Why La Bonne Vie?
A little peek into my backstory for old and new readers
Bonjour! Hello! I’m Rachel.
I was born and raised in Belgium then arrived in the United States at the age of fifteen. I’m currently a cheesemonger at my cheese booth, The Wedge, at a small farmers’s market in northern Indiana. Before that, I was a baker, first working out of my home, then at Rachel’s Bread, my artisan bakery and café. During those years, I started writing for my local newspapers. I immediately chose La Bonne Vie as the title of my column, partially as a nod to my French-speaking upbringing but also as a reflection on my writing topics: a love of food, an itch for travel, a focus on the good things in life and a desire to build community.
I discovered that I have many stories to tell, often highlighting the more hidden joys of life, those things we take for granted or don’t take the time to see.
If you are looking for the latest trend, the fast way to the top or clearcut tips, this is not the place for you. Rather, I write from the heart and from my observations. I share my thoughts as they come and try to convey a feeling, a place, a way to live. If you are looking for goodness, appreciate good food, are seeking how to slow down your life and want to follow my journeys, I welcome you with open arms.
I’ve been writing weekly since September 2007. That’s approximately 800 columns so far. Over the years, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to hear your comments daily in appreciation of my writing. That’s what keeps me going!!
I joined Substack in January 2024 as way to go further afield and also make it easier to reach you. And many of you immediately followed me here. I can’t thank you enough!
I’ll continue to write once a week and sometimes I will send an extra something out as I can. Thank you for coming along for the ride. If something really resounds with you, I’d love to read your comments and I will try to respond to each one. Or if you like a post, please tap the ❤️ at the top or bottom of my posts. Or share with your friends. As a writer, those responses are so meaningful and continue to encourage me. They also help me to know what topics you appreciate most.
If you’re still reading(!), thanks. If some of you wish to do more, you can join with a paid subscription. In French, the word for “tip” literally means “to drink”. The translation from the Cambridge Dictionary is “a small sum of money given as a reward for good service.” Your subscription is one way to tip me with a glass of wine or a cup of coffee. Let me know which when you subscribe.😊
Thanks for sharing this journey with me and to 800 columns more.
So I don't know what cheesemonger means and I read it as cheesmongerer so I have this image of you hoarding blocks of cheese like a dragon does gold.
I've looked up the word now and I see you sell cheese haha (I figured as much from the context already but I like learning new words) and monger means to sell or peddle, not hoard. Warmongerer makes more sense, as does a cheesemonger.
From the French I learned in grade 9, I feel there's a fun pun in cheesemonger, if you were to say cheesemanger. 😆 not too sure if that made sense lol but it was funny in my head.
You're making me hungry, Rachel. We have traveled in Belgium, marveling at the Flemish art and the Belgian (not French!) fries. We've wondered ever since why more people don't visit this fascinating country. It reminds us a little of Canada, where we live. Like Belgium, Canada has several cultures that are sometimes at odds, and an attention-grabbing neighbor. People tend to assume that any prominent North American must be from the U.S., just as they think Simenon and Magritte must be French.