Pancakes in Paris
Living the American Dream in France
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- $21.99
Publisher Description
New York Times Bestseller
Paris was practically perfect...
Craig Carlson was the last person anyone would expect to open an American diner in Paris. He came from humble beginnings in a working-class town in Connecticut, had never worked in a restaurant, and didn’t know anything about starting a brand-new business. But from his first visit to Paris, Craig knew he had found the city of his dreams, although one thing was still missing—the good ol’ American breakfast he loved so much.
Pancakes in Paris is the story of Craig tackling the impossible—from raising the money to fund his dream to tracking down international suppliers for “exotic” American ingredients… and even finding love along the way. His diner, Breakfast In America, is now a renowned tourist destination, and the story of how it came to be is just as delicious and satisfying as the classic breakfast that tops its menu.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Carlson's sweet and entertaining memoir details how a former Hollywood screenwriter opens an American diner in Paris and lives happily after. Of course there is more to the story, and Carlson does an admirable job of recounting his rocky childhood, the numerous strange connections to France during his early life, and what these events ultimately revealed to him about his life. Carlson works on a film in Paris, returns to Los Angeles, meets with friends for breakfast, and, while staring down at his plate of pancakes, has a revelation. "At that moment, I knew exactly what I wanted to do no, had to do next: open an American diner in Paris.... There are few moments in life that are so lucid." Carlson recounts drafting a business plan, the toil of raising funds, and the drudgery of temp work for Disney in order to make ends meet. Finally Carlson moves to Paris in 2002, opening his authentic American diner, Breakfast in America. Carlson successfully wades through convoluted French bureaucracy and employment regulations, and though developing his dream diner takes its toll, it ultimately offers emotional rewards. Carlson's narrative is an inspirational, tasty trip through one man's delightful and hard-won success.
