Fish Spas in France

Ok.  I can't tell who started this first, France or the States, but please STOP.

The fish 'SPA' concept originated from Turkey where people used it (and still do) to treat skin diseases.  Now 'Fish Spa's are sprouting up in Europe and the States. 

Women and men can go to a classy spa and get their feet munched on by small little hungry fish.  Your skin comes out looking fresh and bright and feeling soft.  

Do we really need to go this far guys?  It's called a 'pedicure' and 'moisturizer'...

French Driving

Ok, some States in the US have like a deal with France. If exhibit A from one of the partner States moves to France, he/she is automatically entitled to a French driver's license, and vice versa.

WHY, oh WHY did France include Florida in the deal?

I passed my test in Florida, in an empty parking lot. That's right; I didn't even leave the parking lot. And I'm not talking about a French style parking lot where you have to turn around and around in a tunnel into the depths of the earth to a point where you get dizzy. I'm talking, a simple, empty parking lot.

In France, on the contrary, it is very hard to pass the test. So here's what we're going to do: I'd like anybody who reads this article to please look at picutre below and tell me what they think is the correct answer. This is just one of the easier questions.  If I get a lot of answers from you, I'll give you another tomorrow.

Here's the question: In this above scenario, what is the speed limit?
A:  110 km/h OR
B:    90 km/h

Let's talk French 'lingerie'

I'd like to dedicate this to a fellow blogger, Keith Ekstein, author of 'A Taste of Garlic', who has expressed his interest in my blog (thank you), but also (or perhaps mostly) his interest in learning more about my 'work'...

I work for a French lingerie company called LOU. Lou is one of the main players in the selective lingerie market, known for its unique style and corsetry expertise. What does that mean exactly? French lingerie is basically the art of combining a great bra that does its job, with beautiful craftsmanship. In other words, yes, a great fit is important, but the way it looks is just as, if not more important.

Americans are looking for a great fit and a flattering figure. The French are more into "how sexy do I feel in this bra?" or "does it meet my fashion standards" or "do I love the look of this and have to have it?" In other words, the French philosophy is "feeling beautiful and fashionable in the inside makes me confident on the outside. Who care about the rest."

It's not really about being sexy for others - sorry guys - it's more about feeling good and sexy for yourself... And, it can't hurt if you're wearing beautiful lingerie; you never know how your day will turn out...


GO FRENCH BRAS !!

Let's Talk Shrimp in France

Yeah, one of the first things that really surprised me when I moved to France was how they eat shrimp. Mind you, this is probably more of a European thing than a 'French-only' thing...Maybe American's are the odd man out. Anyway...

The French have amazing table manners. They hold forks in such a way that put us to shame. So imagine walking into a room filled with very well-dressed, well-mannered French people, RIPPING the heads off of shrimp...and their little legs. Yeah...
You know, I'm starting to get used to it after 11 years. But still, I can only eat like 2 over the course of a cocktail.

Oh, and they come in all sizes, BIG guys, to very tiny ones. The French say that the flavor stays if you rip the sucker apart at the last minute...I say, 'yuck' and 'who wants to spend their time peeling shrimp instead of drinking champagne?'

Great video of Gerard Dépardieu in English!

Gerard Dépardieu explains his 'peeing incident' on an airplane.

Customer Service lesson number 1

Ok, if there is one thing in France that really bugs me, it's the customer service; that is, the BAD customer service, or more like 'WHAT' customer service??

So, I think I'm going to have to give a lesson or two every couple of weeks on customer service. Mind you, American's have a lot to learn from the French, but customer service is not one of them....

So, there's a place called Berko in Paris. Very trendy, hip place. They make cupcakes, American-style cakes, etc. An exciting concept in France...
So, for my ten year anniversary party I decide to order a cake there.

Here's what happened:

Step 1: I go to the place in July. It was lunch time. The main cook was busy. Ok, fair enough. I was told to come back at 6PM.
Step 2: I went back at 6PM. The main cook was arguing with his owner/boss. This went on for an hour. I finally left the place. They told me to write an email at the end of August to order the cake.
Step 3: I wrote them as told. No reply.
Step 4: (this was starting to get annoying - it's just a cake...). No reply. I wrote back.
Step 5: I received an email saying 'Sorry, it's too late'... What the ****!!!!
Step 6: I called to complain. They told me they'd 'try to fit it into their schedule' and they'd get back to me.
Step 7: Of course, nobody got back to me. I called back and the answer was YES, we'll do it. (why is it that I had to plead these guys? Who's the customer here)??
Step 8: I received the price for the cake 2 weeks before the party. It was over my budget.
Step 9: I wrote them back (three minutes after receiving their reply) and asked for a smaller cake in order to fit into my budget.
Step 10: They didn't answer. At this point, I wasn't surprised. I wrote them an email to ask if they would be 'kind' enough to get back to me.
Step 11: No reply. Never heard from them; and luckily, I found a friend of the friend who made me a cake at the last minute....It was amazing (the picture above is of the cake she made) and it was half the price.

Moral of the story?
> If you want to copy an American-style business, customer service is more important than the product you're selling.
> Don't think you're the only 'cake people' in town. The cake I found was amazing, and the service was perfect.

Here's her info if any of you ever want an American cake in Paris.
Thanks Sandrine!

123 Merveilles
Sandrine
123merveilles@gmail.com

French restaurants that have the American touch...

What does that mean exactly? A lot of French restaurants in Paris try to appeal to tourists by adding International food to their menu.
What i don't get is, why, if you are coming to France, would you want to eat a hamburger or a bagel??? Try out French food. It's really good.
And the sauce won't make you fat, I promise. The reason is, the servings are much smaller and the French don't snack (most of the time).

Anyway, I'm drifting here. My point is the following: I think that French restaurants also carry 'American' food to appeal to the French, who want to try out a little of the Americano taste.
Take the brasserie down the street from my office for example. They've got this great, yummy, French restaurant, and then, in the middle of the menu, a hamburger (ok), and....
a Brooklyn Bagel...What is a Brooklyn bagel? If anything, it's a NY bagel. And guys (I'm talking to the restaurant here). I you want to make something American, please don't make a bagel.

It's like American restaurants who try to make a croissant (which are always gigantic and filled with oily cheese). Just stick to your good French food.

P.S. I'm going to order it in the next couple of days. Stay tuned to find out what it's like.