Lyon Day One: Hog Heaven

It took less than three hours for mon fils and I to find a restaurant in Lyon that’s worth writing home about. We arrived by train at five in the afternoon and we were ordering “bouchon lyonnaise” style at the Bouchon de l’Opera by eight.

Lyon, France is famous for its bouchon restaurants. In the States, we might call the fare “home cooking.” Many restaurants here offer the same type of “country” food, But the quality and flavour vary widely because of different family recipes. Explore this Post

Eating in Lyon

Lyon sits at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône Rivers and enjoys the fruits of wine labour from Côtes du Rhône vineyards to the south and Burgundy a couple of hours north. The most traditional Lyonnais restaurants are called “bouchons.” Lyon’s version of a Paris bistro, these lively restaurants serve local fare. The meals are hearty, to go along with the wine. Menus might include Rosette Lyonnaise (a cured pork sausage), potatoes gratin, sausage varieties such as a pistachio version, or coq au vin. On the sweeter side, among the local specialities are candied chestnuts (marrons glacés), pralines (pink sugar-coated almonds) and bugnes a “light” version of a beignet. After a few food-filled days in Lyon, it may be time to return to the lighter tastes of Provence.

Chestnut Soup for the Holidays

This dish is easy to make chestnut soup perfect for holiday celebrating. Whether you're wanting a toasty lunch in front of the fire or a great accompaniment to a holiday meal, this soup is sure to give you what you need.

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Salted Almond Praline Cake

Recipe minimally adapted from Sweet Paul Magazine.

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Pink Praline Brioche à la Praline

This sweet bread has a crusty exterior yet is soft on the interior, and the pink pralines add the Lyonnaise touch.

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