Reviews
"I love everything about this book. I love how Jane Bertch tells her story with sparkle and charm even when her prospects are daunting and dim. I love that the school she created from a dream grew to be cherished around the world. I love Jane's spirit and can-do-ness and how she figured out the very tricky balance of being an American in Paris. And I love what she teaches us about facing challenges, holding on to what's dear and sharing what's learned. Like its author, The French Ingredient is funny, generous, witty, wise and whip smart." --Dorie Greenspan, New York Times bestselling author of Baking with Dorie "Seasoned with wisdom Jane learned along the way, The French Ingredient is the engaging, multilayered story of a woman persevering, overcoming obstacles in her search for happiness, and sharing the joys of French cuisine to people from around the world." --David Lebovitz, author of My Paris Kitchen and Drinking French "This is that very rare Paris memoir that's astute and boldly honest about how challenging it actually is to create a happy life in this beautiful French city, which lives according to social codes and conventions that are often vastly different from American ones. It takes intelligence, charm, hard work and, to use one of the author's preferred words, gumption, to prevail in Paris. Jane Bertch has all of these qualities, which is why the story of how she built a life and an internationally renowned cooking school in Paris is such a fascinating read." --Alexander Lobrano, author of My Place at the Table "We all need to know about bold Jane Bertch, midwestern American who moved to Paris for work. I relished her excitements and frustrations as she absorbs her new life and balances it with her commitments from home. A perfectly charming book might have ensued, but Jane quickly soars above any expected scenarios. Suddenly, we're in the company of an intrepid woman who surprisingly turns into an entrepreneur. I loved following her around Paris as she builds her dream business. Savvy, determined, resourceful, Jane--her exhilarating story lures us all to take a big chance. Or at least to move to Paris." --Frances Mayes, author of Women in Sunlight " The French Ingredient differs from the bounty of books about living and working in Paris as an American. The reader discovers that the French are not all maddening and inflexible, but also imaginative, hard-working, and attentive to life's pleasures, great and small. A captivating read." --Thad Carhart, author of The Piano Shop on the Left Bank