The French Ingredient is an inspiring account of a woman with no formal culinary training who, after a successful career in banking, opens a cooking school in Paris.

Jane's story is one of courage, determination, and self-discovery. As she navigates the challenges of building a new life in Paris, she slowly learns what it means to truly embrace the French way of life. From finding her passion for French cuisine to making meaningful connections within the local community, her experiences in Paris transform her in profound ways.

This memoir explores the journey of an outsider adjusting to a new culture. Though she had visited Paris before, living there long-term required her to adapt to an entirely new set of social and professional norms, all while facing unexpected challenges like terrorist attacks and global health crises.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I went into The French Ingredient by Jane Bertch not knowing anything about her, or her cooking school. It took me just a little bit to get interested in her story, but then I found it really interesting. The transition from expat supported by a company job to an entrepreneur in a foreign country would be a scary decision. It was interesting to me how this was accomplished, and how necessary it was to "obey" the unwritten rules of doing business in France.

Like any small business, this one faced trials due to world events, and it was interesting to revisit this timeline, and remember the chaos certain events caused through the lens of this cooking school.

I really enjoyed the book and found it inspiring. I especially enjoyed the hints at the end of the chapters about making your way successfully in French culture.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jane Bertch and Random House Publishing for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve always liked reading about people who move to a foreign country and open up a business becsue it’s something I would never do so I admire their temerity and courage.
I identified with Jane because I’m also a Midwesterner.
She showed the French are very cliquish and hard to make friends with.
I found her observations about life in France interesting and the ups and downs of owning a business enlightening.

This was a lovely read. I enjoyed the story of Jane’s life in Paris. Her writing was so descriptive Ethan it brought me back to the wonderful time in the city. Now I am missing all the architecture and the food.

4/5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an eARC of this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of The French Ingredient by Jane Bertch!

I regret the time it took me to finally dive into "The French Ingredient." This book is absolutely fabulous! At first, I expected it to be similar to Julia Child's works, which are rich in detail and tradition. However, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it presents a fresh and unique perspective on French life/work culture and cuisine.

Having visited Paris several times and briefly lived there, I always admired its vibrant culture but never thought to join a cooking class. Now, after reading this book, my next trip to Paris will definitely include "La Cuisine" as my first stop.

Jane's journey in France, which began over 15 years ago, is particularly inspiring. She faced numerous challenges while building her life in a foreign country and gracefully adapted to a new culture. Her ability to blend in with locals and embrace the simplicity of Paris was truly remarkable.

I've read many accounts of Americans trying to settle in France—some succeeded, while others did not. Yet, Jane's story will stick with me for a long time. I would love the chance to meet her one day at her cooking school.

I want to extend my sincere gratitude to NetGalley for generously providing me with a free advanced copy of this phenomenal book. Additionally, I am thankful to Jane Bertch for sharing her unique and inspiring life story with readers everywhere.

A cultural view of an American's perspective on life in Paris, France. It is difficult to find a memoir about ex-pat live that speaks positively about both the home country and the new country. I enjoyed this one immensely.

Thank you NetGalley for sending me this ARC. I was so happy to read this. Full review on Goodreads to follow.

I always like the idea of these travel stories but I am bored almost instantly. This was sadly no exception. The beginning sounds the same as dry toast. The voice is entirely unoriginal.

If you like food memoirs and stories about expats (especially living in Paris), you will love this book! I loved Jane's story. She moves to Paris reluctantly to climb the banking ladder. She ends up loving Paris....and not banking. She decides to open up an English speaking cooking school in Paris, and we follow her story, the successes and the hardships. This would be a great book to pick up before a trip to Paris, and definitely one to read if you are planning to move there. She peppers her story with anecdotes about French people and the French culture. I loved it!

The French Ingredient by Jane Bertch is a delightful read for food lovers and Francophiles alike. The stories of how Jane created a successful cooking school is delightful. The French Ingredient is a must-read. It’s perfect for anyone who wants to bring a bit of France into their kitchen I enjoyed this book so much I booked a class on my last trip to Paris and it was an absolute delight!

absolutely delightful. As an ex- pat who lived in Paris for 4 years, I can commiserate so much with everything in this book. The culture, the social structure, the little glimpses into French culture at the end of each chapter. All amazing.

I enjoyed this story. Jane Bertch is an American who first moved to England and then to Paris and transferred there to the bank where she worked. She fell in love with the city and had a dream to open a cooking school for foreigners who wanted to take cooking classes. Eventually, she opened a cooking school, called Le Cuisine, with her boyfriend at the time. She described her ups and downs as finding friends in the city and learning how to run a business in France. I loved her descriptions of navigating life in France, on both a personal and a business level. She loves both countries deeply. I've been wanting to go to Paris again and this time maybe take a cooking class.

