La Rémanence, Lyon
As if a day out shopping and wandering through the streets of the beautiful city of Lyon in the Rhône Alps isn’t a treat on its own – today was a real ‘gastronomique’ treat too, lunch at La Remanence, Lyon but then that shouldn’t be a surprise in a city hailed to be the gastronomic capital of France, the home of Paul Bocuse and boasting more than 3000 restaurants.
Lunch was booked at La Rémanence, Lyon a Michelin-starred restaurant owned by Nathalie and Fabien Blanc in the 1st Arrondisement in a small street off the Rhône embankment. The restaurant is in a beautifully renovated 16th stone Jesuit refectory with small alcoves and great lighting creating a warm and elegant atmosphere.
We ate the menu du jour and priced at €29 this represents excellent value for money. The menu du jour is served to the whole table, but with 2 choices of each course, this was not difficult and I would have loved to eat every dish! The amuse bouche giving three taste dishes was well presented and the presentation of all the dishes was stunning.
The entrées were a delicious butternut squash velouté served with red cabbage and a balsamic vinaigrette and an amazing low temperature cooked wild Norwegian salmon covered with a mayonnaise of black squid ink and served with purple potatoes and a tuille.
The flavour combinations worked so well and the quality of the lunch was superbe. In the words of the revered Guide Michelin – the cuisine is spontaneous, instinctive and striking! The daily menu (plaisir du jour) which is available Tuesday – Friday each week, although offered as a 3 course menu, the amuse bouche and petits fours add an additional 2 courses for your pleasure!
Desserts were a delightful pear tart with tonka beans and a Lyonnaise pear sorbet and a perfect chocolate fondant with an oozing caramel centre served with a semolina cake flavoured ice cream.
The service was really good and friendly yet discreet. The sommelier gave good recommendations of local wines to pair with our choices. The recommendation for our lunch was a fresh and light Grand Vin de Bourgogne – A 2013 Viré Clessé.
When I sample a menu du jour I always feel this is a showcase of what the restaurant has to offer. I know that this is a freshly prepared menu that day and if the menu I ate for lunch at La Remanence is a good guide I can’t wait to return and try the other menus!
Follow me on my culinary and pictorial adventure on twitter @tasteofsavoie and Instagram
Please keep up to date and like my facebook pages: Taste of Savoie and Caro Blackwell-Sights of Savoie
all photos are copyright ©Caro Blackwell
