Kerrin Rousset, writer behind the wildly popular blog MyKugelhopf, has been following her sweet tooth around the world, from Alaska to Zambia, for over 15 years. Originally from New York and now at home in Switzerland (with her French husband and their little girl), she founded Sweet Zürich tours, sharing her infectious love of Zürich and sweets, as well as her breadth of chocolate knowledge.
She was instrumental in launching Paris’s Salon du Chocolat in Switzerland, now in its 3rd year in Zürich and translated Ladurée Sucré and Gilles Pudlowski’s A Gourmet Tour of France. You’ll most likely find her running along Lake Zürich with her baby girl, taking photos and chatting with vendors at local markets throughout Europe or writing about her latest adventures and sweet discoveries on her blog. Learn a bit more about Kerrin below!
Describe what you love about France in three words
Boulangerie, pâtisserie, chocolatier.
Ok ok, just kidding. While that is true, I’d also say language, culture, gastronomy. And all together in three: joie de vivre. What I truly love about France is that I feel so at home there – walking out of the boulangerie and breaking off the quignon (crusty end of the baguette) to eat right there and then… sitting in a café with no regard to time… walking the streets, listening to the sounds of the language… whether along the bouquinistes in Paris or among the colorful half-timbered houses of Alsace. And at the same time, it is still so exciting to me to do all of those things.
Your favorite region in France?
My favorite region is the Pays Basque, in the very far southwest by the spanish border. I fell in love with it my first time there in 2000. – the small villages, perfectly charming and authentic… the white houses with bright shutters, red like their flag. Those fabulous Basque words, striped linens and espadrilles. Men in black berets, pelote courts and adorable fishing boats. Oh, and on mange bien there too! The Basque are warm, generous and enormously proud of their roots and all these traditions.
The first place you go when you visit Paris?
I drop my bags and immediately head to rue des Rosiers in the Marais. I grab a veggie & hummus pita at L’as du Fallafel or a turkey sandwich with the works at Sacha Finkelstein‘s and sit on a bench in Place des Vosges to enjoy it. Then it’s back to rue des Rosiers for a massive slice of tarte au citron meringuée at Le Loir dans la Théière.
Top 3 pastry/chocolate shops?
My top three favorite chocolate shops with my go-to bar at each: Henri le Roux (goviro); Franck Kestener(atlantique); A l’étoile d’or (bernachon kalouga).
Most amusing interaction with the French?
My most amusing interactions with the french are certainly language-centered. I am continually discovering the subtleties and complexities of the language, two reasons I love it so. The French need but two words to express a multitude of emotions and ideas (ça va), yet need over 20 for a greeting at the end of a formal letter. I’ve also learned not to use the French you learn from your husband’s brothers and copains with your belle-mère.
One last fun example, I recall a moment when I was a student in Paris in 1999. At the end of the first day of my (very daunting) linguistics class at the Sorbonne, the girl next to me turned to me and said, “bon courage.” What I now know as a very common expression and use it often myself but back then, I nearly had a heart attack, saying to myself, “oh my god, I need courage for this class ?!”
***Thanks, Kerrin! MyKugelhopf is an endless stream of indulgent inspiration so be sure to subscribe and follow her on Twitter (@MyKugelhopf) for regular updates from Switzerland and beyond!
*All photos courtesy of Kerrin Rousset
