2
Series 1: Episode 2
There is one beautiful thing that Brits and the French have in common, and that’s the pride we take in our local dishes. Marcus was born and bred in Lancashire, where they ...
27-01-2026
BBC 2