FOUND: Gluten-free products in Lyon

A Lyon Eats fan recently emailed from New York asking for suggestions on where to find gluten-free products in Lyon.

I've found that most organic (bio) stores have a gluten-free (sans gluten) section. Other ideas are most welcomed!

Here are a few bio addresses in Lyon:

Orexis
10 rue Chavanne
69001 Lyon, France
04 78 28 52 52

l'Eau Vive
Stores can be found in Villeurbanne and the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th arrondissements.

la Vie Claire
Stores can be found in the 4th, 6th and 9th arrondissements.

Botanic
139 Boulevard Stalingrad
Villeurbanne

04 78 89 49 98

Times Donuts a Lyon

Many thanks to David for sharing with Lyon Eats this new find. From David's email:

"J’ai trouvé un magasin de donuts sympa, « Times Donuts » c’est au 34 rue St Helene, Lyon 02. Apparament les donuts sont frais et fait par un patissier!!"













Photo by David B.

ICCL Concert: Traditional Christmas Carols

Soirée Américaine Casino "Pharaon"

If you are looking for some last-minute Thanksgiving fun, the Pharaon Casino in Lyon is hosting an American Thanksgiving event tonight!  (Nov 25, 2010) There will be:

• Grand buffet gratuit, où les meilleurs spécialités américaines vous seront proposées
• 1 consommation offerte
• Stand d'orpaillage
• Rodéo sur notre Macho Bull
• Initiation au Texas Hold'em Poker

According to the Casino website, all you need to do is print out and present an invitation at the door.

Dori has just forwarded an invitation to me. If you are interested, contact me and I will pass it along.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! :)

Champagnes and Foies Gras!

Love either or both of the things above? Then don't miss out on Vinomedia's upcoming Edition de Noël 2010 : Champagnes et Foies Gras!

From December 3 to December 5, champagne and foie gras producteurs all over France will gather and showcase their goods at the Centre de Congrès L'Espace Tête d'Or in Villeurbanne.

Additionally, there will be wines and other French Christmas specialties, such as candied chestnuts and "calissons", i.e. "lozenge-shaped sweet made of iced marzipan".

Entrance costs 5 euros/person. However, you can attend for free by requesting invitations from Vinomedia. Follow this link and fill out the required information. An invitation for two will be mailed to you within a couple of days.











(photo by Krikit)

You're Invited: ICCL Thanksgiving Party!

You are warmly invited to the ICCL annual Thanksgiving Potluck, a time of delicious food and great fellowship!
When: This Sunday, Nov 21st 2010 from 2pm
Where: ICCL at 6, Rue Albert Thomas, Caluire
What to bring: If you come with your family, please bring three dishes to share: a main dish, a side dish, and a dessert.
If you’re coming by yourself or with one other, bring a dish of your choice.
Drinks and silverware will be provided but please bring whatever utensils you may need to serve your food.
To reserve for the event, visit the ICCL website here.
There will be regular service at 4:30pm after the meal is over.
Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

You're Invited: South of the Border Potluck!

Join Lyon Eats for South of the Border Potluck!

Saturday Nov. 13th, 2010, from 7pm onward.

Bring your Favorite Mexican or Latin American Inspired Dish to share.

Please RSVP to Dori at: sacredori@yahoo.com and we'll send you the address for the soirée.

Already on the menu:

• Taquitos (Chicken, and Bean&Cheese)
• Black Beans
• Rice
• Corn Chips and Salsa (We can always use more Salsas)
• Mexican Flan

Don't know what to bring? We could use tropical fruit juices, and/or coke for rum cocktails or to drink as is. See you there!

(Photo by djjewelz)

Au marché l'après-midi: Afternoon Outdoors Market!

For those of us who cannot get to the marchés on weekday mornings, there is now an afternoon-evening market in town! Unlike the others, this marché is open from 15h00 to 19h00.

You'll be able to find vegetables, fruits, meat, cheese, and other goodies from more than 30 participating vendors. Don't forget your bag/basket!

The exact address:

Marché Augagneur d'après-midi
quai Victor Augagneur
Entre la rue de la Part-Dieu et la rue Aimé Collomb
69003 Lyon

Tous les jeudis, 15h00 a 19h00. Every Thursday, 15h00 to 19h00.

