Good Old American Barbecue Is Having A Moment In Paris

American barbecue is on the rise in Paris, and it's because, like all good food, the flavor transcends culture. And the French, who have had an "ongoing fascination" with American comfort food like burgers and lobster rolls, have U.S. expats to thank for their latest obsession.

"Barbecue was what I missed about Texas," Diana Darrah, a Dallas native living in Paris, told The New York Times.

Darrah has run Blues Barb-B-Q on the Rue Sedaine since 2010, and has lately been joined by a number of other barbecue joints run by both American and French natives. The menu may be new to Parisians, but Americans will recognize all the staples, like ribs, pork belly, corn bread, homemade pecan pie, and coleslaw.

One pit master, the "barbecue-mad Frenchman" Thomas Abramowicz, even left a luxury marketing job in New York City to bring barbecue overseas. 

"The French once only ate American food as a goofy novelty, but once they've tasted really great barbecue, they come back," says Darrah.