Interview: Daniëlle Todd

Daniëlle is a psychology student based in the Netherlands. She is half American and half Dutch and loves France; especially it’s pastries, fashion and furniture.

She describes herself simply as ‘A girl with two blogs. My food blog is Paris Pastry. My fashion and furniture blog is French Mademoiselle.’ Both blogs feature her beautiful photographs, advice and reader interaction, including give-aways and voting for what she should bake next.

Danielle how would you describe yourself in three adjectives?

Calm, honest and optimistic.

What is your connection to France? And what is France to you?

Living only a 2-hour drive to France (4 hours to Paris), it’s not hard for me to visit frequently. I go on vacation to France (whether it’s Paris, Cannes or the Loire Valley) at least two times a year. I’ve loved France since I was little. The people are genuine and friendly; the food is delicate and delicious; the country itself is captivating and cultural.

What are your interests outside of blogging?

I love to walk, read, shop, go to the movies, laugh with friends, but probably one of my greatest passions is baking and my love of food.

What inspired you to start writing your two blogs French Mademoiselle and Paris Pastry? Was there anything about Paris in particular that jump-started your creativity?

The story behind Paris Pastry is that I had began baking a lot during one lazy summer. Browsing online for recipes I stumbled upon various baking-blogs, such as How To Eat A Cupcake, Bakerella and Cupcakes Take The Cake. I was immediately inspired to write down and photograph the things that I had baked. After a while I made the decision to start a blog so my friends, family and maybe a few baking-enthusiasts could see what I had been making. The response I got from my blog was so wonderful that I’ve been inspired ever since to try to recreate more of my favorite Parisian pastries. Paris Pastry had been such a creative outlet for me, that after one year of blogging about food, I started a blog about my other passion; interior design, fashion and Paris. And so French Mademoiselle was born.

How do you describe your two blogs? How are they similar and different?

To me, they’re different yet similar. Paris Pastry is a food-blog, French Mademoiselle is a lifestyle-blog, but they’re both heavily inspired by France. From French food to French furniture and fashion.

What do you like about blogging and advice would you give to anyone starting up?

I love the comments that my readers write. Sometimes they’re just questions about a particular recipe, other times they offer me advice. A blog will bring out the creativity in you and form friendships with people from other parts of the world. However to some, it can feel like a burden to keep up the blog on a regular basis, bear that in mind when you want to start a blog.

In your opinion, what sets French cooking and French style apart from the rest of the world?

It just has a certain ooh la la to everything. French food, as well as French style, is very classic and has withstand the test of time, yet is always relevant.

Where did you learn to take such beautiful photographs?

Gosh I feel like such an amateur when it comes to photographing. Probably because I shoot everything with my beloved point-and-shoot Sony DSC-W110 camera. Though I am very proud of (most) of my photographs. With the pictures that I take for Paris Pastry, I find it important that they look a bit ‘home-made’. If the photography is perfect, I think readers would be too imtimidated to try any of the recipes themselves. I write a food-blog, not a photography-blog after all. I’ll leave that to the pros!

Now, how about your favourites…

Where is your favourite place in Paris to relax? 

I love to bench-sit on Place Saint-Sulpice, a lovely square just steps away from Pierre Hermé, also the enchanting tea rooms at Ladurée are a great place to stop and relax.

What is your favourite place to celebrate a big event?

For a celebration I would head to Kong, a trendy bar restaurant with amazing views (made a cameo in Sex and the City).

What are some of your favourite French-related blogs?

The Armchair Parisian and Paris Pâtisseries .

Which is your favourite French pastry?

Saint-Honoré Rose Framboise.

Which is your favourite pâtisserie or boulangerie in Paris?

Ladurée and Maison Collet.

Who is your favourite French designer?

Christian Lacroix.

Thank you Daniëlle for taking time out to interview with us we’ve enjoyed getting to know you and learning more about your blogs.