Bienvenue à Lille!

[img_assist|nid=17106|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=200|height=150]When you mention Lille to a French person, you usually get the same reactions.

1) Isn’t it grey and cold all the time?

2) Isn’t it cold and grey all the time? or

3) That’s like living in Alaska, non?

Yes, Lille is way up in the North of France, but snow and igloos we don’t have.

After talking to some locals upon my arrival 2 ½ years ago, I heard the same quote over and over again: “In Lille, we don’t have the sun in the sky, but we have it in our hearts.” Lille is no Provence when it comes to weather, but the Lillois are known for being warm, welcoming and authentic.

And in Lille, the architecture is gorgeous—imposing and colorful neo-Flemish facades line charming cobblestone streets in the Vieux Lille, while the center town bustles with English and Dutch tourists, students and locals alike. The energy is palpable here, especially around this time of year. The Christmas market in the center of town is taking shape and the smell of roasting chestnuts and sugary waffles fills the air.

[img_assist|nid=17107|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=133]Lille wasn’t always the beauty that it is today. The city and surrounding region were once known for mining and textiles and the poor were very poor and the rich were rolling in it. Besides some very upper-class neighborhoods, the region was downright depressing. After completely reinventing itself over the course of a decade or so, Lille today is one of the most dynamic cities in France, offering a little something for everyone.

If you’re into food, wine and beer (the “wine” of the North!) like me, then I invite you to check in from time to time for my latest culinary discoveries and adventures in and around Lille. I’ve learned that the city satisfies foodies of all stripes, from shopping the best Sunday market (La Place du Concert, Vieux Lille), to sniffing out the finest cheese shop (Philippe Olivier) or treating a sweet tooth with a cramique (brioche) au chocolat, (Aux Merveilleux). Speaking of, it’s 4 o’clock and time for the goûter (sweet afternoon snack)—a perfect excuse for me to run out and buy a chocolate treat.

A bientôt!

Philippe Olivier
3, Rue du Curé Saint Etienne
59800 Lille

Aux Merveilleux
85, Rue de la Monnaie
59800 Lille