In the capital of the Gauls, our culture exudes gastronomy. Whether celebrated at home or in a restaurant, eating is as important to us as breathing. So it takes a lot of gumption for restaurateurs to succeed in reinventing themselves. As Maison Bocuse recently did with the opening of a street food kiosk, the newly-opened bouchon is reshuffling the catering deck by opening up to our Alsatian friends… hopla geiss!
Le Bouchon Alsacien: my mother’s kitchen and my father’s cellar
And what else? A Norman reblochon or a Basque crêperie? It’s true that at first we thought it was a joke, but then it turned out not to be: we quickly realized that we were dealing with something concrete. The concept became even more obvious to us when we heard that Jacky Gallman, an emblematic figure in the world of gastronomy, was at the helm of the project. Alsatian by birth and Lyonnais by adoption, his track record is impressive. His twenty years at the helm of Brasserie Georges, a veritable institution in Lyonnais gastronomy, are particularly noteworthy. He is supported by Frédéric Lafay, another great enthusiast of food and wine.
Like Lyonnais cuisine, Alsatian cuisine is generous and convivial. The famous winstubis the place to be , where tables are shared with friends and family. It was this similarity that clicked in the heads of the two enthusiasts. Why not create a place that would combine the two worlds? The idea for the first Bouchon Alsacien was born.
As you may have guessed, the rosette lyonnaise and quenelle de brochet are out, and the famous choucroutes and kouglof are in. But for those who are used to the bouchons, don’t worry: we also offer a range of “passe-partout” dishes. As in all Lyon establishments, good food goes hand in hand with good wine – if not more! Gewurztraminer, riesling or pinot gris: the winstubtables ( win meaning wine, and stub meaning “dining room”) are perpetually stocked with bottles of all kinds, which are shared from one table to the next. This is also, and above all, the culture of good living in Alsace.
An already legendary address
Well-known among Lyon’s gourmets, Le Cazenove was run by an emblematic restaurant couple for almost half a century: Geneviève and Pierre Orsi. At the Bouchon Alsacien, you’ll find the spirit of yesteryear, with its semi-circular banquettes, stained-glass windows and wood panelling typical of the establishment. But the dining room is brighter and more modern, thanks to an improved layout, including a wine cellar visible to all – a central feature, as you’d expect.
All the elements seem to be in place to rediscover the very essence of Lyon’s “bien manger” culture and the essence of Alsatian gastronomy: two complementary visions of the world, dominated by the pleasure of living!