Meet Lorie Fangio | Founder of A Taste of Paris(TM) food and wine trips to France

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lorie Fangio and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lorie, let’s talk legacy – what do you want yours to be?
This is a difficult question to contemplate and something I do think about. From the very beginning, A Taste of Paris(TM), has always been about getting people around the table. In the early days, when I still had children at home, my business focused on helping busy people get dinner on that table for connection as a family. As my children grew and left the nest, so did my business. It transitioned from writing about food and teaching cooking classes to taking groups to France for food and wine trips. Even though the landscape of A Taste of Paris(TM) has changed one thing remains the same. Magical things happen when people are gathered around the table while breaking bread, whether it’s in Texas or France. We live busy lives and many less food-focused people forget how important this is.
To answer the question, I’d like to be remembered for inspiring people to break bread together, to share food, fellowship, and moments that when strung together create the fabric of our lives.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My business, A Taste of Paris(TM) is a boutique travel company taking small groups to France for food and wine trips.
Several things make ATOP different from other small-group travel companies. The first is that my trips are in France only and focused on food and wine. Travelers taste the very best that France has to offer while seeing the important sites and cooking with the best French chefs. Another thing that makes my company unique is that I plan each trip AND take the groups myself. Many other businesses like mine have others do the planning and traveling.
I am very hands-on because I want each guest to feel welcome, special, and important. I am most proud of the fact that my travelers get to participate in the very best experiences, it’s not like signing up for a cooking class online. I always go above and beyond to find the hard-to-get, exceptional experiences that can be life-changing, this is where the joy is for me, sharing these incredible moments.
I’ve been traveling with groups to France for over 10 years, and each time I take a group I’m always surprised at how much work it is. Breaking into new areas of France is always a challenge. It may be a small country but each region has a slightly different business culture and it takes time to develop these relationships.
I’d like A Taste of Paris (TM) to be remembered as a business that exceeded all expectations, created an environment for connection, and made a difference in people’s lives.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d plan the week around food of course.
The first evening, I’d make tidbits, we’d open a good bottle of wine, put on my dinner party playlist, and catch up.
After sleeping in, we’d head to the Dallas Arboretum to enjoy the gardens and a freshly made picnic. We’d end the day with a light dinner at a casual Dallas bistro.
The next day we would begin with a 4-5 mile walk, and we would plan our dinner together, after, all, we will be cooking together tonight.
We would work in some shopping of course and a night out at Highland Park Village at one of my favorite restaurants.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
To my husband Mark and my children Brooke, and Brandon, who jumped right into the dream with me and have never left my side.

Website: https://atasteofparis.net/#

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atasteofparis/

Linkedin: lorie@atasteofparis.net

Facebook: Atasteofparistrips

Other: https://atasteofparis.net/about/