FOUND: New Subway Sandwich Shop

A special post for Subway fans. Steve reports that "there is a new Subway in Limonest on the N6 opposite Darty." The full address: 168, Route Nationale 6 (En face de NORAUTO et DARTY dans la zone TECHLID) Limonest, 69760.

Photo by Like_the_Grand_Canyon

FOUND: Johnsonville Brats

Two expats recently spotted Johnsonville Brats in different stores across town!

From Steve: "And I have seen that Johnston Brats (?) available in various branches of Champion (now Carrefour) and Auchan, they are made in France but to an original recipe, they do other types of sausages."

From Dori: "Found these Johnsonville Brats at the DIA (formerly ED) grocery store in Venissieux today."

Photo from Dori. Merci!

Chokogou: Salon du Chocolat

a.k.a. Salon of Temptation!

According to the Chokogou website, at this year's salon there will be:

"des conférences sur le cinéma et le chocolat, des escapades cinéma avec notamment des vidéos sur le chocolat, un défilé sur les grands mythes du cinéma, un spectacle sur des musiques de films…"

Not sure if free samples of chocolate are part of the deal. Did anyone attend last year's? Please share your experience! Opening hours and directions to Eurexpo, where the salon is held, can be found here.

(Image taken from here)

Wine & Yummies

The ICCL invites you to a night of wine, food, and socializing. Reconnect with old acquaintances and meet new ones!

What

• in American: Wine & Cheese (only there will be more than cheese!)
  
• in French: Apero Dinatoire
• in Business: Cocktail Party (only with wine instead of cocktails!)

When

• this Saturday evening, October 16, 7:30 p.m.

How

• come for fun, socializing, and talking in a relaxing atmosphere!
• feel free to bring a "finger food" dish to share - we will provide the wine!
• Please contact Maria at icclwomen@gmail.com to RSVP and for more information!

Found: Glazed Old-Fashioned Donuts

From Dori with love :)

"I had one of these glazed old fashioned donuts the other day at the Starbucks at 65 Rue de la République, the one closest to Bellecour. I like this Starbucks because they always give you a free small coffee drink when you buy coffee beans. I know, they're donuts, like I need that... but it so reminds me of church Sundays."

(photo by Dori Schwartz)

Beaujolais wine returns to Lyon!

October keeps on getting better for wine drinkers in Lyon! LE reader Sara reports that this Saturday, Lyon will host a city-wide rencontre with 10 crus of Beaujolais.

Stop by the mairie of your arrondissement and/or Place des Terreaux to welcome winemakers from Beaujolais and their products. And yes, the "welcome" will definitely involve free tastings!


Click here to get full contact information, including addresses, of your mairies. Events start around noon-ish. For more details, visit the city's official website or pick up a copy of the most recent issue of Lyon Citoyen.




(Image taken from here)

British/American épicerie in Lyon

Here is a really cool find and Best-Bagels alternative for those of us who crave British/American edibles and stuff. Merci beaucoup for sharing, Michael!

"There is a new small grocery at 12 Blvd des Brotteaux in the 6th called Little Britain. They specialize mostly in British products, of course, but they have some things Americans are fond of too, including the cheapest Dr. Pepper in Lyon (68 cents per can! :-). "

Some of the products available at Little Britain:

• Rolos candy (and a few other American/British candys line winegums and fruittips)
• Philidelphia Cream Cheese
• BBQ sauce
• Quorn burgers and other Quorn veggie products
• Veggie frozen foods
• English novels and puzzle books (but not a huge selection)

Urgent Urgent: Petits Plaisirs and Free Goodies

This information just came in from Lyonnais expat, Sara. It looks like a really cool event, especially for a Friday!

Tomorrow, October 1, is la journee des petits plaisirs. Four shops in Lyon are participating and will be handing out little sweet pleasures and goodies. So if you find yourself near one, drop by and let us know how it goes!

Click here to get exact addresses of participating stores. Have a great weekend, everyone!

(photo by norwichnuts)

Found: Aunt Jemima Products

From Lyon Eats reader and frequent contributor, Dori, for those of us who crave American pancakes!

