French Food in Tennessee? Mais Oui! How Memories Built The French Market

Mealtime in France is almost always a social occasion. The French Market is bringing that sense of connection- plus some delicious food- to East Tennessee!

There’s a town in West Tennessee called Paris… but if you want authentic Parisian food, you’ll have to head east to Knoxville!

Food is one of the best ways to experience other cultures and places, even if you’re not able to travel. This is one of the main reasons Allen and Susan Tate opened The French Market Crêperie in downtown Knoxville. I (Sarah) sat down with Susan to learn more about how her food memories have shaped this local gem.

A Lifelong Passion

Susan learned to cook as a child from her mother, who cooked every weekend- and even occasionally made crêpes. Growing up in the heyday of Julia Child and magazines like Gourmet, it was hard not to become interested in food. She was excited to learn that I had similar childhood experiences, since scratch cooking is becoming less and less common.

Susan’s passion for French food grew during the two winters she and her husband, Allen, spent in France. Eating as the locals ate led to delicious discoveries on multiple occasions. By venturing into less tourist-y areas and asking for recommendations, Susan and Allen found hidden gems, from chocolate croissants to multi-course meals.

According to Susan, there were creperies and crepe stands all over Paris, similar to how Knoxville is packed with coffee shops. Even in tiny spaces, the crêpiers were turning simple ingredients into delicious snacks and meals. After returning stateside, Susan and Allen decided they wanted to open a place to sell art (they both create iron sculptures!) and French food. They taught themselves to make crêpes and… voila! The French Market’s opened in 2008 and has been the place to go for all things French ever since.

A Pancake in Every Culture

Though crepes are distinctly French, the general idea is more universal. “Crepes are just pancakes, and there’s a pancake in every culture,” Susan points out. She’s right: American buttermilk pancakes, Chinese scallion pancakes, South African pannekoeke, Eastern European blini… wherever you go, you’ll likely find some version of a pancake.

Our conversation even brought up some of my own childhood memories of pancakes from other cultures, like eating my first crêpes and tasting real maple syrup on a family vacation to Canada. A few years later, a teacher from England pitted my classmates against each other in a traditional Pancake Day race. (Let’s just say I’m much better at eating pancakes than flipping them while running.)

If you look at The French Market’s menu, you’ll notice some flavor combinations that don’t sound, um… French. Some dishes are inspired by Susan and Allen’s other adventures. There’s a Dutch-style pancake with cheese in the batter, and a smoked salmon and cream cheese crêpe we’re pretty sure New Yorkers would approve of. A little bit of cultural fusion can be a beautiful thing!

“French Food Isn’t Always Fancy”

Susan is also quick to point out that “French food isn’t always fancy.” Sure, there are plenty of restaurants serving dishes like escargots and foie gras, but they don’t paint the whole picture. Ultimately, what makes French food great is an emphasis on quality over quantity. When good ingredients are handled well, something as simple as a ham and cheese baguette becomes extraordinary.

This is certainly a shift from what we find at many American restaurants. In France, don’t be surprised if you’re served smaller portions and meals take longer than they would back home. Rather than ordering huge quantities of food and eating quickly, French people take time to savor and appreciate every bite.

Building Local Connections

Having been open for so long, Susan and Allen have formed strong connections with their community. Susan says they’ve developed quite the following, including several loyal regulars. Their downtown location is ideal for a weekday lunch break, or a quick meal while visiting Market Square. It’s also a favorite among college students- it’s close to campus, and quiet enough during off-peak hours for a study break.

Of course, this means Susan and Allen have a pretty good idea of what their customers like. They keep the menu pretty consistent to ensure quality while keeping up with high demand. Occasionally, they’ll add a special for a holiday or local event. On the day of our conversation, they had some music-inspired crêpes to coincide with a Knoxville Opera concert happening just a few blocks away.

The French Market is also a place for locals and visitors alike to connect with each other. On any given day, you’ll find a mix of families, couples, friends, and colleagues sharing a meal. Visit in early May, and the place will be packed with families of new University of Tennessee graduates. It’s also a great place to bring out-of-town guests- my college best friends picked up some yummy pastries before heading home from a girls’ weekend!

Just like the bistros and creperies they loved in Paris, Susan and Allen have worked hard to create a place where people can meet up and enjoy simple food prepared really well. “We just want people to have a good experience, even when we’re busy,” says Susan. Speaking from experience, we can vouch that this is exactly what you will get!

Is there a food from your travels you’d like to learn how to make?