From Paris to C-Ville: Allison Zinder on the History of the French Restaurant
Allison with Christina Ball in Paris, circa 2016
I’ll never forget a dinner I enjoyed in Paris with Allison Zinder. I was traveling with my best friend and our daughters, and on a hot summer evening in 2016, we met Allison for a classic French bistro meal at one of her then-favorite brasseries - Le Petit Lutetia. The evening began with radishes and butter on fresh bread, followed by escargots, and ended with a decadent mousse au chocolat served in a giant glass bowl. Our daughters, barely teenagers at the time, still talk about that meal (and the cute young waiters).
We returned for more chocolate mousse a few nights after our dinner with Allison!
I first met Allison in the early days of my business when she regularly visited her home state of Virginia. We co-hosted several very fun French language and food events at our original location in the Main Street Market. After she moved more permanently to Paris to teach at a culinary school and eventually launched her own gastro-tour business, we stayed in touch, always hoping for more collaborations. I constantly send friends and family traveling to Paris her way for the best walking tours, and I highly recommend her blog, Paris on the Edge.
Now that Speak! is launching more online courses for travelers, I’ve been communicating more frequently with Allison as we build our courses and explore partnerships in the French language, culture, and travel space. So, when she mentioned she’d be visiting Virginia this month, she and I quickly hatched a plan for her to lead an event at Speak!/Vault and share her vast knowledge and bubbly personality with local food, culture, and travel enthusiasts. France, of course, remains one of the top travel destinations in the world, with its cuisine playing a major role in its appeal. Français is also one of our most in-demand languages at Speak!, thanks in part to the many travelers heading there year after year.
So, please Join us for this special event, and be sure to RSVP so we can save your seat!
Allison serving up some delicious pastries in Paris
A Brief History of the French Restaurant with Allison Zinder
Tuesdaay, October 29 at 5:30-7pm
Vault Virginia Gallery
Have you ever wondered how and where the French restaurant was born? Find out during this entertaining lecture!
From the “Belly of Paris" to French onion soup and the (in)famous food guilds, you’ll learn all about the fascinating history of the French restaurant.
Juicy anecdotes from Allison’s nearly 30 years spent working in the French food world complete this vivid picture of a people’s Paris, where the working class mingled with stars in the local haunts of the times.
You’ll also get an eyeful of the most current restaurant trends sweeping Paris right now, and helpful tips for your next trip. This lecture is guaranteed to enlighten and to whet your appetite for Paris!
About Allison Zinder:
Allison Zinder is a specialized tour guide and educator working in French gastronomy. A certified chef and pastry chef, she offers market tours, food history tours, study abroad programs, as well as a 12-day deep dive into French food and culture – for die-hard foodies only! Allison has lived in France since 1995. She is passionate about sharing her deep cultural knowledge, and has created engaging educational experiences for over 5000 clients.