"At the Casino market at Jet d'eau tram T2, found Aunt Jemima pancake syrup for 5.38 euros, Aunt Jemima pancake mix for 5.14 euros. Spendy, but you know if you have the craving. They are right above the Pepperidge Farm cookies."

(Photo by Dori)

Salons des Vins des Vignerons Independants

Lyon's annual Salon des Vins des Vignerons Independants is possibly the biggest wine salon in town. I can be wrong. Either way, being able to choose from more than 500 wine stands is pretty exciting!!!

Infos Pratiques

Where: Hall Tony Garnier
When: October 28-November 1
Cost: 6 euros (Go for free by clipping invitations from local newspapers, Lyon Plus,
Plus, Petit Bulletin, etc. Invitations are usually published 2 weeks before salon.)


Four and 1/2 steps to navigate a public wine salon:

1. Pick up a complimentary glass at the entrance
2. Walk around & see what interest you
3. Choose a stand, say hello & ask to "gouter"
4. After you are finished, thank the winemakers, make a purchase and/or move on
4.5 Repeat steps 1-4 & enjoy!

The winemakers usually supervise the stands themselves. They are proud of their wine and welcome questions.





For more information on wine salons in Lyon and basic wine tasting etiquette, click here.

Foire des Vins! Salons des Vins!

Friends, mark your calendar! Lyon's two biggest public wine salons are coming this October.

Here's some information on the first one:

Le Vignerons de France

This wine salon showcases wines from more than 100 winemakers throughout France. That's more than 100 stands to taste from. Glasses and maps are provided for free at the entrance and all tastings are gratuit. Don't forget to bring a backpack to cart some good finds home :).




(photo by Zest-pk)

Possibly useful tips: If you're not sure where to begin, try those wines which have won medals or recognitions in recent years. There should be a list at the salon with all the "winning" wines listed. If you are into sweet wine and especially Muscat de Rivesaltes, a personal favorite of mine is a domain called Lauriga. Santé!

Dates: October 15-17
Location: Centre de Congrès L'Espace Tête d'Or
103 Boulevard de Stalingrad 69100 Lyon-Villeurbanne
Cost: 2.50 euros (To request free invitations visit Vinomedia)

Yoga Classes in English à Lyon

(photo by Tony George)

Hope everyone's having a good day/night today in spite of the rain, strike, and traffic!

I learned from Kari this morning that we have yoga classes in English right here in Lyon, 1eme and 4eme to be exact. The classes are really small (max. 3 persons) so if you are interested, act quick.

Visit Yoga Moon for more details. Stay dry :).

Found: Philadelphia Cream Cheese

This piece of creamy information just came to us from a Lyon Eats reader: "I've found real Philadelphia Cream Cheese in "Lafayette Gourmets" in Galeries Lafayettes, Bron." (Thanks so much, Ju.)

Up to now, I've only found and bought Philly cream cheese from Best Bagels. It's nice to know that other places carry it as well!

Summer BBQ with ICCL!

(photo by david.nikonvscanon)



How about a lazy Sunday afternoon with cool drinks, grilled food, and friends?

The International Christian Community of Lyon (ICCL) is hosting a summer BBQ/potluck this coming Sunday, August 29. And everyone is invited!

Please RSVP with Kathy at carlsonlyon@gmail.com or or 06 77 94 10 66






Here is a quick rundown of the details:

Date: Sunday August 29th

Time: 5:30pm

Place: 6, rue Albert Thomas, Caluire 69300 (NEAR LYON)

Please bring: meat for grilling and a salad or dessert to share. Tableware and Drinks will be provided.

Feel free to bring a game, ball or Frisbee, or something of that sort. See you there!

Bonjour!

Hello Lyon Eats readers,

Due to Kari's move to the U.S. (and soon, Senegal), I've been asked to take over Lyon Eats. I've written a few posts for LE before and really look forward to continue sharing/discussing food finds and adventures with fellow expats in Lyon (and elsewhere in la belle France!).

I want to take this opportunity to thank Kari for having created and done a beautiful job with Lyon Eats! This blog has been a fun, unique community space and through it, expat friendships and connections have been made. Merci beaucoup, Kari!

Stay tuned for the next Lyon Eats post: Free Liqueur Cellar Visit and Tasting at the Longest Cellars in the World!

Yours truly,

Ngan Dam

You're invited!

