Lyon

Terraux Fountain, right outside L'Etage restaurant, at the Place des Terraux
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14 October 2006

Ok, don't get used to this but I am still gung ho about writing...

I woke up all rested and raring to go.  I beat Frank and Jeff to breakfast and had a few minutes to myself before they joined me.  Croissant, parma ham, egg, and a good cup of coffee.  The French know how to eat - variety in small servings.

We drove to Lyon and got to our hotel before noon.  This'll be home for 3 days and it's small but it's comfortable and it's centrally located.

Fourvier Notre Dame Basilica
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Lunch was in Les Terrasses de Lyon, a restaurant in Villa Florentine hotel.  It's on top of a hill overlooking Lyon and the view is amazing.  It used to be a convent, we were told.  I imagine it was easy for the nuns to be holy, seeing God's handiwork daily.

The food was better than yesterday - fois gras on toasted bread with nuts; a foamed mousse of mushroom with raspberry; salmon with toasted nuts, roasted endive and red pepper in a citron sauce with a side dish of mushroom, asparagus, leek, and diced apple; macaroons with fresh figs; and small dessert cookies and truffle chocolate.  My description never does the food justice but believe me, it was good.

We decided to walk off whatever calories we could and walked around the city for a couple of hours.  The city was quiet, too, although not as quiet as Cliousclat.  Maybe people started their weekend early?  Old Lyon reminded me of Nice - very old buildings that are architecturally magnificent.  France respects its history and culture. Jeff said it well - if people of the 19th century decided to visit France today, they would find every building exactly as it was then.

We walked along the Rue de Republique, where shops were lined up, and at the end was a carousel that I know the kids would love.  I saw and couldn't resist the freshly made crepes with Nutella offered by a small patisserie.  I think I was introduced to this by Eran and Jobee when I first visited Cannes with them.  Yummy!

We had 8:00 pm dinner reservations at L'Etage, located on the 2nd flr of a building on Place de Terreaux, a square very much like Venice's St. Mark's square.  (Place de Terreaux has this big fountain sculpture and fountains in the ground - yes, the ground - pretty cool).  The restaurant is very small, 10 tables and probably just 2 seatings per night per table.

This dinner is, by far, the best dinner we have had yet!!!  Jobee/Eran, you will die for this dinner!  It started with seared foie gras with balsamic vinaigrette - to die for!!! Next came scallops with an out of this world sauce, sliced vegetables, and a terrine of eggplant with spinach (we all couldn't resist having bread that soaked up the leftover sauces on our plates); Saint Marcelin cheese (of which Lyon is known for) baked on a phyllo crust with arugula and honey on top; and thinly sliced fresh pineapple with mango sorbet with a thin florentine to cleanse my palate.  Jeff and Frank opted for the molten chocolate with banana gelato. (Mary Ann and Manolet will love this!)  I just can't do the food justice, the menu descriptions were in French and I'm sure we missed a lot in the translation.  But it was all magnifique!!!  We met the chef on the way out and complimented him on everything.  It will be hard to top last night.  But we will certainly try... ;-)

Bonjour!!!