Tuesday, December 1, 2015

France Cuisine - what I miss today are the 'dinosaur;' dishes of real French cooking of years ago - but it still can be found

One place is the city of Lyon and here among the many great 'bouchons' is Cafe Comptoir Abel. ( warning: vegetarians, gluten free, 'I need this on this side ' and fussy Americans - who consider themselves foodies, but are not- this is definitely not for you and thank goodness, I say!)

Without a doubt the oldest, most authentic bouchon in Lyon, Café Comptoir Abel is steeped in history. The bistro tables and chairs wear their patina of age proudly, and the original wooden paneling and bric-a-brac make this magnificent building a place that’s not to be missed. Hidden away near the quays of the river Saône, this restaurant has been a veritable institution in the city since 1726. 
Current owners Philippe Florentin and Bruno Metzlé fell in love with this very special place on one of their trips to Lyon, and their most prized dream is to preserve Lyon’s culinary tradition. 
Chef Alain Vigneron loves the place – which is just as well, as he has worked in the restaurant for 37 years. Arriving as a commis chef, he has spent most of his career in this mythical bouchon, working his way up to head chef some fifteen years ago. Faithful to his own style of cooking, this legendary chef’s menu has remained unchanged for 25 years. Pike quenelles, chicken with morel mushrooms and crayfish salad are all staples that demonstrate his ancestral skills, and food is served in the dishes in which they have been cooked, which all goes to further enhance the bouchon’s typical, authentic ambiance.

For me a must is starting with Saucisson (hot) with Lentils and then tete de Veau ( Calf's head)






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