Whether you're new to Lyon (welcome!), coming back to Lyon (welcome back!) or just getting back into a regular fall routine (that's a welcome change!)...

Ladies, you're invited to a 'welcome' tea!

When: Tuesday September 7, 1:30 to 3:30 pm
Come late and/or and leave early according to your schedule needs.

Where: Near the 9th district (Check here for details soon or contact Maria - mariaaitchison AT yahoo DOT com) For those who don't have a car, we will be happy to arrange a ride for you from the metro so that you can attend.

Why: Why not? We all need to have a little fun and this is a great occasion to do so. Speak English, ask questions, share your expertise, meet others in similar situations, network... Just enjoy a nice, relaxing afternoon with no strings attached.

Who: This event is sponsored by ICCL and they have invited all of us here at Lyon Eats to come join them. Bring a friend if you want!

Children: Babysitting will be provided on-site for children from infancy through age 5 while the moms are in attendance. (Donations to cover the cost are welcome, but certainly not required).

RSVP to Maria so she can give you detailed directions to the event, a ride from the metro if necessary, and plan adequate babysitting coverage.

See you soon!

Found: jell-O!

As if we needed another reason to love Bahadourian... they have jell-O mix!

1.75€ per box

Dori reports that it is over by the Lebanese product area, somewhere between the falafel mix and the Asian section. They had Foster Clarks brand in strawberry, pineapple, mixed berry, mango, and banana flavors. (Also available on their website.) The instructions are both in English and Arabic.

Need some recipe ideas? Kraft has over 500 summer jell-O recipes. That's a lot of jiggly stuff!

Tex-Mex night!

And Monoprix's got the goods! Prepared fajitas and burritos for under €5.

You're invited! Summer picnic

ICCL invites all Lyon Eats readers to a super-casual summer picnic at the Parc de la Tête d'Or on August 15th. It's BYO Picnic, so grab some sandwiches and a blanket (Frisbee if you've got one!) and head on over early that evening. This costs nothing, is accessible by TCL, and children of all ages are welcome!

Location details coming soon, so check back with us!

Found: cheesecake and key lime pie!

I thought I had hit the big jackpot last week when I saw mini cheesecakes at the Croix Rousse Monoprix. (Click here to buy them online: blueberry or lemon.) But apparently, there are now several cheesecake jackpots popping up in the area!

I received this email from a Lyon Eats reader:

Just wanted to let you know that I found yesterday in our local Casino (in Clermont-Ferrand) a prepared key lime pie and blueberry cheesecake. It was in the aisle with the yogurts and puddings, beside all of the other prepared desserts (tiramasu, creme brulee, etc). I bought the key lime pie (my husband's favorite) and it was really good! Next, I will have to try the cheesecake....

Could it be that cheesecake has officially hopped the pond? And key lime pie too? 

Have you seen it in other stores? Apparently Frü also makes little carrot cakes, but I haven't seen them yet.

Found: English-speaking hairstylist in Lyon

Completely unrelated to food, but totally relevant to life in Lyon for Americans. Have I got a hairstylist recommendation for you...

I've had good experiences and nightmare experiences with hair salons in Lyon. But yesterday's was great. I highly recommend Antonio (color) and Lola (cut) at Jean-Claude Biguine at the Croix Rousse.

Antonio speaks excellent English and is very reassuring and knowledgeable. He's a color technician, but is available and happy to translate as needed during your cut/style. (His day off is Thursday.)

I checked with the manager and they would be happy to welcome English-speakers who feel more comfortable explaining what they want in their native language.

Jean Claude Biguine
10 grande rue de la Croix Rousse

No appointments, just walk-in.
Open through lunch hour.

Tell him the American girl from Georgia sent you.   :)

Found: corn chips!

I'm kind of obsessed with Fritos. Of all the horrible things to love, I choose Fritos. And they are truly impossible to find in Lyon. I've looked. I've begged. I found them in a gas station in West Africa, but I can't find them here.

So when a friend bought me (not one but two!) bags of these corn chips made by Mexicante... bliss. They're lime and chili flavor, which is pretty darn spicy for France. And they are addictive, I tell you. Watch out!

She found them at Auchan Caluire, and I will be forever grateful.

