Eat. Pray. Love. Repeat.
“Daughter of a former diplomat, I was born and raised in a small town located about 90 kilometres northwest of Shanghai. During those early years, I was in the good care of my grandparents.
We had very little. Rather than being ambitious, my grandparents taught me by example that a person's true worth lies in kindness, honesty and the quiet courage to do good even when no one is watching. These values became my first inheritance. Like a steady light, they have guided me throughout my personal and professional journeys to date, shaping the life choices I have made.”
“When my parents returned from North America to mainland China, we moved to the capital. That was when Beijing truly became my home. It was also the beginning of a rhythm that shaped my childhood: travelling back and forth between Beijing and my parents’ hometowns, tirelessly and almost ritualistically, every single school holiday.
Very often, I would be placed on the train alone, under the watchful eye of a family friend working that shift. And so I would travel those 1,200 kilometres, again and again, commuting across the country as a child, carrying with me the quiet excitement of the journey and the feeling of moving between two worlds, both of which are so dear to me.”
“When I was seventeen, it was my turn to ask my parents if I could see the world. They said yes. I would spend the next 6 years in England, obtaining my Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, before joining a graduate trainee programme that took me to Sydney and then Hong Kong during the first three years of my career. It was thanks to this job, that I had the opportunity to travel to more than 40 countries.
One day, HR asked me the million-dollar question: Would you like to relocate to Paris for your next assignment? My answer? OUI!”
“It only took me 44 countries to find the city of my dreams - it was in 2014 that I became a Parisian. It was here that I truly discovered the French art de vivre and the fascinating gastronomic world.
Following my heart, I enrolled in a culinary school in Paris, near Saint-Germain-des-Prés, and completed a professional training programme for career changers from all walks of life, who shared the very same passion for French pâtisserie.
During my training programme, it felt only natural to begin showing friends and family my favourite hidden addresses, and from those early culinary walks, Sweet Secrets of Paris was born. No one taught me how to do this. I read, researched, spoke to chefs, visited places, tasted products, ran test tours, read and researched more, before officially launching my little business, a favourite side gig that grew into my main professional activity, until Covid.”
“My food tours have always carried a generous dose of art and history, woven naturally into the walks. In time, this curiosity led me to pursue a formal training in art history, culminating in my qualification as a licensed guide (guide-conférencière), authorised to lead tours in museums and historic monuments in France, including emblematic sites such as Notre-Dame de Paris.
This marked yet another important milestone in my journey. From a self-taught food tour guide and professionally trained pastry chef, I have evolved into an officially licensed national museum guide in France - a unique combination of passions and expertise in which I take great pride.
We may not remember exactly what we did or what was said on a trip, but we always remember how that experience made us feel. Start curating your once-in-a-lifetime memories today.”