The Sweet Life in Paris

Like many others, I dreamed of living in Paris ever since I first visited the city. Finally, after a nearly two-decade career as a pastry chef and cookbook author, I moved to Paris. Having crammed all my worldly belongings into three suitcases, after a ride in the smallest elevator that I’ve ever ridden in (never mind I had three large suitcases in there with me as well), I arrived in my new home with high hopes, ready to start all over again, in Paris.

But I soon discovered it’s a different world in France. From learning the ironclad rules of social conduct to the mysteries of men’s footwear, from shopkeepers who seem to work hard not to sell you something, to the etiquette of learning the right way around the cheese plate, here is my story of how I came to fall in love with—and even understand—this glorious, yet quirky city.

The Sweet Life in Paris was a finalist in the Best Literary Writing category in the 2010 Cuisinart/International Association of Culinary Professionals awards.