Found: baking powder and baking soda

Serious bakers need serious containers of baking powder - not the puny pink packets you can find in most grocery stores here.



Good news, baking buddies! Dori reports that these two items are available for only €1.50 from Bombay Bazar Bollywood.

You can also get baking soda in a box at Casino and some Monoprix stores - but not for €1.50!

Found: Splenda (but hurry!)

Dori reports...



There were two there when I left Marché Plus at 371 Rue Garibaldi, 69007. I asked if that was new or whether they had had it for a while. They clerk told me it'd been a while since he'd been seeing on the shelves.

I checked online to see if I could see any change in the company's position, but couldn't find anything like that. Don't know how it got on their shelves! but I was happy to find it.

Price comparisons for US goods

A very big thank you to Dori for this price research... and photos even!



Black beans

Bombay Bazar: 2€ for 2 kilos

Bahadourian: 2,95€ for 1 kilo


Powdered sugar

Bombay bazar: 3€ for 1 kilo


Baking powder

Supermarché Asie: 4,80€ for 1 kilo

Best Bagels Company: 2,50€ for 100g


Peanut butter

La Vie Claire: 3,43€ for 250g


Baking soda

Bombay Bazar: 1€ for 100g

Bahadourian: 1,45€ for 100g

Best Bagels Company: 2,50€ for 100g


Chili flakes

Bombay Bazar: 1,50€ for 100g


Ground cloves

Supermarché Asie: 1,80€ for 100g

Bahadourian: 2,95€ for 100g

Found: Dr Pepper at Intermarché!

Spotted with much joy at Intermarché in Rochetaillée-sur-Saône!

Individual cans of Dr Pepper at 99 centimes each. They were in the international aisle, near the Old EL Paso salsa and Oreos.

Can anyone confirm that Dr Pepper is available at other Intermarché locations?

Very happy day!

Help needed

Does anyone have an ideas on finding...

... chipotles in adobo for a longtime Lyon Eats reader?

... Jell-O or a close substitute for a friend?

Thanks everyone!

Found: a better brown sugar substitute!

From Dori, one of our newest Lyon Eats contributors

I am very excited about what I found today! It's the closest thing I have found here to brown sugar. Of course, I have used sucre vergeoise - a commonly recommended substitute. I just find that the taste is lacking. It's missing the molasses flavor. I've also tried raw sugars, but they have this off-taste and not enough molasses flavor either.

So today, on a lark I picked up this: "Douceur de Coco" 100% sucre de cocotier non raffiné, s'utilise comme le sucre brun.

It's coconut sap sugar. It tastes like an extra dark, dark brown sugar, without the funky! (At least in my opinion.) I've always prefered darker brown sugar anyway. It turns out that not only does it taste good, but it is recommended for diabetics due to a low glycemic index of 35.

It's spendy, €6,80 for 500g, but for me it is well worth it. You can find it at La Vie Claire near Grange Blanche, 6 Avenue Rockefeller, 69008 Lyon, France.

"The taste of pure coconut palm sugar resembles that of brown sugar, yet with more rounded caramel and butterscotch notes, without the metallic ending flavor that brown sugar has."
- Wikipedia (so you know it's trustworthy!)

Picnic details

The International Christian Community of Lyon invites you to a picnic at Parc Miribel Jonage on Sunday, May 30th, from 3pm to 7pm. ICCL will provide grills and the good time!

UPDATED DIRECTIONS AND DETAILS HERE.

Bring your own meats (or veggie burgers) to grill. The rest of the meal is potluck, so bring a salad and side dish to share with the group and also something sweet for dessert.

Parc Miribel Jonage is about 15 minutes from Lyon. There are eight walking/bike riding trails, for those interested. You can rent bikes (adults and kids), canoes, kayaks, tennis equipment, etc... Oh, and even a game of pétanque!

Driving directions: A42 direction Genève (exit 4) Parc de Miribel Jonage, Rocade Est (exit 5) Parc de Miribel Jonage.

On two wheels: a bike path runs from Lyon Gerland to Parc Miribel Jonage via la Doua and la Porte Croix-Luizet.

By bus: n°83 departs regularly from métro line A, at Laurent Bonneway or Vaulx-en-Velin. (Click here to download the n°83 schedule.)

More details and the exact location on the ICCL website.

