After escaping a career working in laboratories, the former biologist Mayé Lepoutre has turned into a lobbyist for natural sourdough starters, organic flours and artisan wheats, which she kneads slowly in her shop in Lyon’s Croix-Rousse neighborhood. In terms of atmosphere, the latest offshoot on Rue des Pierres-Plantées (think Tête Bech, Les Desjeuneur, Maria) is closer to Mexican-Scandinavian apothecary than a traditional French bakery. The day we went, all of the following adorned the shelves: heirloom khorasan wheat bread, a well-made spelt version, vegan Provencal pompes à l’huile; cranberry-white chocolate chip cookies and chocolate-praline babkas… // Marie Salmon
The hidden gem: A plump “chouchou” brioche with hazelnuts and almonds (€1.50 a piece).