Thanks to @randomhouseballantine, @netgalley, and the author of this ARC

The French Ingredient: Making a Life in Paris One Lesson at a Time by Jane Bertch is a memoir of the author’s experiences in Paris. This book details her experiences, particularly with setting up a culinary school. This book might appeal to readers considering a move to Paris. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

This was a fabulous read. Jane shares her journey from her first experience in Paris to her eventual opening of a cooking school. After having promised herself she’d never go back again after her not so wonderful visit (she was 18, so give the woman a break), she found herself back due to her career in the finance world (banking). She created a life for herself, but had a different dream that seemed unattainable. Through her sheer determination, intellect, passion and a lot of patience, she made her dream come true. I enjoyed the read so much I want to visit the school for some classes and maybe a walking tour. Fingers crossed!

The French Ingredient: Making a Life in Paris One Lesson at a Time

When Jane Bertch arrived in Paris in 2006, she’d worked in the banking industry for six years based in London. For a girl who’d grown up on Chicago’s South Side, raised by her single mother and her grandmother, London had been an adjustment. But Paris? She’d been a few times, spoke just a little French, and was anxious for advancement. She agreed to take the position and moved across the Channel.

What happened next was a rapid immersion in French culture, as Bertch began to understand the motivations behind her coworkers’ actions that seemed inexplicable to her initially. Although she often made mistakes, especially as her language skills were far from passable, she developed a growing affection for them, recognizing that a gruff, irritable exterior often hid a caring soul offering support in ways new to her. As she settled into Paris, developed a circle of friends, and grew more comfortable with the city, she began to dream of opening her own business there. Specifically, a cooking school.

While the idea of an American opening a cooking school in Paris, the home of Le Cordon Bleu, might seem cheeky at best and misguided at worst, she and her newly hired crew did manage to survive their early mistakes and developed a thriving business that withstood natural disaster (Icelandic volcano that grounded international flights to Europe), a terrorist attack, and a global pandemic. After first marketing their classes to the French, they discovered that English-speaking visitors or residents would be an easier market. La Cuisine Paris became a favorite with tourists, generating many repeat visitors over the years.

Bertch is honest about her own mistakes, detailing the school’s ups and downs. Her affection for the City of Light is apparent, and the book is at its best when she describes learning to live and work in a city so different from her hometown. Her openness and willingness to learn and to appreciate differences add charm to the story of how her business grew. If food brings people together, a cooking school can become more than just a place to learn knife skills or the finer points of turning out a perfect croissant. It can be a place where people learn from one another and find that they have more in common than they first believed.

At the end of each chapter is a tip regarding French social norms and culture, what Bertch calls “French Astuce,” or artfulness to help the reader better understand the social customs of the country. For example: “If you are invited to someone’s home for a ‘formal’ meal, do not bring wine unless it is agreed upon, for the hosts will have thought very carefully in advance about what wine they want to serve, and you don’t want to make them feel they have to serve yours.”

“The French Ingredient” is a tasty addition to foodie narratives, set as it is in a city that is having a bit of a moment hosting the 2024 Olympics. For everyone who’s ever fantasized about building a life and a business abroad, Bertch’s story offers a warm, inviting tale of how she and her staff managed to overcome the odds to create La Cuisine Paris.

Jane Bertch’s heartfelt memoir grabbed me from the very first page! I love learning about French culture and really enjoyed reading about the author’s adventures of trying to build her life in Paris as an American. Navigating French customs with the locals were both funny and insightful.

If you’re into French culture or love cooking, this book is a must-read. It’s a mix of personal stories, cultural tidbits, and some great culinary insights. Highly recommend!

The author moved to France after college to pursue a career in banking but eventually decided to open a cooking school. I enjoyed reading about the everyday aspects of life in Paris (buying real estate, shopping, fashion, social cues/rules), but there seemed to be something missing from the story. Usually someone who starts a food-related business in France would have a passion for food, or a background in food, or spend weekends making pastries as a hobby. Bertch didn't seem to fall into any of those categories; the cooking school seemed to be more of a business decision than an extension of something for which she was genuinely interested. Recommended for readers interested in an expat living in Paris but not for readers for whom food is a main focus.

I really enjoyed this! As someone who has never been to Paris but would love to visit someday, I was fascinated by the differences in culture and really enjoyed reading about them. My favorite parts of the book are the tips about etiquette and French culture at the end of each chapter. If you enjoy learning about other cultures and enjoy books about cooking and/or food books, I would recommend this. Special Thank You to Jane Bertch, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Someone book my ticket, I'm ready to move to France. I had no idea that their culture is what it is, and after reading this book I want to buy a flat and a French chateau, drink wine, eat bread and never speak to another soul again.