“For the love of travel and food”. I knew I’d like Jen Laceda’s blog My Folie à Deux from the moment I saw the tagline. Travel + food topics housed in one blog couldn’t be more up my alley. A love for travel was instilled in her from a very young age, having country-hopped with her family as a child. Culinary appreciation came next and evolved into a refined palette with a penchant for only the finest French desserts, particularly the macaron (as evidenced by THIS and THIS post). Her site has taken a decidedly delicious turn of late as she documents her baking adventures (and feeds her growing belly for baby #3!) but her city guides were initially what grabbed my attention. Though she’s covered many countries and international cities on her blog, Paris keeps resurfacing time and again. Meet this loyal Francophile!


Describe what you love about France in three words.
Style. Passion. Pleasure.

Among all the places around the world you’ve visited, what is it about Paris (or France, in general) that grabs you?
This question is a bit hard for me to answer, as I love to travel and I always find something to like about a place. But to be honest, one day when I was 15, I woke up and saw a series of postcards from Paris and you could say that it was love at first sight! I fell in love with the images of a brightly lit Eiffel Tower, a chestnut tree-lined Champs Élysées, a goodie-filled pâtisserie, and some arcane courtyard with a quiet garden. It seems so clichéd now, but nonetheless, I was crushing on Paris then.


I hadn’t even been to Paris at that time yet I already knew I wanted to connect with and experience the city! I think that’s the difference. With Paris, love didn’t come later – it came first! And there was an undeniable chemistry: I literally felt butterflies in my stomach when I read about the city and I had this deep yearning to BE there. To this day, I consider Paris my first love, and you know what? You don’t ever forget about your first love…



Favorite spot in Paris for a traditional but tourist-free meal?
I’m not sure if this choice is necessarily traditional nor tourist-free but I like having a cup of espresso or hot chocolate with croissant at Café Central on rue Cler. Just before I hit the market, I go across the street from Café Central to the boulangerie-pâtisserie (whose name escapes me) and take away a demi-baguette, a quiche or pizza for snacks. Then I hop over to Davoli to get some outstanding charcuterie – jambon de Bayonne, saucissson sec de Provence, Italian prosciutto! Then I will stop at a fromagerie for some triple creme Brie, Mimolette, or Comté cheese. To me, that’s my favourite spot / way of eating in Paris.

Most unusual or amusing interaction with a French person during your travels?
I was in Paris in December 1995 and there was a Metro strike (surprise!). I needed to catch my bus to Amsterdam one evening and the only public transportation available was via taxi. My taxi driver was a charming Frenchman who was telling me that he worked Disneyland Paris for awhile, but decided that he liked driving around Paris more than anything else. Then he told me, “look around, what’s more beautiful than this? And it’s not fake!” I couldn’t have agreed more! The whole way to the bus station he pointed out landmarks to me – favourite restaurants and bars, a friend’s apartment building, charming little streets, interesting graffiti…it was well worth the 100 Francs I paid for that ride!

Macarons or cupcakes (since you enjoy making both)?
Macarons! They’re an enigma to me! They are difficult to bake and almost too perfect. Macarons are like sweethearts or lovers to me: a nicely smooth shell on the outside that has bite, with something sweet sandwiched inside that always manages to surprise me.

Thanks, Jen! Follow Jen’s travels and baking adventures (I promise, the drool-worthy photos and recipes don’t disappoint!) on My Folie à Deux and on her 2nd site, The Travel Provocateur. Full of great tips, guides and reviews!


{All photos courtesy of Jennifer Laceda}