C’est La Vie! Life, Love and New Hope: The Ingredients of an Authentic French Bakery

A little French bakery and café opens in the artsy, historic borough of New Hope, Pennsylvania. Situated on the bank of the great Delaware River, the shop is owned by a young French chef and his wife who have high hopes for a successful enterprise. His culinary talent, developed from the tender age of fifteen, becomes readily apparent. Her knack for business gets the ball rolling. A faithful following slowly emerges as residents and visitors from around the states and beyond taste the scrumptious fare. They call the bakery “C’est La Vie”, a popular French expression that lends itself to dealing with and accepting whatever life has to offer. They may have jinxed themselves. Mother Nature decides to make life interesting and human action contributes to the mix. Two people, united in marriage and business, must rise to the occasion, keep their heads above water, and go back to square one repeatedly. And they do. In C’est La Vie! Life, Love and New Hope, author Jane Vitart shares their story and some of their recipes. She narrates how the bakery hums along for twenty-six years with a few sour notes in between. She and her husband enjoy life with their children, their dog, their customers, their friends, and their family. Music helps. Laughter helps. And, above all, love. Not to mention the delicious smells that emanate from the bakery each morning as croissants, baguettes, brioches, and pastries are prepared.