JNSQ Friday Feature - David Lebovitz Paris Proust Files interview + give away!!

I'm going to do my best for you this week, to not gush. It's very difficult, to say the least. When the first man of blogging himself, accepted to be the next Paris Proust profile, I think I had a mini-stroke. Or maybe that was just my brain on DL-Crack?

David is one of those people who I think a lot of us expats find particularly inspiring. Following your dream and becoming a world-class dessert chef is impressive enough, but then he has to go and move to PARIS, of all places, to become this amazing recipe inventor, writer, blogger, tour-giver, I mean... where will it end? The man has more gifts than fucking Santa Clause.

When I read his book, The Sweet Life in Paris, I really felt like he had written it for me. I was nodding and laughing the whole time through his descriptions of typically French things, and personalities. I actually wished I'd read it years ago before moving here. It definitely would've saved my sanity, and probably several pairs of heels from street garnishes.

What I liked best about this book is what makes me want to live in Paris for the rest of my days: David writes all the ways the Parisians can drive someone to the utter BRINK of insanity, but, instead of hating them for that, he develops a kind of tender adoration for their quirks that I can really relate to.

I have a very romantic attachment to this burg, and I think David shares that feeling in his book. In fact, I think those that are on the verge of giving up on this town might want to pick it up as a sort of, disgust panacea. It'll cure what ails you and remind you that this place is made from pure magic... even if its inhabitants are black-wearing, frowny-faced, closet linebackers. (I still love them, it's okay, I used to wear sweatshirts and jeans to work -- nobody's perfect.)

And let's not forget, all the AMAZING recipes, some truly wonderful dishes and desserts in there that have made this book on my top ten favorite's list!

If you take away just 1 thing from this article I hope it's that:
This book is a real treasure, and you should pick it up immediately if not sooner and get to know this wonderfully funny, insightful, intelligent guy.

Can't wait to share this amazing book with our lucky give away winners!

I'll draw 2 random winners next Friday from those who:
RT this article on twitter, or Comment below to share your favorite french dessert!

If you just can't wait to win, pick up your copy on Amazon :) Thanks again to David for doing this interview!

Virtues: What do you like most about yourself or your writing that you
think you can say without sounding too conceited? What makes you so
flippin' amazing? (You know this is what people mean when they ask
'what are your strengths', don't look so shocked.)

DL: I’m become more flexible since moving abroad. Things things that used to bother me don’t anymore and I’ve become more relaxed about things going not as planned, because I’m now used to it.


Faults: What do you like LEAST about yourself or your writing that you
think you can say without sounding too pathetic?

DL: I wish I could master those darned French verbs. And I make a certain amount of typos on my blog, which irks me a little, but then I realize that the nature of blogging is that you’re not necessarily creating a masterpiece; it’s meant to be a more casual, temporal way of communicating and I, and readers, need to overlook various glitches and errors. That said, it still drives me bat-you-know-what when I find one..


Chief characteristic: Define yourself or your writing in 1 word that I
can repeat to other people when I talk about you behind your back, ie:
He/She is so _______.

DL: elusive.


Men: Is there anything about Parisian men that doesn't make you roll
your eyes?

DL: They walk right into you as if you’re not even there.


Women: What about the Parisian women?

DL: They walk right into you as if you’re not even there.


Emotions: What about Paris brings out the 16yr old drama-queen in you:
happy, sad, mad, excited, love, hate; what brings out these
emo-spaz-attacks? What do you love/hate most about Parisians?

DL: They walk right into you as if you’re not even there.


Places: In what Parisian hood would you love to live in? We all have
our favorites! Why is it yours, what makes it all that?

DL: I like the 10th. It’s a great intersection between lots of cultures, which as an American, I’m used to. I like the various nationalities that share that arrondissement and while there’s a lot of very French parts of it, the other qualities I find equally interesting.


Wishes: What typical French characteristic do you wish you possessed?

DL: The ability to stay up very late at a party. The French are such great socializers, but I konk out around 1am.


Motto: What's your motto when in France? How do you minimize the
hardships of life abroad?

DL: If you want to be comfortable, stay home.