The Great French Fry Count: How Many French Folks Are Floating Around LA?
Ah, Los Angeles. The land of dreams, sunshine, and...surprisingly, a fair amount of French people? That's right, folks, beneath the glitz and the glamor of Hollywood, there's a secret society of beret-wearing baguette-enthusiasts thriving under the California sun. But just how many? Buckle up, because we're about to dive into the fascinating, slightly ridiculous world of counting French fries...er, I mean, French people in LA.
French Fries vs. French: A Statistical Scramble
Now, you might be thinking, "Isn't this a bit difficult? Can't we just count the number of croissants consumed?" Well, my friend, that's where things get interesting. Unlike our American counterparts who proudly sport their heritage in designated Chinatowns and Little Italys, the French tend to be a more scattered bunch. They're the sprinkles on the Los Angeles donut, the whisper of French in the Starbucks line. There's no "Little France" neighborhood, which makes the whole counting caper a delightful statistical mystery.
Enter the French Consulate: Masters of the Headcount?
Fear not, for there's a glimmer of hope! According to a dusty newspaper article from 1999 (because apparently counting French people wasn't a top priority in the age of dial-up), the French Consulate estimated a population of around 11,000 French folks chilling in LA. 11,000! That's enough people to fill the Staples Center...twice...and still have a crêpe party afterwards.
But Wait, There's More! The French Census Caper
Now, here's the kicker. This 11,000 number is almost a quarter-century old. For all we know, there could be a secret French underground society that has doubled in size, living in luxurious bungalows and plotting world domination (through croissants, obviously). Or maybe they all decided the California sun wasn't worth the high rent and moved to Montana to become artisanal cheesemakers. The possibilities are truly endless!
The Verdict: We're Officially Stumped (But Entertained)
So, the truth is, we don't really know exactly how many French people live in LA. It could be 11,000, it could be 20,000, it could be a flock of pigeons wearing tiny berets for all we know. But hey, that's the beauty of the mystery, isn't it? The next time you're strolling down Hollywood Boulevard, keep an eye out for a person with a baguette under their arm and a hint of je ne sais quoi. You might just have stumbled upon one of LA's well-hidden French fries...er, I mean, French folks.
