A glance in the window of a French pâtisserie never fails to amaze. The skills necessary to make such stunning macarons and mille-feuilles is awe-inspiring, to say nothing of the taste, and we have all seen how contestants on The Great British Bake Off can struggle with the pressure of pastry week.
But Texas-born Molly Wilkinson, who had a love of baking since she was a child watching her mum make cookies at home, had always dreamt of culinary school and after a seven-year career in digital marketing, it was this passion for baking that took her, not just to France, but to Paris to study pastry at the prestigious Cordon Bleu and led to her running her own pastry workshops.
LEARNING FROM THE BEST
“I decided to go to the Cordon Bleu simply because it’s located in France and I love Julia Child who went there. I told myself: ‘you know what if you are going to study French pastry why not do it in France?’” says Molly.
A sentiment that many others evidently agreed with: “The students were very international,” says Molly. “There was actually only one French person in our class,” she says, also explaining that there had been a live English translator helping the class traverse the language barrier.
“It was a massive change,” she says. “One that was very exciting and it took a lot of preparation. It took about a year of research, planning, and saving.”
Once enrolled, Molly and her peers attended a mix of demonstration-based classes and practical sessions. The Paris culinary school’s standards of excellence and attention to detail led to some challenging moments for Molly.
This story is from the January 2020 edition of Living France.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 2020 edition of Living France.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Guide To: Working For A Foreign Company
If your current employer is happy to let you continue working for them after you move to France, there are a number of rules and regulations to be aware of to ensure you stay on the right side of the law, as Catharine Higginson explains
On vintage soil
Life in the vineyards of Aude is a dream come true for Leicestershire-born Katie Jones who now successfully exports her wines back to the UK, as Brigitte Nicolas learns
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
What happens if you are buying a French property but can’t attend the completion meeting at the notaire’s office in person? Matthew Cameron explains how a power of attorney can be used and how it works
In safe hands
There can be few more unusual homes than the 11th-century Château de Clérans, situated close to the Dordogne river in the Périgord Pourpre region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
THE CAPTAIN'S TABLE
Robin Ellis made his name as the original Captain Poldark but a diabetes diagnosis led the Tarn-based actor to add cookbook writing to his CV, as Richard Webber learns
My frugal France
Embracing modern technology could save you money and time on both the pleasures and essentials of life in France, says Laura Harley as she shares some of her favourite French apps
Hidden Talents
Moving to France enabled these three expats to switch off from busy careers and in turn discover new creative talents, says Gillian Harvey, who counts herself among them
Beauty to behold
With its legendary vineyards, charming old towns and rich gastronomy, Gironde is quintessential France at its best, as Alison Weeks discovers
AS SEEN ON SCREEN
A Dordogne town, a Charente city and a Pyrenean village all have a starring role in three new films hitting the big screen this year, joining a long list of French locations that have gone before them, as Vicky Leigh learns
A local's view
Trish and Mark Tyler run a beautifully restored chambres d’hôtes, set in six hectares of park and woodland near StÉmilion, which has a fascinating history