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Sautéed calf’s liver belongs to the classic Lyonnaise cuisine that highlights the use of authentic, local ingredients, which are prepared using traditional cooking techniques. The main components of this classic are sautéed, caramelized onions and calf’s liver.
Prepared with hefty amounts of butter, the dish is traditionally deglazed with vinegar, providing acidity to the sweet onions and earthy liver. Lastly, Lyon-style liver is served garnished with chopped parsley and accompanied by roasted or mashed potatoes.
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Cervelle de canut is a fresh cream cheese spread that is often seasoned with vinegar, salt, pepper, olive oil, garlic, and chopped fresh herbs. The spread originates from the French city of Lyon and it is the city's specialty. Regarding the name of the dish, it is literally translated to silk weaver's brains.
However, it is 100% vegetarian, as the dish was named after canuts – the silk weavers of Lyon in the 19th century. Since the weavers were mostly poor and couldn't afford real brains, they invented their own dish, a spread which was often placed on a piece of bread or a potato.
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Cuisses de grenouilles is a traditional dish of fried frog legs. It is especially popular in the region of the Dombes. In order to prepare the dish, frozen frog legs are thawed and dried, then tossed in flour. They are then fried in butter with garlic and parsley until well done.
When served, the frog legs are usually sprinkled with lemon juice before eating. The texture of frog legs is compared to the meat on chicken wings, while the flavor is often compared with that of chicken or freshwater crayfish. You can eat cuisses de grenouilles with your hands, but knife and fork are also a viable option.
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Boudoirs, savoiardi, or ladyfingers are traditional sweet sponge biscuits shaped into a large finger. They were created in the 15th century at the Duchy of Savoy for a visit by the King of France. These official court biscuits were often offered to visitors as a token of local cuisine.
The texture of ladyfingers is low in density, light, airy, and dry, and they're usually made with a combination of flour, egg whites and yolks, sugar, and powdered sugar. These sponge biscuits are typically used in desserts such as charlottes and trifles, tiramisu, and chocolate cakes.
What was once used as a garnish in haute cuisine is now its own dish, known as quenelle. Essentially, it is a tender dumpling that is filled with ground meat, poultry, fish, or vegetables, seasoned and combined with breadcrumbs, eggs, fat, flour, or cream.
The dumpling is traditionally oval in shape and poached in water or stock. Today, it is served either as an appetizer or as a main course, although it can still be used as a garnish. Originally, quenelle was invented in Lyon in the 19th century, and it was made exclusively with the flesh of pike–a light white fish.
MOST ICONIC Quenelle
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This traditional French brioche was invented in 1880 by a pastry chef Pierre Labully at his family-owned pâtisserie in Saint-Genix-sur-Guiers. It consists of a leavened brioche base that is enriched with crushed pink pralines—sugar-coated nuts that are traditionally associated with Lyon.
Brioche Saint Genix is usually formed in a large round loaf, while the top is decorated with whole pralines and pearl sugar.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Brioche
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Saucisson brioche is a French specialty hailing from the city of Lyon. It consists of a whole sausage that's (usually) coated in pistachios, then baked inside a brioche loaf. The saucisson is a large and thick sausage, while the dough is less sweet and egg-rich than the standard breakfast brioche that can be bought in most boulangeries.
The combination is baked in the oven until the loaf becomes golden brown. Once done, it is served warm in slices. It's recommended to pair this delicacy with a glass of Beaujolais.
Marron glacé is a dried and candied chestnut, a French sweet treat that is extremely popular during the festive Christmas season. Preparing the candied chestnuts is a time-consuming process, so it is considered an expensive treat. The chestnuts have a unique, soft texture, and a slightly sweet flavor.
They are often wrapped individually in order to preserve their shape. The first recipe for marron glacé appeared in the 16th century around the city of Lyon. Marron glacé enthusiasts say that the dessert is best when consumed on its own, ideally accompanied by a cup of warm tea.
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Poires au vin is a traditional, world-known French dessert originating from the Beaujolais wine-growing region. It consists of pears, fruity red wine (usually Beaujolais), and flavorings such as honey or sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, orange zest, peppercorns, and cloves.
The pears are poached in wine and other ingredients, and the combination is then brought to a boil. The pears, still slightly firm, are drained, while the remaining ingredients are thickened into a sauce which is then poured over the pears when served.
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Salade Lyonnaise consists of endive, bacon, croutons, and a poached egg that is placed on top of it. It originates from the French city of Lyon, and it is one of the most popular salads found on the menus of numerous small French bistros and restaurants.
The salad is a representative of the typical Lyonnaise cuisine, which started in the 1500s when Catherine de Medici told her chefs to make new dishes from various ingredients found throughout France. Today, the salad is typically found in tiny eateries called bouchons, specializing in comfort food.
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