That's Life, C'est La Vie Offers a Taste of France in Historic Setting

Owners and chefs Laetitia and Vincent Fernandez are excited to introduce diners to their menus inspired by French cuisine with a modern touch, all in a romantic setting in a lovely historic home on East Main Street.

As you enter through the front door, you are greeted with blue walls that remind you of the Mediterranean Sea where the owners and chefs are originally from. The elegant but relaxing atmosphere is a perfect backdrop for the lovingly prepared and presented food sure to delight discerning diners.

The name of the restaurant means “That’s life,” in French, and the elegant eatery, open for lunch and dinner, is a perfect place to celebrate all of life’s memorable moments or to just indulge in the joys of fine dining.

The menu changes every month, offering delectable French dishes featuring escargot, venison, lamb, and fresh seafood, Laetitia explains. “Our diners enjoy a beautiful plate, well presented, with flavors that people are not used to trying in the area. Everything is made from scratch, and the presentation is important, with different tastes and textures. The menu also depends on what we can find on the market.”

Perennial favorites on the appetizer menu include the escargot. “The French snails in our escargot smell so good when they get out of the oven—the parsley butter is what makes this dish so emblematic in France,” she says.

Recent popular entrees include the lamb shank braised and served with mashed butternut squash, honey sauce, and vegetables, and the venison chop served with mashed potatoes and chocolate coffee sauce.

The more casual menu for lunch offers awesome burgers with the chefs’ French touch and of course French specialties like croque monsieur, quiche Lorraine, and steak frites.

Crepes are also a popular lunch offering, which Laetitia says are very famous, and a very French dish. Wednesdays are crepe nights at C’est la Vie, so that dinner guests have the opportunity to indulge in the many different choices of both savory and sweet crepes.

“We were both born in the south of France, near Avignon and not very far from the Mediterranean—where in summer cicadas sing, lavender fields scent the countryside and the gastronomic culture is very rich,” Laetitia explains. “We come from a region of France called Provence which, thanks to its Mediterranean climate and its incomparable location, allows us to enjoy fresh fish, quality meat, fruit and vegetables all year round, found in small Provençal markets while talking to local producers.”

The couple did not plan to become chefs. Laetitia has a master’s degree in marketing and communication and Vincent studied racehorses. But shortly after meeting in 2008, the couple opened a pizzeria in their home in France. Then in 2018 they decided to relocate to the United States to open a restaurant and raise their growing family.

“My dad has been making pizzas for almost forty years and he passed on his know-how to us. After ten years, we wanted to look further and learn about cooking. At the end of 2018 we set off on a new adventure, with our two daughters, Livia and June, to open our own French restaurant in Georgia,” Laetitia remembers.

Crepes are also a popular lunch offering, which Laetitia says are very famous, and a very French dish. Wednesdays are crepe nights at C’est la Vie, so that dinner guests have the opportunity to indulge in the many different choices of both savory and sweet crepes.

“We were both born in the south of France, near Avignon and not very far from the Mediterranean—where in summer cicadas sing, lavender fields scent the countryside and the gastronomic culture is very rich,” Laetitia explains. “We come from a region of France called Provence which, thanks to its Mediterranean climate and its incomparable location, allows us to enjoy fresh fish, quality meat, fruit and vegetables all year round, found in small Provençal markets while talking to local producers.”

The couple did not plan to become chefs. Laetitia has a master’s degree in marketing and communication and Vincent studied racehorses. But shortly after meeting in 2008, the couple opened a pizzeria in their home in France. Then in 2018 they decided to relocate to the United States to open a restaurant and raise their growing family.

“My dad has been making pizzas for almost forty years and he passed on his know-how to us. After ten years, we wanted to look further and learn about cooking. At the end of 2018 we set off on a new adventure, with our two daughters, Livia and June, to open our own French restaurant in Georgia,” Laetitia remembers.

For more information visit CestLaVieGeorgia.com.

This article was featured in the Historic Canton magazine. Read more.