Store reviews

Please welcome Dori, our newest guest contributor here at Lyon Eats. Today she's reviewing some of our favorite stores and introducing us to some new (to me!) options.

Bahadourian is a great store. I love it. However, it's kind of spendy, and I've found a few other places where you can get some good deals. The advantage of Bahadourian, in it's defense, is that all their products are nice fresh and shiny.

These three stores are all basically in the same neighborhood:



- BOMBAY BAZAR BOLLYWOOD
37, Cours Gambetta, 69003, Lyon

If you like curry, this is also the place to go!




- SUPERMARCHE ASIE
12 Rue Passet, 69007, Lyon

There are so many great things for making Asian food here it's just unbelievable. They also had the best papaya I've had since I went to Mexico last.


- BAHADOURIAN
20 Rue Villeroy, 69003, Lyon

The mother of all oriental spice stores! And olives, for that matter...


Of course if you want canned pinto beans, you can also go to TOPKAPI at Place Guichard. It's within walking distance from the other three stores.

Just found this spot. It's like a mini Bahadourian. It also has the full line of Epsig spices - remember to avoid the "chili powder" and pick up ''epices loubia" for making chili.

LA VIE CLAIRE
6 Avenue Rockefeller, 69008 Lyon



Really good organic (bio) food store. I believe their peanut butter is the only thing cheaper there than anywhere else. But I have to admit, my hippie side is drawn to their bulk food section.


Thanks, Dori!

Cupcakes, please!

Have you read the latest newsletter from My American Market?

It's got tons of great info - as usual. I don't mean to spoil the surprise for you if you haven't read it yet, but there's a one-page section on language learning materials for every budget, written by yours truly.

But don't subscribe for that reason. Subscribe for the article on the Paris cupcake trend!

Can we get in on this action down here in Lyon?

You're invited!

The International Christian Community of Lyon invites you to a picnic at Parc Miribel Jonage on Sunday, May 30th, from 3pm to 7pm. ICCL will provide grills and the good time!

Bring your own meats (or veggie burgers) to grill. The rest of the meal is potluck, so bring a salad and side dish to share with the group and also something sweet for dessert.

Parc Miribel Jonage is about 15 minutes from Lyon. There are eight walking/bike riding trails, for those interested. You can rent bikes (adults and kids), canoes, kayaks, tennis equipment, etc... Oh, and even a game of pétanque!

Driving directions: A42 direction Genève (exit 4) Parc de Miribel Jonage, Rocade Est (exit 5) Parc de Miribel Jonage.

On two wheels: a bike path runs from Lyon Gerland to Parc Miribel Jonage via la Doua and la Porte Croix-Luizet.

By bus: n°83 departs regularly from métro line A, at Laurent Bonneway or Vaulx-en-Velin. (Click here to download the n°83 schedule.)

More details and the exact location on the ICCL website.

Found: excellent chocolate chip cookies!

I admit that haven't even tried looking for a substitute for Chips Ahoy cookies in France because, well... I assumed that there wouldn't be a good one.

But the time has come for me to admit that I was wrong. (Thanks, C!)



These cookies:
a) are even better than Chips Ahoy
b) have nothing to do with Granola
c) make me laugh because it looks like 'gross' chunks de chocolat :)

I highly recommend you try them. I even found coupons!




You have to click here, create an account, then print them off. There are actually 20 coupons available for lots of great LU products, such as Oreos, Côte d'Or, Pims, Prince, Mikado, etc...

Found: pinto beans!

If Cinco de Mayo got you craving Mexican food, we've got good news for you. One of our Lyon Eats contributors has found pinto beans - in two places! The French name for them here is haricots cocos rouges, haricots cocos roses or haricots pintos.



Canned Pinto Beans 800g for 1,90€ at TOPKAPI Imp.-Exp. Epicerie Orientale, 17 Rue Voltaire, 69003, which is at Place Guichard. According to D., "This place is like a mini Bahadourian."
The last time I was at this store they didn't carry them anymore, however you can now get canned pinto beans at Bahadourian at it's location in the 3rd arrondissement.



You can also get them dry at Bahadourian (above) for 2,95€/kilo, or probably cheaper at some of the Indian or African stores at the Guillotière.

