So I had just finished a whole loaf of the world's best baguette and I was on to my next agenda: Lunch.
Burp. (Excusez moi)
Although the city of Lyon boasts 2,000 restaurants with a combined 31 Michelin twinkies, its real heart lies in the bouchons - tiny, animated, family-run places serving food that nourishes the body and soul.
I chose Le Garet to be my first bouchon, and it turned out to be one of my most unforgettable meals. The place was warm and friendly, full of life and energy, it was impossible not to be enchanted.
As soon as I walked in the door, I felt enveloped in good cheer.
It was also very, very casual.
So casual that the diners seated at the back of the room had full,
unobstructed view of the kitchen
So casual that the wine list was hand-scribbled on a notebook
(It even had erasures. I love it!)
I asked for a 150cl of red to go with my meal
I have no idea what this was but it tasted like deep fried creamy fat. I couldn't stop popping the
little cholesterol monsters into my mouth. This the bomb!
Bouchon ingredients are as humble as can be… cock's combs, calf's feet, calf's liver, calf's brains, pig's blood… you get the point.
Feeling adventurous, I took my server's suggestion and ordered a calf face.
Tete de veau ravigote. It's got a huge ass piece of tongue and different, unrecognizable parts of
the head. I transferred everything I wanted to eat on the plate.
It was a meaty, gelatinous paradise, not for the faint of heart, but for people who are brave enough
to appreciate the richness, rubberiness, slipperiness, lusciousness.
I would say, the best kind of tongue-on-tongue experience for me! ;)
The greatest challenge, however, was to erase the picture of a live calf's face in my head.
Ewww.
After the very indulgent entree, I asked for a light and fruity dessert.
The stewed figs with vanilla ice cream was perfection
I cut each fig in half and topped it with ice cream. I could taste the love that was put into every piece.
Had a shot of espresso to conclude the mind-blowing meal
I am such a fan of the food I just had to take a photo with the chef :)
Please don't laugh, but I had to come back down to get my camera when I saw the bathrooms upstairs.
There were brassieres, stockings, granny panties hanging on paintings, over the lamps, out of the drawers, everywhere.
It was a sight that made me smile and I just had to share. :)
This made me very curious about the men's toilet, too, and I waited for it to free up so I could go in and take more pictures.
I LOVE Le Garet and would go back to Lyon in a heartbeat just to eat there.
Le Garet: 7 Rue du Garet, 69001, Lyon, France. Tel: +33 (0)4 78 28 16 94
