French In America

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Posted from Jon Cronin’s Stream Of Consciousness

Would you like to get in touch with French expatriates in America? Discover the French expatriate community.

The real truth about French in America comes from the people and their personal stories. This is the start of our latest series called 11 Questions, we hope you enjoy it! Also, if you would like to participate in this series please feel free to answer the 11 Questions and send me an email at jon.cronin – at – gmail.com for consideration.

11 Questions with Stephanie Deleau

French Clothing Store Owner: Noisette noisettenyc.com
Residing: Brooklyn, Bed Stuy
In U.S. Since: 1996

1. Why did you move here?
I came to the US to learn English so I took a year off and came as an au pair, but never made it back to France…

2. What is it about this country that keeps you here?
After being here 13 years, I do feel like home, it’s about the people, the community, the ability to do what you want, the easiness and accessibility to everything….

3. Who is your favorite “French Person in America” both past and currently? Why?
All my friends, they are my family, they come and go but they always give me the feeling of still be connected to France

4. What is your general feeling about being French in America?
I feel the difference in the store, people’s reaction to French clothing is definitely positive. in my life, I don’t feel that much different than every other immigrant in this country…it feels very natural to live here…and we all share about the same story, we all came here for a reason, and we all experienced NY in so many different ways.

5. What is your favorite French restaurant in America?
Tough one, hmmm, maybe Les Halles, for all the authentic dishes that you never find anywhere else in America!

6. Who is your favorite French Artist who lived or is living in America?
I have 3, and you know them all! clue: they all share the same studio! (Jerome Lagarrigue,  Amelie Chabannes, Olivia Angelozzi)

7. Favorite place to visit in America and why?
Fire Island…can I choose another one? and LA for some reason that I can’t explain!

8. Can you name two things that Americans should know about France and three things that France should know about America, that they may not know?
French people: are chauvinistic and they love the US (secretly or openly), Americans are: patriotic (is there a difference with chauvinistic?), 80% of Americans didn’t like Bush (a  lot of them thought that Americans were stupid, Obama’s election proved them wrong), they wish they were French!

9. What is it about Obama that excites French people and what do you think he will do for French in America?
I’m not sure he do anything for French in America, but at least he will make the world a little more peaceful and constructive, he made French people love this country again and believe in it. Maybe I can have a stimulus package, is it part of the French alliance deal?

10. What is the most important piece(s) of advice you can give to someone who is considering moving to the US from France?
It’s a country for everyone, I have seen all kinds of people come but only few people stayed, once you find your 3 elements (house, job and love). then you will stay and be happy. so come, enjoy yourself, dream, and figure out a way to stay…..

11. Please describe your experience in America with one word or phrase.
HOME!

photo credits: Chris Dymond cafe creme magazine

***
FACE – FRENCH AMERICAN CULTURAL EXCHANGE is a nonprofit organization, chartered by the state of New York, dedicated to nurturing French-American relations through innovative international projects in the arts, education, and cultural exchange. Housed in the Cultural Services of the French Embassy in New York FACE serves an extensive network of patrons through its film-based programs and provides support to various initiatives through its partnership with the Cultural Services of the French Embassy.

FACE MISSION:
• To further French American cultural exchange and international understanding and to support contemporary creative work in the arts and education.
• To develop and nurture relationships between professionals in all creative fields, and to encourage collaborative projects between cultural and educational institutions.
• To combine the strengths of both the French and American traditions of support for the arts and education in one common initiative:

More info: FACE

We all know that French people have a passion for great food, relaxed country style and cafe living. (Not to mention their extremely sophisticated palettes) So, it is no wonder that they have some of the best restaurants in Brooklyn. I started noticing over the past 9 years that South Brooklyn is changing and it is no longer an Italian dominated neighborhood scene – but – it is becoming “Little France”. (This could explain the over reaction of Italian Americans parading into French bistros with their enormous flags on Smith Street after the World Cup) – I have a hard time finding two good Italian bakeries and one great Italian restaurant in the Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Boerum Hill section of Brooklyn. But I have no trouble finding 30 amazing, colorful, fun, charming, clean, fresh, tasty and authentic French Restaurants/Cafes in the same area and beyond. In areas like Fort Greene, Red Hook, and the South Slope the menus are full of delicious French choices. I have put together a list here for you and if you know of any French Restaurants I am missing PLEASE let me know!

Patois – 255 Smith St | Btwn Douglass & Degraw
Bar Tabac – 128 Smith St | At Dean St
Bacchus- 409 Atlantic Ave | At Bond St
Quercy 242 Court
Le Petite Café – 502 Court St [Nelson]
French deli – On Clinton and Amity
Petite Crevette – 144 Hicks St Union
Belleville – 330 5th Ave | At 5th St
Cafe Lafayette – 99 S Portland St | At Fulton St
Cafe Nova 210 Court St | At Warren St
Cafe Scaramouche – 524 Court St | At Huntington St
Chance – 223 Smith St | At Butler St
Chez Oskar – 211 Dekalb Ave | Btwn Clermont Ave & Adelphi St
Cocotte – 337 5th Ave | Btwn 3rd & 4th St
iCi- 246 Dekalb Ave | Btwn Clermont and Vanderbilt Ave
Jolie 320 Atlantic Ave | Btwn Smith & Hoyt
Le Gamin Cafe 556 Vanderbilt Ave | Btwn Dean & Bergen St
Loulou – 222 Dekalb Ave | Btwn Adelphi & Clermont St
Moutarde 239 5th Ave | At Carroll
Pit Stop 127 Columbia St | Btwn Kane & Degraw
Provence en Boite 263 Smith St
Red Cafe – 78 5th Ave | Btwn St. Mark’s Ave & Prospect
Marquet Patisser – 221 CourtSt. [Warren]
Robin Des Bois195 Smith St | Btwn Warren & Baltic

States with the largest French communities include (according to the 2000 U.S. Census)

French and French-Canadian

1.     California     927,453
2.     Massachusetts 818,388
3.     Michigan     680,939
4.     Louisiana     680,208
5.     New York     628,810

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