From coffee and croissants to dinner and a movie, these are the spots Marie-Anne Glover suggests stopping by in the City of Trees.
BOISE, Idaho — The Olympic Games are heating up as we speak and the action is taking place in none other than Paris, France.
As our athletes go for the gold on the world stage, there are some winning French spots you can find right here in Boise.
Marie-Anne Glover is the co-owner of Live and Learn with her friend Hortense.
Their business teaches people French, holds workshops and local events, and consults those who want to take the trip to France.
Glover said she knows firsthand that learning a language or traveling to a foreign country can be intimidating, so the two decided to create Live and Learn as a way to share all of their personal and professional experience with clients and provide a more fun and authentic way to travel and learn.
“We are French girls who’ve lived in the U.S. and taught in the U.S. for many years and we just are both passionate about sharing the French culture,” Glover said.
Glover grew up in France and now lives in Boise.
She often goes back to her old stomping grounds and recently saw the setup for the Paris Olympics.
“I was there in January and they were already hard at work,” Glover said.
When KTVB asked if she could pass the torch of knowledge on what places in Boise shared the same French flair as Paris, there were some she put on the highest podium.
“We love a good bakery,” Glover said. “The café culture is big in France.”
With a line out the door, Janjou Pâtisserie is a popular spot in Idaho’s capital city.
“Janjou has an amazing croissant,” Glover said. “It’s getting hard to find even a good croissant in France because they’ll sometimes go the frozen way, but those are great cakes and pastries.”
After a sweet treat, it is coffee taking center stage.
Glover said that while it’s not a French-run business, Neckar Coffee has the same taste as you can find in France.
When it’s time for dinner, Glover said she loves Terroir for a great French meal that is also French inspired.
The owner of Terroir, Remi Courcenet, said it means “a sense of place.”
Courcenet said it’s not just the food, but the atmosphere that mirrors what you’d find in France.
“French people love food and wine, like hospitality, that’s very important to us and gathering around the table and making sure we have a good time,” Courcenet said. “That’s a huge thing in the food scene that every town should have.”
This date night wouldn’t be complete without a movie.
“We go watch French movies, and we love The Flicks for that,” she said. “They have great content of French-speaking movies.”
After you try all of the spots in Boise and have a taste for more, Glover has some tips if you want to go to France.
“There’s just so much history and culture in France, but once you’ve done all those touristy things, maybe take time to head to lesser-known neighborhoods or regions,” she said.
Glover said to venture beyond the tourist hotspots to neighborhoods like Canal Saint-Martin, Belleville and Le Marais for a more authentic experience.
She said don’t be shy and ask the locals for their favorite spots so you can find the hidden gems.
There is a strong wine country as well. Glover suggests exploring the vineyards in regions like Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne. Many wineries offer tours and tastings.
For the food, each region in France has its own culinary specialties. Don’t miss out on trying crêpes in Brittany, bouillabaisse in Marseille, or foie gras in the southwest.
Glover said etiquette is important to know too.
She said to respect personal space and to avoid overly enthusiastic gestures like big hugs unless you know the person well.
Also, learn basic French phrases because a little will go a long way, and avoid wearing overly casual clothes like shorts and flip-flops – especially in cities, because they tend to dress up a bit more.
To have the Olympics in France has Glover feeling like she won gold.
She said it allows people to learn more about her culture and open their minds to more.
“Our specialty is French, so I love to share that, but for anyone to just broaden their horizon, see something else other than the place they’ve been brought up and the ways they were taught, I think it’s something we need, especially nowadays,” Glover said.
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