Meet Ghislaine, the Owner of Ma Belle France

Hello and welcome!  I am Ghislaine, and this is Nina my wonderful dog.  Here we are on the French Riviera, in November 2014, when I returned to France after 32 years in the United States.

I am originally from Paris, France, where I lived until my late twenties.  Then the great adventure started in 1984, when I landed in the Big Apple.  My very first job was as a private chef for an Iranian family, on Park Ave and 58th street.  I would go to their home five times per week to prepare an elaborate 5-course dinner.

Little did I know that one day I would actually teach French cooking, and take small groups to different regions of France! 

To make a long story short, as much as I loved cooking, I was more of an artist and I was passionate about personal and professional development.  I became a certified Life and Leadership Coach.  This has been my main career for the since 1994. 

In 2009, I decided to move to Asheville, NC because the economy was really suffering and all the coaching budgets were eliminated and I literally lost all my corporate clients in three months of time.  Moving to Asheville enabled me to start offering French cooking classes and culinary tours.  Ma Belle France was born and my business became highly successful.  I even offered French cooking camps for children in the summer, and what fun that was! 

By the end of 2014 I decided it was time to go to France to reconnect to my roots.  I stayed for six years, and finally came to understand that as much as I love to visit France, living there was no longer a fit for me.  So I returned to the United States, and  after a year in Providence, Rhode Island, I decided to return to my beloved Asheville, in North Carolina.  I keep my coaching business, of course, as it is a true passion for me.  However, I also decided to start offering cooking classes and culinary tours again.  So, come and join me!