Comments on: Looking French, perhaps — Avoir l’air française, peut-être

By: Barbi O'Neil

Barbi O'Neil — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 05:53:01 +0000

No, I wouldn’t say you look French, not remembering those scrawny, crew-cutted poseurs of New Caledonia, everyone of whom seemed to have been cloned. All in 4″ heels, all in the same sort of dress, all with 3 gold chains around the neck, awful leathery tans, never a smile, and always, always with a cigarette in their hand. YOU, Bea, look like a nice, ordinary human being!

By: Rachelle

Rachelle — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:57:20 +0000

I was searching your blog for soups (it’s a rainy August day in Tennessee and I’m craving autumn, and all the warm and delicious autumn-y things I can create in my kitchen) and came across this delightful post. Ça, alors. Ça je comprends, parfaitement. I’m not going to attempt to write in French (it’s embarassing, really… je me sent que je n’arriverai jamais.) but even after a year of living with my French boyfriend, I still don’t understand why I “look so American” or even why certain clothes I wear or mannerisms I have add to this impression. Sigh.

Anyway, I love your site. It inspires me so much. Thank you for all your stories, recipes, and insights!

By: boomslang

boomslang — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 01:28:44 +0000

It’s an expression in the face;the eyes are very soft and open and kind at least for the men.

By: pessy

pessy — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 08:10:00 +0000

but why, you do look so french. and i think it is a compliment. i think french women have this special beuty, maybe its what they call “bien dan ca peau” when i lived in paris, sometimes people thought i was french, and i loved it! anyway, i love le petit accent francaise, that i can actually hear, when i read your site in english its perfect but especially when youa retalking about something french, the french use much more elegant words to express everything. so when translated its a more elegant english. i think..

By: steph

steph — Thu, 24 May 2007 04:59:52 +0000

I am 100% French (means my parents and grandparents are French) and I spent the last 10 years abroad… people keep telling me I must be Italian for sure… Now, I do feel weird indeed!

By: Béa

Béa — Wed, 16 May 2007 09:59:36 +0000

Delphine, I guess it is true. Le cameleon linguistique, pas toujours facile. And glad to hear you enjoyed the soup! Merci encore.

Tanna, thank you! Don’t think it would survive well a plane ride, I am afraid!

Nan, thank you. It is required daily work to speak a language well, isn’t it? Every day. I started when I was twelve or so, but then what really made the difference was to leave in an English-speaking country. The best way, besides being married to an Irish/American

Jeana, i have to check Peter Mayle. I have not read his writings.

By: Jeana in Miami

Jeana in Miami — Tue, 15 May 2007 01:32:11 +0000

When an American comments that someone looks French, this is most surely a compliment! As an American, I have been trying to create a French look for myself for years.;) But you know it is something you see in France all the time, feminine, stylish, confident woman of every age and socioeconomic group.Women who seem to look fabulous without having obsessed over it or suffered to obtain it. And of course you know there are so many authors that mused about this- Peter Mayle and Mireille Guiliano to mention the most well known.

By: Nan

Nan — Sun, 13 May 2007 15:31:43 +0000

Bonjour Bea!
Well, I will venture to make a general statement to you: that in the U.S. when someone says you “look French”, they are complimenting you. In traditional American culture, looking like or being a French woman has long been held to be something positive, not negative.
I confess I’ve actually been asked for years if I’m French (of French descent) and it’s so peculiar to me, because I have no French blood AT ALL (I wish!). But I DO ask people why they think that — and they always say something complimentary to explain it. I used to find it rather odd but now I think it’s the nicest compliment I get. Not that I’m boasting…
(really — I’m not — I don’t think I look French, myself).

As far as English goes, you have a very, very good grasp of the language. I’m envious. I am trying to learn French and my biggest problem is that I’m studying it alone and have no French-speakers or tutors (which are so expensive, unfortunately) to help me so I sound like a demented toddler.
I’m curious: Bea, when did you first begin to study English…?

By: MyKitchhenInHalfCups

MyKitchhenInHalfCups — Wed, 09 May 2007 02:17:14 +0000

The tartine is so beautiful. Could this soup be served cold? It looks so beautiful and I wonder if it would work for a plane trip lunch!

By: Delphine

Delphine — Tue, 08 May 2007 08:02:58 +0000

Béa, I guess this is one of those things you get used to, being told you look French. Most times it is sort of a compliment anyway. I know I still sound foreign to many, sort of British to anglo-Canadians, north American to Brits here, and oddly enough Québécoise to French friends and family members Dur, dur d’être un parfait caméléon linguistique!

I got tired of this in Dublin when I heard it about my baby who was not even three months! She was in pyjamas (not petit bateau ones) all day, and her language skills were well, a work in progress. I guess, it all depends who tells you so, and how it is done.

Love you soup, tried it a few days ago after a short trip to Paris. I have given up subscribing to Elle à table and Cuisine & Vins de France, I get them as a treat when I travel instead.