The French, they are everywhere.
A restless and curious people, the French have explored and inhabited nearly every part of our planet, spreading French language and culture wherever they journey. Sometimes this influence has been unwelcome (see colonialism). But today, hooking up with French culture is usually a pleasant experience.
Recently, we were on vacation in North Carolina and we found a treasure trove of French experiences. Of course, French restaurants and eateries are plentiful, as expected. Even in the suburb of Cary, we stumbled upon two crêperie food trucks in the same parking lot.
One of my favorite stops for years has been the La Farm French bakery in Cary. It is far from a well-kept secret; wait times for brunch on the weekends can be long, but the take-out queue moves fast for those getting bread or pastries to go.
If you speak or are learning French, eventually you may want to read a book en français. One of three French bookstores in the United States is located in Raleigh. We visited Des Livres & Delices and were impressed at the large selection – classics, contemporary literature, history, travel guides and more. The shop, located near Five Points, also includes a small French grocery and offers online sales and shipping.
Another enchanting stop was about an hour west of Raleigh in the small town of Pittsboro. A French-American couple (he’s from France, she’s from North Carolina) opened the eclectic shop French Connections nearly 20 years ago in an old house on Pittsboro’s main street.
Inside, owners Jacques and Wendy Dufour have collected a delightful gallery of fabrics and art to share France and Africa with North Carolina.
The gorgeous fabrics made me vow to learn to use my sewing machine.
The couple also lived in Senegal. African handicrafts, art and textiles fill two large rooms of the shop.
For the Francophiles who want to gather, Raleigh has an active chapter of Alliance Française, offering weekly activities and special events. It is connected with a language school for children and adults wanting to learn French.
And for conversation, each city in the Triangle has a French Meetup group.
We hope you enjoyed our first FrancoFile Friday post. This will be an occasional thing whenever we find something non-regional we want to share, so check back regularly.
On Monday, we’ll take you to the region of Pays de la Loire, which is not just for wine and chateaux!
