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It's true that testimonials tend to be a little self-serving but curiosity brought you to this page… So, read on to find out what our customers say about us. And what I have to say about it.

"Thank you very much for the prompt handling of this order, which arrived today in perfect condition. I am very glad to know about Joie de Vivre and wish you much success. On future trips back from France my luggage will be considerably lighter!"
Max Gilstrap, GA
JDV customer since 2001

A lighter suitcase: it's one of the very reasons why I started this company!

"You are our favorite web site and online store. Everything we order from your company is of the highest quality, and the food items are outstanding. My husband and I fell in love with France on our first trip there in 1999. We celebrated Valentine's Day in Paris! The items we purchase from you make us feel less "homesick" for that wonderful country and the wonderful people. Thank you!"
Kathy Verigan, LA
JDV customer since 2001

So gratifying to hear because that's precisely what we try to do: bring France closer to you.

"Terrific as usual."
Cammie Israel, AL
JDV customer since 1996
Cammie has ordered more than 20 times from us. And counting…

"Reading your website is cool--geography and food influences."
Owen Stiles
Not a customer yet but, obviously, Owen is a discriminative "lurker"…

"Merci pour m'avoir envoyes les cadeuax de Noel so vite! Je vous souhaite le Joyeux Noel et une tres Bonne Annee."
Ginny Reed, CA
JDV customer since 1992
And some of our customers order by phone so they can practice their French on us.

"Oh Sylvaine! Am I in trouble! I received the foie gras and have eaten over half of it. You've made me a true Foie Gras Addict!"
Margaret Rivera, NC
JDV customer since 2000
Don't tell the police!

And now, Margaret's previous e-mail:
"My mouth is watering! What a fantastic article and PERFECT! These are things I absolutely wanted to know about purchasing foie gras...which is why I have held off on buying it."
The more you know…

"Mille mercis de vous etre si gentiment occupee si vite de nos dragees!! Le colis est arrive ce matin! Elles sont belles et delicieuses! Merci aussi pour le catalogue. I am grateful to AOL for having given me your company's web site during my search!"
Sonia McGrath, FL
JDV customer since 2001
Until she found us, Sonia had feared to be stuck with (perish the thought) American Jordan almonds for her daughter's wedding."

I went back to Aventures section-FABULOUS! I am assigning all my students to look up a region and report on it… This is a real service to French teachers, which I will publicize at our next meeting of teachers."
Gina Jordan, MI
JDV customer since 1989
Our customers include many French teachers who find our products and articles useful for classroom projects.

"Thank you very much for your reply. You are the only one that gave me an explanation. Other importers just said "no, we don't carry it." You got a new customer - your site has a wonderful selection of products I want to try."
Yvette Barroso, CA
JDV customer since 2001
We often get requests for products that we do not stock. Sometimes we can get them for you, sometimes USDA/FDA regulations do not allow us to do that; and sometimes, you have to purchase a whole container to get the stuff…

"We pan grilled the foie gras Saturday night with a lovely Calvados and green apple sauce. We were as impressed as our friends. The foie gras was exceptional in taste and texture. We look forward to many more evenings with your wonderful product. Thank you for helping make a wonderful Saturday evening. (There was great anticipation by all; one of the guests brought a bottle of 1990 Chateau d'Yquem which, needless to say, was a beautiful compliment to the foie gras.)"
Richard Peterson, CA
JDV customer since 2001
I hope I get invited next time!

"I appreciate your work on such short notice. Please thank Grimaud for me. C'est formidable. Merci bien,"
Kevin Lauf, CO
JDV customer since 2001
Yes, Grimaud Farms is very responsive to our customers' needs and we feel fortunate to have such a great working relationship with them.

"Je tenais a vous dire que mon mari et mes invites ont adore le repas d'hier. Les magrets etaient tres tendres et avaient un gout authentique, et les foies gras (j'avais fait les deux recettes) ont fait sensation ! Pour ma part, j'ai adore la fermete et la fraicheur du foie gras au sel, et le fondant du foie gras a l'Armagnac..... Conclusion, je referai les deux recettes pour les fetes de Noel. Merci encore pour votre accueil et votre service."
Marie-Laure Ilian, CA
JDV customer since 2001
La délicieuse recette du foie gras au sel se trouve dans le livre "French Farmhouse Cooking" by Susan Hermann Loomis.

