DERNIER MOT ❘ THE LAST WORD A MISHAP AT LE CRILLON Kristin suffers a case of Imposter Syndrome at the famously upscale Paris hotel bar L
BY KRISTIN ESPINASSE
ast fall my 25-year-old bought a one-way ticket to the States to visit family and to check out job opportunities là-bas. When I learned Jackie was flying out of Paris, I offered to train up to the capital with her to make some good memories together before she departed. For this mother-daughter time to be unforgettable, I suggested we indulge in an evening at a fancy hotel and the most economical way to do that would be snacks at the bar.
IMPOSTER SYNDROME “Le Crillon is the Ritz on steroids!” my sister exclaimed, making me even more nervous about the upcoming 5-star moment. Imposter syndrome was creeping in again, and to fight it I told myself Jackie and I were here to conduct research. After all, my daughter, who’d worked at Baccarat (at their elegant crystal bar), might be interested in working at Bar Les Ambassadeurs.
Armed with a purpose (and a careful budget) I was almost comfortable with the plan – until I discovered my best dress was wrinkled beyond repair. “I can fix it,” my daughter offered, brandishing the hairdryer in our cramped Left Bank hotel room. Anyone would be lucky to have Jackie as an employee: she’s a problem-solver, she’s calm, and she cleans up well (gone were the running pants and baskets; she now sported leather slacks and a silk blouse). “Our cab is arriving,” Jackie said, and we were off to Place de la Concorde.
The moment the hotel valet opened our cab
door, I stepped into a new persona… and it lasted all of 10 strides before la semelle of my right shoe began falling off, flap, flap, flapping, against Le Crillon’s marble floor. “It’s OK, Mom. Keep walking!”
A DAUGHTER TO BE PROUD OF “Cheap shoes!” the diable on my shoulder scoffed, as the Maître D arrived. “I’m sorry. The bar is full,” he frowned. “But we have reservations,” my daughter insisted. “One moment, Mademoiselle…”
“THERE IN THE GILDED SALON, WITH ITS FRESCO CEILINGS AND CHANDELIERS, A BABY GRAND GLEAMED. ATOP THE PIANO, A BACCARAT JAR DAZZLED ME”
There in the gilded salon, with its fresco ceilings and chandeliers, a baby grand gleamed. Atop the piano, a Baccarat jar dazzled me. I was just reaching for the crystal lid when Jackie motioned non. “But I think there’s candy for the guests,” I explained.
Our starched butler suddenly returned with good news. “I have seats at the bar.” We followed (one of us dragging her heel) and sat at the comptoir. “Let me see your shoe,” Jackie whispered. With a tug, she removed the errant sole, wrapped it discreetly in a monogrammed napkin, and slipped it into her purse. Next, she ordered me a Marie Antoinette, sans
Kristin and her daughter Jackie enjoy cocktails at Les Ambassadeurs bar in Hôtel de Crillon on the historic Place de la Concorde
alcool, and a Kir Royale for herself. “Cheers!” my daughter smiled when the drinks arrived. There in my smoothed-out dress and “new” shoes, I raised a toast to one amazing daughter who makes me feel at home anywhere we go. Now that’s true luxury. FT Kristin Espinasse is the author of Words in a French Life, Blossoming in Provence and the French Word-A-Day blog
FRENCH VOCABULARY
LÀ-BAS = over there LA BASKET = sneaker, trainer, sports shoe LA SEMELLE = shoe sole LE DIABLE = devil LE COMPTOIR = bar LE KIR ROYALE = crème de cassis topped with champagne
146 ❘ FRANCE TODAY Feb/Mar 2023
IMAGES © JACKIE ESPINASSE, WIKI COMMONS: CLAUS, PHGCOM
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148
