On the Street: Parlez-Vous Crêpe
"This seemed natural. It still involved French culture and has the interactive nature which I love, so I came up with the idea," says Jody (in cap below), a former French teacher. She along with husband Tom hand make crêpe after crêpe as part of the family business, Parlez-Vous Crêpe. Jody, who regularly holidays in France, learned the crêpe craft from a friend in France who owned a crêpe machine. The couple has been feeding locals the classic French dish -- a delicate, feather-light version of a pancake -- from their signature pink trailer for almost eight years. In that time, business has burgeoned from street corners to weddings, business parties, university functions even Easter egg hunts. Despite fruitful growth, Jody enjoys the intimacy of a small mobile eatery and has no plans of transitioning into a full-fledged restaurant.
"I love that we are all open and everyone can see the process. And it's the kids, especially the kids, they get so excited waiting for the crepes to be made," she says. "We are a pretty small business. We are not young whippersnappers anymore. This is hard work. Really hard work. It's like a restaurant. It's not just opening up a trailer and making crêpes. That, a lot of people do not realize."
Even in the winter, when snow covers the ground and pipes are frozen, Jody and her husband are out making crêpes. And they keep trucking. Winning reviews and customer feedback make it all worthwhile.
"One of the things I like to hear is when they have gone to France and say 'I have been looking to get an authentic crêpe' and 'I am French and I just want to tell you that this is just as I have in France,'" she says. Then smiles and adds: "We also have crêpe virgins. Those are fun."
(photographs taken on Greensboro and Roberson streets in Carrboro)