Thanks, D.!

You're invited!

Do me a favor...forget the drizzly, nasty, cold weather outside. Think of sunny afternoons, good conversation and your favorite drink in your hand.

You're invited to
Apéros with Lyon Eats
on Friday, May 14th, from 4pm to 6pm.

Join us for apéros (it sounds classier than 'happy hour') and get to know other expats in Lyon. Bring something sweet or salty and a bottle of your favorite drink to share. If the weather's nice, we'll be outside enjoying it.

RSVP by email for directions. Hope to see you then!

American desserts - help needed!

I came across this survey on Le Journal des Femmes recently. They asked readers (French women predominantly) what their favorite Anglo-Saxon desserts were. Based on the results, I'm pretty sure that in this case favorite should be 'spelt favourite'.



Where's the carrot cake, the apple pie, the pumpkin pie or the cupcakes? (And seriously, le muffin and le scone?!) Obviously we Americans have been slacking off on our duty to share the deliciousness of US desserts with our French friends.

Summer in France is a great time to get to know your neighbors over apéros or long, lazy dinners. if you want to play it safe on the dessert menu, now you know what people like. If you want to share a slice of American culture, take the plunge and bust out one of those Pampered Chef recipes that are so popular at baby showers and such in the US.

I know. Inviting French people over can be intimidating. Which wine(s)? How do I pick the right cheeses? What will be talk about? I'm not much help on those first two questions, but I do have a tip for the last one.



Bien-dire has developed a series of audio learning guides for specific situations, including Social Conversations (making small talk), Se présenter (introducing yourself, asking appropriate questions and getting to know people), and Bon Appétit for eating out and preparing meals in France (I've written about this one before - love it).

I've negotiated a deal for Lyon Eats readers to get 10% off all orders from Bien-dire (audio learning guides, magazines, cds...). Just enter promo code KMOFF10 at checkout and voilà!

There. Now you're all set to go invite your neighbors over. (Which American dessert will you make?)

Plan P for Lyon

I was inspired recently.



Inspired to create a map of the free public restrooms in Lyon. It probably doesn't take much imagination to figure out what pressing need inspired me. (I'll give you a hint - how many of the past posts had to do with walking around the city for hours? Oh, and cafés.) Unfortunately I did not follow my own rule: have a plan P.

Anyway, here it is!


View Free public bathrooms in Lyon, France in a larger map

My personal favorite is located in Vieux Lyon near the métro entrance. It's open during the day, is always clean, rarely has a line and (ftw) has TP.

The one at Bellecour, behind the Tourism Office, is in a more practical location. However, ladies who prefer to sit rather than squat will want to avoid the Turkish toilet option. Also, while the facilities are free, it is polite to tip the dame pipi who keeps the place clean(ish).

My friend Meg recommends stopping by FNAC on rue de la République. It costs 25 centimes, but as she says, "Better to pay a quarter for a clean bathroom than to be obligated to buy something at a café." Good point.

On that note, there are pay-potties across the city. They are generally cleaner than the freebies, but you'll need exact change (usually 25 centimes).

One last bit of advice: carry a pack of tissues and hand sanitizer. You just never know.

Any locations to add or update on the map? E-mail me Other suggestions for people working on their Plan P? Leave a comment below.

Merci!

Thanks to all who came to our first Lyon Eats event yesterday! It was so nice to meet other people in this same boat and share our experiences (both good and frustrating).

We'll plan another soon and will post details here.

Bon week-end!

Found: Dr Pepper at Marché U!

From Lyon Eats reader R.: I stopped by "Marché U" close to Cordeliers, the one that is just by the Rhône. I saw that they had Dr. Pepper.

Does anyone know if the other Super U stores are carrying it as well or how much it costs? Thanks!

UPDATE: 91 centimes a can - not bad!

Also, don't forget...

After two and a half years and over 150 posts, Lyon Eats will be hosting it's first event bringing people together in real life!

You're invited to join us for coffee at Raconte-moi la Terre on Friday, April 23rd, at 3pm. It's located at 14 rue du Plat, just off Bellecour.

I have also invited a some American expats who are experts (in my opinion) on certain aspects of adjusting to life in Lyon - so you can ask all your questions and also meet other people in similar situations.

Hope to see you there!