About

"The evolving Francophile..."

My husband Jack has always wanted to live in Paris and learn French. I thought it would be good for him to achieve his life time dream. Hence, we moved to Paris in 2008. My first year was difficult. I started "missives" to relieve some stress and chronicle my life so friends back in the US could read what I am experiencing. I currently write about my food in Paris, which is my passion., travel experiences, and "experiences living in Paris."

It is definitely a challenge to live here, but each year it gets easier, and quite enjoyable, in large part because I value friendships over locale. I have a love/hate relationship with Paris as do most Parisians, mais La vie est belle (but life is good)!

About Me




 Bagel on Rice Couple

In 2002 my husband of 45-years Jack and I retired. We found ourselves living a routine life and decided in 2008 to move to Paris, part-time, well let's say 7-months out of the year. This is my story. A little different take from other blogs about Paris, since all I've ever seen are love stories about Paris from Francophiles who are like in a dream state and enamored with anything French. I have a love/hate relationship with Paris, and I value friendships over locale.

I started writing missives/journals about my experiences as a way to release stress, and to entertain my friends back home, cause surely they would have a big laugh at all the absurdity that we experience on a day-to-day basis. From learning how to navigate around the bureaucratic hell they call  the government system, to even trying to return an item at a department store, or dealing with your cable company.

I'm also a big "foodie" having gone to the California Culinary in SF as a hobby, and when I retired I ran a cooking club which included cooking demos as well as bringing in other "cooks" and local Chefs to share family recipes and/or provide cooking demos.  I have helped Chefs develop menus, took part in wine and food pairing events, wrote restaurant reviews, assisted in test kitchens developing recipes, and I've even catered a few weddings.

Although I favor Asian/ethnic cuisine over European cuisine, I love to eat all foods. My philosophy has always been, when you travel visit the country's markets. Markets provide a wealth of information about a culture and it's people. Make no mistakes, I think French cuisine can be very good, but to me it is not the "be-all-end-all."


Since I am retired, I am not aspiring to be the next "blogger" extraordinaire. I write solely for my edification and to entertain my friends.  I do not accept gifts, cash or free meals from restaurants or businesses that I may review or mention in my blog. Nor do I make a pre-announcement that I am reviewing a restaurant. I also do not accept paid advertisement.

Hope you enjoy my view of Paris from a different perspective.

NOTE:  As we all know, restaurants can improve or deteriorate. I will try to update my restaurant reviews, if there are significant changes.