Our fundraiser for PATH is just a few short days away, and we’re hustling hard to pull all the final details together! In between stuffing swag bags and organizing the guest list, we wanted to take a moment to reminisce about our Parisian adventure last month. It was such a memorable and rewarding experience for us, and we’re excited to share it with you.
It all began a few months ago, when we received the most exciting e-mail: Le Bon Marché in Paris was writing to let us know that we were one of a handful of emerging food brands that had been selected to participate in their "Los Angeles Rive Gauche" exhibition. We were in shock - Le Bon Marché is an institution in Paris: the sprawling, historic department store is a symbol of approachable luxury, and is a worldwide trendsetter in both fashion and lifestyle. Even though it would mean being away from our girls for a couple of weeks, we knew we had to plan a trip to attend the exhibition, if only to see our products on display in one of the most prestigious stores in the world. So, in early September, we packed our bags and set out for Paris!
The exhibition kicked off with an opening party, which was easily one of the highlights of our trip. For us, it was one of those rare, glamorous moments in the life of a small business owner (let’s be real - we spend most of our time hustling behind the scenes, not at fancy parties), and we were so excited to go out and have some FUN! The party was beautiful, and we loved meeting the the other participants in the exhibition, and connecting with some old friends. And one of the most exciting moments of all? Seeing our products (and so many of our fellow food brands’ products) lined up on Le Grand Epicerie’s shelves.
While in Paris, we did our best to take some time to relax and enjoy life like a Parisian. Naturally, one of our favorite things to do was to settle in at a little café, order a pair of double espressos, and spend some time people-watching. And of course, no trip to Paris is complete without a visit to the Eiffel Tower - it’s the ultimate symbol of romance, and it makes you fall in love with Paris (and maybe even makes you fall more in love with your sweetie - we were feeling the love!).
Paris is so different from Los Angeles in so many ways, but one thing both cities have in common is a passion for good food - no matter where we ate in Paris, the food was always wonderful. Some of our favorite meals were at Miznon, an Israeli bistro in Republique, Breizh Café near the Picasso National Museum, and Grand Coeur in Le Marais (the Jewish Quarter). But the most memorable meal of all was one spent with our friends Sashee Chandran (of Tea Drops ) and her mom Mae - because a meal shared with good company tastes that much better.
We also took the opportunity to take a quick weekend trip to London, where we soaked in as much of the culture as we could, and walked just about everywhere. We wandered the market stalls, ate at plenty of delicious restaurants, and sipped pints of beer with the locals. Then, we returned to France for a short trip to Normandy, where we could relax and enjoy some peace and quiet. It provided the perfect, peaceful contrast to the hustle and bustle of the bigger cities.
Having our products in Paris was a dream come true, and we could not have been more thrilled to share them with the people of France. And as we learned on our last night, after all the restaurants nearby were closed, Spread the Love Naked Peanut Butter makes an amazing accompaniment to a fresh Parisian baguette. Add a bottle of wine and a tin of sardines from Le Grande Epicerie, and you’ve got an absolutely heavenly hotel-room picnic that shows just how well two cultures’ foods can compliment each other.
Our time in France so incredibly special, and we’ll cherish our memories made there forever! We can’t wait to return for more buttery croissants, double espressos, and people-watching, and to continue our international journey of spreading the love!
