Marie-Madeleine Dabdoub (third left), winner of the Touch of France Expo 2007, accepts the Air France-sponsored prize of a trip for two to Paris from senior organisers (from left) Pierre Lemaire, president,Alliance Française of Jamaica; Marie-Rose Lafleur, a director; and Karlene Lemaire, assistant to the French trade commissioner. Ms. Dabdoub leaves for Paris later this month. - Contributed

Marie-Madeleine Dabdoub recently captured the summer prize trip for two to the ultimate destination of style, fashion and superb cuisine, Paris, France. She is scheduled to take up the trip some time this month.

Organised by the culturally engaging Alliance Française of Jamaica in cooperation with the Embassy of France, the announcement of the prize, sponsored by Air France, met with appreciative applause.

While this summer 2007 excursion will not be her first trip to Paris, Ms. Dabdoub embraces a strong appreciation for French cuisine, music and way of life, viewed by the discriminating as well as by the adventurous as the most sophisticated of all continental cultures.

Flair for languages

But the 2007 Touch of France winner has far more than a passing acquaintance with French culture. With a flair for languages (speaking French, Spanish, Italian and German) since high school days at Alpha Academy, she has worked at the United Nations Environmental Programme in Kingston, and has had professional training in interpreting.

Travelled to several countries

She has travelled to several countries, both in and beyond the Caribbean.

Proud of a long-standing affiliation with the Alliance Française, Ms. Dabdoub marks Kingston's annual Francophone Film Festival as a must-see on her calendar. Hosted every November, Canadians, Belgians, the Swiss and French gather to entertain lovers of great films.

Of the growing relationship between Jamaican and French business interests, Ms. Dabdoub notes that the business-based participants at the pre-summer expo at the Hilton Kingston hotel made short order of their visitors' questions with impressive technical expertis, proving that the emerging relationship augurs well for the future.