Jean Hwang Carrant: True Love is a Chocolate Cookie
Jean Hwang Carrant makes awesome cookies. She is a superwoman as well. She was born in Kansas to Taiwanese parents, fell in love with a French man (Who wouldn’t? At least once!), raised three fabulous kids and is now a kick-ass cookie-baking-born-in-the-usa-businesswoman in Paris - probably one of the most competitive cities to succeed in food! Jean is also a truly kind and generous human being who makes you feel warm, welcome and happy to be living – just like her cookies! She was even kind enough to answer a few of my questions. Thank you, Jean!
1. First of all, what turns you on about the cookie?
For me, the cookie represents perfection. I’m a perfectionist and to me the cookie is the perfect dessert. You have the variety, that “hit-the-spot” feeling, and the quality of comfort food that makes you feel good whenever and wherever. I do love all kinds of pastries and sweets, but the cookie is the only one I could eat every day for the rest of my life.
2. Do you have a favourite cookie?
Definitely my black sesame cookie because I love its taste and texture, and it’s part of my Taiwanese heritage. The idea for the cookie came about during a brainstorming session when I was working with Zenzoo, a Taiwanese salon de thé in the 2nd Arrondissement and the first place to offer bubble tea in Paris (they’re still there and they still make the best bubble tea in town!). I was working with them to create Asian cookies for their restaurant and that’s when the idea of using black sesame powder in a cookie was born. The powder can’t be sourced in Paris so even now I get it directly from Taiwan.
3. Who have been your most memorable cookie customers?
I love all my clients. Everyone has a story to tell. That is one of the best things about this business. I even appreciate the negative people who complain about my slightly higher-than-average prices. One cookie usually costs about 3 euros for a number of reasons and I enjoy discussing this with anyone who asks. In the end, customers appreciate what kind of care, precision and attention are put into my products. I use bio (organic) ingredients, everything is hand-crafted and baked here in the shop, measurements and packaging are precise and I try to reduce waste to a minimum.
4. Do you listen/sing to music while making cookies?
Yes! Mostly rock. My cookie bar playlist is a mix of rock music, 80s music –early 80s rap and Madonna - and grunge bands like Nirvana and Alice in Chains. Currently, my favorite band is Ty Segall, a psychedelic garage rock band from San Francisco.
Jean and her assistant Gaby with special Year of the Fire Monkey fortune cookies.
5. Which of your cookies would you suggest for the following? (In no particular order - haha!)
True love – Definitely any one with chocolate (Gwenola, Gwenola Kiss, Triple C, Sseb (RCL favorite!), Arthur and even Café, Domino or Super Goji – all have chocolate bits in them).
First date – Something classic of excellent quality, like my chocolate chip cookie, Arthur.
Divorce – Go for cookie gluttony, get every single cookie on the menu. It works both ways – in sadness or celebration!
Hangover – Jean asked her assistant, Gaby, for her opinion at this point. Gaby is Mexican and trained at the renowned French gastronomy school Ferrandi here in Paris. Gaby suggested following Mexican wisdom and gobbling down something spicy like Jean’s Sseb (dark chocolate with red hot Thai chili pepper) – although she would triple the chili pepper for herself (Viva Mexico!).
6. We all know baking can be challenging sometimes and there are moments when one must use the appropriate curse word. Do you have any favorite ones for those occasions?
I actually cuss a lot. I have a very foul mouth. I think it’s something about the cooking business. I don’t cuss in French but I cuss really well in English. On average, it’s usually the big three - “fuck,” “goddammit” and “fucking son of a bitch.”
On that note, I’m gonna get off my sorry ass and get a goddamn fucking awesome cookie at Jean Hwang Carrant’s cookie bar!
P.S. If you go on Valentine’s Day this year, Jean is setting up shop across the street at La Garconnière concept store (83 rue d’Aboukir 75002 Paris) from 13:30-18:00. Bon appetit and Happy Valentine’s Day!
Jean Hwang Carrant 84 rue d’Aboukir 75002 Paris France Website: http://www.jeanhwangcarrant.com/en/cookies/ Opening Times: Tuesday-Saturday, 11:00-19:00