10.10.2011

# Lessons from Madame Chic # The Top 20 Things I Learned While Living in Paris

An Excerpt from My Forthcoming Book

Greetings everyone! Today I have a treat... a tiny excerpt from my forthcoming book Lessons from Madame Chic: The Top 20 Things I Learned While Living in Paris. The book is finished and is currently being designed. It will take a few weeks to get the proofs signed off but in the meantime I thought I'd share with you a sample from the first chapter, entitled Snacking is So Not Chic... Enjoy!

Chapter 1 – Snacking Is So Not Chic


When living with a different family (in a foreign country, no less) there are many things that can initially give one cause for anxiety. One of them, for me, was food in general, and snacking in particular. Back home in California I was used to grazing all day long, cow-like, in and out of the kitchen between meals. A handful of crackers here, an orange there, some cookies here, a yogurt there. Would I feel comfortable going into Famille Chic’s kitchen and foraging as if I were in my own home?

My first evening with Famille Chic, a few hours after dinner, my stomach experienced some hunger pains. I had had a delicious dinner, but being slightly nervous around my new host family, and mainly feeling anxiety about conducting an entire conversation based on three semesters of college French, I hadn’t eaten as much as I would have liked. So I thought I’d tiptoe (in my pajamas) to the kitchen, which I had, up until then, yet to visit.

Famille Chic’s kitchen was not easily accessible. Their apartment was not of the ‘open plan’ variety where the kitchen is a part of everyday life. Their kitchen was at the back of the apartment, down a long, dark hallway and was not attached to any room. I thought I’d sneak down the hall and have a peek. Perhaps there was a bowl of fruit with something for me to nibble on.

Of course the door to my room (being as ancient and fabulous as it was) let out a grandiloquent squeak as I was about to undertake my stealth mission and after a few moments, Madame Chic was down the hallway in her dressing gown, asking if I was OK. I assured her I was and that I was simply going to get a glass of water. She said she’d get one for me. And apart from her strange glance at my pajamas, (which I will address in another chapter) everything seemed to be OK. Except it wasn’t. I wanted my midnight snack!

I went to bed that night, slightly hungry- a sensation I was not accustomed to. The feeling wasn’t that bad... in fact, it intrigued me! I had never allowed myself to get to a place of hunger before. In my old life in California I would instantly snack at the first sign of hunger pains, completely eliminating the feeling as soon as possible- so much so that I never actually experienced what true hunger was. That night I relished in my hunger and had fantasies about what would be for breakfast the next day...

If you like what you've read I do hope you'll stay tuned for my book that will be out later this fall...

In the meantime I would love to know... what are your snacking habits?

*Update* - Lessons from Madame Chic will be published by Simon & Schuster and re-released in the fall of 2012!

The Daily Connoisseur is now available on Amazon Kindle

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14 comments:

Rose said...

Congratulations Jennifer! I am a new reader at your blog, how very exciting about your book.

Carole Poirot said...

Well done on the book, congrats! Interesting observation about the different cultural habits. I do try to stick to three meals a day - though I can't resist a bit of really dark chocolate inbetween ;-) xo

Kristi said...

Congratulations Jennifer. I will snap that book up. If you have a second will you email me the details ... xoxoxo Kristi

Anonymous said...

I had so much fun going back and reading your "20" regarding Paris posts when I first became a weekly reader, so am anticipating your expanded version of these adventures. Like Kristi will be waiting to hear how we can purchase it. And please keep us posted on your mysteries too! xxx

Lacey R said...

Can't wait for your book to come out! I too went back and read your Top 20 posts recently. (I am still trying to come to grips with how the French do the 10 item wardrobe!)

The Daily Connoisseur said...

Ladies thank you so much- I really appreciate your support! To answer some of your questions, the book will be sold on Amazon.com . The paperback version should be ready in three to four weeks and the kindle version should be ready a few weeks after that. I plan on making it available for the iPad and Nook in 2012. I will keep you all posted. Thank you again for your support- it is more appreciated than you know! xo

M.Lane said...

I KNEW IT, I KNEW IT!!! I am so glad you are making that series into a book. I predict WILD success for it.

Great job.

ML
mlanesepic.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

I LIKE! Can't wait to read the entire book. Nicely done. xxBliss

moodystreetmusings said...

I have always been a grazer and I have always been slim. Whenever I go out for more than an hour I bring food with me because I don't handle hunger well, it makes me very cross and then rather light-headed. On another subject - have you seen the documentary Bill Cunningham New York? I think you will love it. :)

Anonymous said...

Hello Jennifer, I can't wait for your book and I hope you go back to your mystery writing as well. As for snacking, I am guilty of that. I never consider myself a big eater but since having my daughter and working from home, I tend to graze and always pick if I have that hungry feeling. I read a recent interview with Sophie Dahl about her weight loss when she said she just ate three meals a day and cut out all snacks. I think I will have to do the same! xx

Merveilleux said...

Looking forward to your book!
I'm not a huge snacker. I don't eat a lot in general.. I do like to grab fruit here and there though.

Pug1 said...

Jennifer, I can hardly wait until your book is released!!! PLEASE PLEASE come to Chicago for a book signing!!! You have a place to stay here!!! CHEERS! Michele xx

The Daily Connoisseur said...

Thank you Thank you to everyone for your kind comments of support. I am really thrilled for the book to be out- it's exciting times- not long now! I will of course keep you updated. Thanks again- I really appreciate it XO

Rose said...

I am SO excited for you about the book, huge congratulations x