Jeannine — Pool Stories

Jeannine

Jeannine Mermet, 1928-2022

Jeannine wrote this short biography and a longer memoir for the pool project a few years before her death.
Scroll down to read the full memoir.

I grew up in German-occupied Paris and immigrated to the U.S. after World War II, as the wife of an American soldier. I am a dancer, singer, and restaurateur. I opened the first authentic French restaurant in Philadelphia, Janine et Jeannine. During my decades-long career in the restaurant business, I opened many French restaurants in Philadelphia, including La Truffe, Tout Suite, Jeannine’s Bistro, and more. I love my large family and recently became a great-great-great-grandmother!

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Jeannine with her father Alexis Mermet and grandmother

Jeannine at 2 with her parents and grandmother, France

Jeannine at 8 with her parents on the beach, Zoute, Belgium

Jeannine at school, first row, far right

Jeannine at 15 in the Bois de Boulogne, Paris

Jeannine at 15 on her Mother’s balcony in Montmartre, Paris

Jeannine came to the U.S. in 1945 with her American husband Frank

Jeannine and Frank at a restaurant, Philadelphia

Jeannine with baby chicks won in a publicity contest. She gave some of them to her mother-in-law, who had a farm.

Jeannine with daughters Pat, age 5, and Sherry, age 2, in the ocean, Atlantic City

Jeannine and son Keith, Atlantic City, 1963

Jeannine and Cleo Shore, entertainers at the Celebrity Room, Philadelphia

Jeannine, center, in the Lee Henderson Girls chorus line, 1956

Jeannine, second from right, in a chorus line at the Embassy Club, Philadelphia

Jeannine starting her singing career, 1959

Jeannine singing at Walber’s On The Delaware, a dinner club

Jeannine sang with singer Mario Mira, made a record with him, and was on The Ed McMahon Show with him, 1959

Johnny Mathis wrote: “To Jeannine, It was so wonderful working with you. All my best wishes. Sincerely, Johnny Mathis”

Jeannine as Miss Polaroid, modeling to promote the new Polaroid camera, 1958

Grand opening announcement of Janine et Jeannine restaurant, Head House Square, Philadelphia, 1966

Janine and Jeannine in front of their eponymous restaurant, the first French restaurant in Philadelphia

Jeannine’s best known restaurant, La Truffe

Jeannine’s La Bohème, a popular nightclub, where people stood in line to get in, upstairs from Janine et Jeannine, 1973

Jeannine’s restaurant La Truffe, 1980s

Invitation to Alliance Francaise cabaret evening, 1998

Jeannine sings at La Truffe with guitarist Leonard and accordionist Dimitry, 1990s

Tom Foglietta, U.S. Ambassador to Italy, at a gala with Jeannine on the 25th anniversary of La Truffe, 1990s

Tom Foglietta, Ambassador to Italy, and Jeannine, Rome, 1998

Jeannine sings at her restaurant, accompanied by guitarist Leonard Polis

Jeannine and her restaurant featured in Continental Airlines Magazine, 1991

Julia Child with Jeannine and her daughter Sherry

Jeannine with restaurateur friends Jean-Marie and Vivienne La Croix

Jeannine with restaurateur friend Georges Perrier, 1998

Jeannine sings at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, friend Georges Perrier cuts in as his sister Françoise looks on, 2000