I’ve encountered three kinds of expats in Paris: those who shed virtually all traces of their former lives and adapt seamlessly to the local lifestyle, right down to vestimentary choices; those who embrace a je-m’en-foutiste attitude, proudly carry their origins and resolve to stay just the same; and those who manage to fall somewhere in the middle and merge styles, habits and values from both cultures. Ellise Pierce, Texas-bred author of Cowgirl Chef: Texas Cooking with a French Accent, embodies this mix beautifully.
A freelance writer and ardent cook, Ellise packed up her life and moved to France from Texas to follow love but wasn’t prepared for the challenge that awaited. Faced with relationship troubles, financial instability and cloying homesickness, the thought of jumping ship loomed large. Fortunately, Ellise turned to the kitchen, her happy place, lifted her spirits and turned things around. What emerged shortly after was Cowgirl Chef, a blog where she documents her cooking adventures and shares recipes, Cowgirl Tacos, a Tex-Mex catering company, a newspaper column, and now a wonderful book brimming with heartfelt, humorous stories, and Franco-Texan recipes (a unique, “Cowgirl” style of cooking). Of her newfound sense of self, Ellise recently explained in an interview, “Cowgirl Chef, I realized, is who…