"What a great response. You have our business and our holiday gift business. I am sure judging by the depth of your response that you do not receive very many complaints."
John Caterham, CO
JDV customer since 2000
I know it's very hard to believe but we occasionally get a complaint... We take responsibility for our mistakes, pass the buck when warranted (FedEx does drop the ball once in a while) but, in every case, we do our utmost to rectify the situation.

"Got it the next day!! As usual - your customer service is excellent!"
Karen Garcia, FL
JDV customer since 1996
And, more often than not, our carriers greatly contribute to make the shopping experience as smooth as it should be.

"I'm hooked - you've got a customer for life!!"
Jacqueline Brooks, AZ
JDV customer since 2001
That's what we love to hear!

"Les andouillettes en particulier sont un delice! Nous attendons avec impatience de gouter la roulade de foie gras!!!!"
Catherine Auduon, CA
JDV customer since 2001
Heureusement que Fabrique Délices est là pour nous faire de la charcuterie "comme chez nous"!

"The boudins noirs were a big hit. My friend Annick declared that they were the best she's had since the ones she enjoyed on her grandfather's farm in France many, many years ago. So thank you to you and FedEx!"
Susan Fockler, NH
JDV customer since 2000
And Yolande Shirek, a CA customer, told me that the aroma of the boudin in the frying pan brought back memories of her grandmother's kitchen. What's the deal about boudin and grandparents?

"I received my dishes last night and they are just what I wanted. Thank you so much for your assistance in ordering. I will visit your site often and recommend it to all my friends."
Nicole McCormack, KY
JDV customer since 2001
We special-ordered some dishes from Pillivuyt so that Nicole could complete her set.

"I just wanted to drop you a note to say how pleased I was with the items I recently received. The quality was beyond my expectations, and so was the delivery service. I never thought it possible to create some of the dishes that I enjoyed in France, so your products are a dream come true. I like the recipes on your Web site, too. I was glad I followed your instructions for foie gras terrine. The recipe that was in xxxxx Magazine said to cook it for 3 1/2 hours. It would have been ruined! Thank you."
Marguerite Rigby, MI
JDV customer since 2001
The name of the magazine is being removed for obvious reasons …

"Your site is certainly up-to-the minute, running well, and your e-mail is RIGHT THERE!! Bravo! Not many web sites are that well run..."
Kori Lockhart, CA
JDV customer since 2002
Kudos to Keith Williams, our Web Guru.

"Thanks for thinking of my location. You are the BEST!! I can't wait to do another cheese order, too. My friends are still talking about my last wine and cheese party."
Barry O'Connor, AZ
JDV customer since 2000
Cheeses: our best-kept secret. Request our paper catalog for details.

"Have I mentioned this is the best customer service I've ever received from an online purchase? You're great!"
Donna Wright, FL
JDV customer since 2000
The fundamentals of good Customer Service are the same whether you run a retail store, a mail-order catalog or a pure-play Internet business; maybe we've had the opportunity to practice a little longer than others…

"Thank you so much for a prompt and wonderfully courteous response! This is not our first time ordering from your company; we had a delightful foie gras from you at Christmastime and so enjoyed it we decided to repeat the pleasure."
Gretchen DiGeronimo, MA
JDV customer since 2000
It truly is a pleasure to sell Sonoma Foie Gras: the quality of the livers is so consistent that our customers always order with confidence.

"Greetings to the Amis de Caneton!! My Christmas cassoulet incorporating your confit & sausages was "véritablement français." May this be the start of a beautiful friendship. Thank you for maintaining such a complete and easy to navigate website; without it, I would not have known your company as a prime resource. A bientot,"
John Hudspeth, OR
JDV customer since 2000
Now, if only I could convince Fabrique Délices to develop a really good Saucisse de Strasbourg for my Choucroute Garnie!

"Merci, Sylvaine. I LOVED your website and did sign up for announcements of new items. You will hear from me again. Thank you so much for your time and patience."
Roberta Learner
Not a customer yet. Roberta, where have you been?

