Any expat knows the unique frustration of not being able to find American staples like peanut butter and pumpkin pie abroad. But thanks to Craig Carlson and his restaurant Breakfast in America, it’s now possible to get hearty pancakes and creamy milkshakes in the heart of Paris, the city of croissants and crepes.

Carlson was the last person anyone would expect to open a restaurant in Paris. For one, he’s not French. He had no experience running any sort of business, and he had no idea how to navigate the notorious French bureaucracy. But what he did have was determination and a dream. Pancakes in Paris combines delightful tales of humor and hope with the satisfaction of an old-fashioned American breakfast.