Eva Longoria Builds Strong French Ties

Eva Longoria has long been connected to France. She has traveled there regularly for more than two decades and speaks French. She was married to French-American basketball player Tony Parker for three years.

New CNN season

Her CNN travel show returns for a third season titled Eva Longoria: Searching for France. The season premieres on April 12 and spans eight episodes.

Regions and themes

Filming visited Provence, Brittany, Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy and Paris. The series contrasts regional traditions with contemporary dining.

Alsace and Brittany

Alsace revealed a distinct Alsatian identity with Germanic influences. Longoria explored winstubs, wartime hidden restaurants, and hearty regional sausages.

Brittany showcased unique seafood and local conservation efforts for blue lobsters. She joined divers to observe the protected crustaceans firsthand.

Provence

Provence emphasized Mediterranean flavors and olive oil rather than butter. Local chefs trace dishes to Greek settlers and defend niçoise salad traditions.

Pastry and baking

One episode centers on Paris pastry and traditional bread making. Longoria met Nina Métayer, Cédric Grolet and Mickaël Reydellet to sample signature creations.

Nina Métayer was named the world’s best pastry chef in 2024 and created the Le Flocon signature. Longoria previously took a croissant MasterClass during the pandemic.

She later learned baguette techniques with baker Mickaël Reydellet of La Parisienne. The show highlights how ingredient sourcing and temperature affect outcomes.

Chefs reshaping French cuisine

Mory Sacko, 33, of MoSuke blends West African and Japanese influences. He holds a Michelin star and represents a changing French culinary identity.

In Paris, Hanz Gueco of Le Cheval d’Or brings Filipino-Australian creativity to an Asian district menu. In Bordeaux, Vivien Durand at Le Prince Noir reinterpreted Bordelaise sauce with beef.

Chef Philippe Etchebest of Le Quatrième Mur served a duck that stood out to Longoria. She also sampled Alain Ducasse’s rhubarb-and-oyster dish at Le Meurice.

Culinary heritage

Longoria traced French dining traditions back to Auguste Escoffier. She noted Le Guide Culinaire, the mother sauces and the brigade system’s influence on kitchens worldwide.

She also highlighted the front-of-house roles Escoffier helped codify, including maître d’ and sommelier. Many chefs keep his texts in their kitchens.

Production and purpose

Her production company, Hyphenate Media Group, focuses on purposeful storytelling. The Searching for series began with Mexico to foster cultural understanding.

Previous seasons explored Spanish and Mexican cuisines to bridge cultural gaps. Longoria says food can create empathy and connection.

Personal notes

She first visited France 25 years ago and calls herself a Francophile. At home, she now makes baguettes and jarred butter from heavy cream.

She compares homemade butter to Brittany and Normandy products, noting terroir differences. The process, she says, remains the same.

The season shows how she builds deep, lasting French ties through cuisine and people. The series premieres April 12 on CNN. Read more coverage on Filmogaz.com.