"I appreciate you telling me what is in the box so that I can go out this weekend and complete the 50 French gifts. I enjoyed your web site so I will definitely shop there again. Thanks for your responsive service. I will recommend you to friends & family."
Pattie Meehan, TX
JDV customer since 2000
Pattie needed 50 French gifts to properly celebrate a friend's 50th birthday and we were out of a couple of items (yes, it happens…) Wouldn't you love to have a friend like Pattie?

"Merci pour l'envoi si rapide de la commande. Nous avons bien recu le colis et nous efforcons de resister a la tentation jusqu'a ce week-end ou nous accompagnerons la charcuterie avec une bonne bouteille de Bourgueil..... Merci encore pour la qualite du service."
Dominique Delastre, CA
JDV customer since 2000
Ne résistez pas, Dominique: ces produits sont disponibles toute l'année!

"The duck confit is an incredible product !!So much so that I can't imagine trying to prepare it myself from scratch. I believe you have a life-long customer."
Jim Wickless, NE
JDV customer since 2000
But Jim, making confit from scratch is such a fun way to occupy an otherwise boring weekend…

"I just wanted to tell you that your web site is THE nicest one I have ever looked at, and I'm not just talking about the products within. We're looking forward to the catalogue."
Mary Murray
Not a customer yet, but we're not giving up on you, Mary! Many people enjoy browsing our paper catalog before placing an online order.

"Ma commande est bien arrivée, le jour dit. Le canard à l'orange était délicieux et le foie gras est en train de refroidir doucement... Le saucisson quand à lui est un doux souvenir. Donc, à très très bientôt."
Sylvie Dupont, CA
JDV customer since 2000
La poésie dans la cuisine.

"We had an incredible dinner made even more special by the foie gras and duck breasts. We have sung your praises to anyone who will listen. We will most certainly keep in touch and place our future orders with you."
Gayle and Peter Stanford, CA
JDV customers since 1999
Maybe Gayle and Peter could contribute to future "audio" development on this page?

"This is so cool! This is what will bring me back. Thanks!"
Roger Caruso, MA
JDV customer since 2001
And you are all wondering: what did they do that was so cool?…

"Celà fait 41 ans que nous avons quitté la France… Beaucoup de choses manquent dans ce grand pays où nous avons décidé de vivre et c'est une bonne chose que notre tres bon ami nous ait donné votre numéro de téléphone. Il adore le saucisson sec et il dit qu'il s'est régalé."
Anne-Marie Ponsetti, CA
JDV customer since 1999
Un saucisson sec américain "testé et approuvé" par les français!

"The duck legs that I ordered for my dinner party arrived in gorgeous condition, more beautiful than imagined. Many of my guests had never had duck, but all are now converts! I've passed on your company's name and address to several as the only place to get the duck they enjoyed. I've ordered and enjoyed other things from your catalog and will continue to do so. Merci mille fois!"
Marna Bennett, AZ
JDV customer since 1992
Next time, Marna, make them discover Guinea fowl.

"The foie gras could not have been better. Super lobe. And the breasts magret were superior. A fantastic Christmas dinner and we look forward to a super New Year dinner with more magret. You all can be proud of what you have accomplished."
Anne and Monte Marshall, FL
JDV customers since 2000
Reports of duck overdose in Florida have been greatly exaggerated.

"I am very pleased with your products and service, and I intend to use you whenever I can. I have already recommended you to my friends."
Roger Williams, NY
JDV customer since 2001
Word-of-mouth: the most effective (and cheapest) form of advertising.

"You're the best!! Merci! Looking forward to lots more transactions that go so smoothly."
Christina Reed, NY
JDV customer since 1999
And our computers never crash…

"I can't tell you how wonderful it is to receive the excellent service that you provide. You are a marvel in today's apathetic marketplace - may you thrive and prosper! We need more of your kind in the world! Merci mille fois."
Creighton Miller, UT
JDV customer since 1997
As I recall, this was the first testimonial e-mailed to us after we opened the web site. Made my day
.

"Your web site is great. I have told all my francophile friends about it and plan to visit often."
Nikki Brown, MT
JDV customer since 1999
If you build it, they will come.


Thanks to all for the encouragement!