“French for a While” with Deborah Lee Johnson
It all started when I was on VRBO, the vacation rental website, searching for my next place of stay in Paris. I had not too long ago returned from the City of Light and was missing it already. Comme d’habitude (as usual), I started browsing through apartments dreaming of my next visit to Paris. But for a change, rather than looking in the Latin Quarter or Saint Germain des Près which are situated on Rive Gauche (the Left Bank) as I normally would, I started my search on Rive Droite (the Right Bank) in the 16th Arrondissement. During the summer, I spent quite a bit of time in the museums, markets, and cafés in this district and fell in love with it. I felt at home. I said to myself that the next time I’m in Paris, this is where I would like to be.
After clicking through a few options, I came across one listing that caught my eye. Sure, the apartment home was gorgeous and in a fantastic neighborhood. But it was the owner profile that really had my attention. I noticed the local Atlanta phone number as a contact and wondered could this be true? A fellow Atlantan with a Paris apartment, conveniently located in the 16th, my new favorite Arrondissement? This is every Francophile’s dream!
I went on to visit the owner’s other website, French for a While by Deborah Johnson, who turns out to be not just the proprietor of this Paris based apartment, she is also a culinary expert and specialist in French language, travel and culture. The more I read, the more intrigued I became and thought, how fun would it be to meet in person and talk about our love for France. And that’s exactly what we did! I was welcomed with a warm smile and friendly “Bonjour!” at the French Cottage located in the heart of Atlanta. Here’s a little bit of the back story and conversation from that lovely afternoon.
Q: So how did this all happen?
A: Well I’m originally from Massachusetts and when I was in high school, I became an exchange student and it was during that time that I met my former husband while in France. As teenagers, we developed a friendship and kept in touch throughout the years…eventually got married, started a family and ended up moving to Paris. Although a divorce came years later, I maintained my life in Paris as I wanted for my children to continue their schooling in Versailles, and eventually, I ended up staying there for almost 20 years.
Q: What did you do while living in Paris, for work or school?
A: After completing a degree in French language at Alliance Française Paris, I got involved in the culinary scene through Le Cordon Bleu Institute. Later, I ended up working there as a translator, where I would literally translate instructions on the spot from top chefs in French to English as many of the students there were international, with English being the common language.
Me: Wow, that is really cool. Sounds like a dream job!
A. Yeah, I would also do gourmet walking tours in Paris, food & wine tastings, and hands-on culinary classes for tourists. It was a blast!
Q: So what made you come back to the States, namely to Georgia?
A. My family is here. They ended up relocating from the northeast to Atlanta. So it is nice to be with my family again. On the other hand, I really wanted a way to stay connected to all things French, and that’s where French for a While began. Some years ago, I took on jobs as a culinary expert for Williams Sonoma and Sur La Table in Buckhead, where I would host classes and in store cooking demonstrations. Meanwhile, I would also do miscellaneous French related activities such as tutoring French language and offering private cooking and pastry courses. But recently, I landed a dream job with Vie de France, a premier supplier of fine pastries in the U.S. I love my job because here, even though I don’t have as much time to do those other things like I used to with being full-time and all, I still feel connected to the French culture by using my culinary knowledge and skills that I gained from Le Cordon Bleu. As a pastry product specialist, I get to meet people and train staff at various locations such as The Fresh Market in-store bakeries for example.
Q. Being a pastry expert who has studied and worked in France, what is it that makes the baguettes and croissants so special? Why is it that those same products taste so different here?
A. Besides the fact that some of the ingredients are different including the flour, there’s something to be said for years and years of tradition and culture. For example, whereas prepackaged products are a way of life for many Americans, French bakers believe in making things from scratch. They know exactly where to get quality ingredients and have mastered cooking techniques. Because they know their customers, they also know how many baguettes and other breads to prepare each day, and therefore eliminates the need and worry over prolonging shelf-life. All of those things put together influence the quality of what you’re eating.
Q. Every traveler has sort of a ritual they follow once at their destination to get them situated and make them feel at home. So you have just arrived at Charles de Gaulle. What is it that you do? What’s your ritual?
Note: this is when Deborah’s eyes really lit up!
A. Okay, so after I exit the airport, I get in a taxi and head towards my apartment. I really get excited when I have my key and walk inside. I open the curtains and even light my candles. Then I feel like, ahhh…this is it. I’m in Paris! I love going back to visit some of the old places that I know including patisseries, restaurants, markets, etc. But I also enjoy checking out some of the new places that I hear about too. Besides that, I like going to the museums and if I can, will try and catch a performance at the theatre or opera.
Q. What are your favorite places- markets, bakeries, restaurants in your neighborhood?
A. Bistrot de Longchamps is really nice. Restaurant Akrame is another one. As for the marchés, there’s the one on Avenue du Président Wilson which is near the apartment and has nice products. The antique markets make for great shopping too.
To learn more about these vacation rentals, visit the links below:
Paris- http://www.parisforawhile.com
French Country Cottage (Atlanta)- http://www.vrbo.com/479722
