Bon Appétit! French 4 Students Celebrate Language and Culture at Coquette

French 4 students had the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in French language and culture through an unforgettable culinary experience at Coquette, a charming French restaurant located in Uptown Charlotte. The restaurant graciously hosted a group of Cannon students in a private dining space and curated a special menu just for them.

As part of this immersive outing, students were able to engage in authentic conversation with native French speakers—Fabien Boudart and Patrick Denetre—who shared insights about the restaurant's history, the origins of the dishes served, and the authentic French ingredients used in the kitchen.

The menu offered a taste of classic French cuisine, giving students the choice between the iconic Croque Monsieur and the hearty Coq au Vin, paired with a side of either salade ou frites, as asked in French by a wonderful server, Lanie. For dessert, students delighted in choosing between the smooth, creamy Crème Brûlée or the tangy and refreshing Tarte au Citron.

Perhaps the most impressive part of the experience was that students spent the entire 1.5-hour luncheon conversing exclusively in French, making the field trip not just a treat for the taste buds, but also an excellent linguistic challenge.

Several students reflected on the impact of their language learning experience. Kinton shared, "I enjoyed improving and learning the French language because next year I might travel to France with my soccer club." Claire noted, "I've really enjoyed learning about different cultures and the Francophone world, and I hope to see more of it in the future."

Ava added, "I loved exploring Francophone music and have even added a song from Manie Musicale—‘Casa’ by Ouidad—to my music playlist." Maura said, "I really like that we are reading Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry because it’s my first time reading a full novel in French class."

We are so grateful to Coquette for providing such a warm, welcoming, and authentic experience. This enriching cultural outing marks the beginning of a new tradition for our French program, and we look forward to many more end-of-year celebrations at Coquette in the years to come.