French Takeout
When you come to Lyon to visit, keep your eye out for the lovely takeout shops. They can come in handy when you are exhausted and just want to put your feet up and charge your batteries on an evening or two. Kind of like a deli but French, this kind of shop is called a traiteur. In addition to a selection of delicious reception type foods, you can also find quick fixes for serving up apéro when you don't have the time to prepare. Prepared home style dishes are the meat and potatoes of these operations too: gratins, charcuterie, sometimes a small selection of cheeses, wines, and things like fresh fruit and yogurt or slices from a pie or cake to round out your meal. This is great takeout when you are on the road, and don't have energy for yet another restaurant meal. Ranging from realistic to pricey, here are three of my favorite Lyonnais traiteurs:
Thiellon Jean Marc
11 r Algérie 69001 LYON
Metro: Hotel de Ville
04 78 28 62 56
Good home style dishes, reasonable prices, good quenelles and terrines.
Pignol
corner of 8 pl Bellecour & 17 r Emile Zola, 69002 LYON
04 78 37 39 61
A Lyon tradition and they do lovely little verrines and fancy things in addition to the regular gratins, loaves, and sautés. They prepare lunch boxes for takeout or delivery and also have a little (unmarked) restaurant upstairs above the sweet pastry side, for lunch. Be sure to reserve if you want to eat lunch there.
La Minaudière
5 r Brest 69002 LYON
04 78 37 67 26
Cher cher cher but really really good. Lyon's ritual source for candied chestnuts in wintertime. You must see the window of this shop to believe. Many a jaw has hit the sidewalk there next to the Cathedral St. Nizier.
A hint about ordering: When you order in these places, if you don't do metric, try ordering "pour une personne" or imagine a little yippy dog behind you in line (so you remember the word) and say "une petite barquette" (meaning a little tub) and they'll serve it up without you having to think about grams or how much that spinach in cream sauce might weigh. They'll always glance to you for approval before sealing the deal.
Thiellon Jean Marc
11 r Algérie 69001 LYON
Metro: Hotel de Ville
04 78 28 62 56
Good home style dishes, reasonable prices, good quenelles and terrines.
Pignol
corner of 8 pl Bellecour & 17 r Emile Zola, 69002 LYON
04 78 37 39 61
A Lyon tradition and they do lovely little verrines and fancy things in addition to the regular gratins, loaves, and sautés. They prepare lunch boxes for takeout or delivery and also have a little (unmarked) restaurant upstairs above the sweet pastry side, for lunch. Be sure to reserve if you want to eat lunch there.
La Minaudière
5 r Brest 69002 LYON
04 78 37 67 26
Cher cher cher but really really good. Lyon's ritual source for candied chestnuts in wintertime. You must see the window of this shop to believe. Many a jaw has hit the sidewalk there next to the Cathedral St. Nizier.
A hint about ordering: When you order in these places, if you don't do metric, try ordering "pour une personne" or imagine a little yippy dog behind you in line (so you remember the word) and say "une petite barquette" (meaning a little tub) and they'll serve it up without you having to think about grams or how much that spinach in cream sauce might weigh. They'll always glance to you for approval before sealing the deal.
Labels: Winter 08-09
by Lucy Vanel | 13:52
8 Comments:
Alas, they sound wonderful -- so much better than the deli in our local supermarket!
What a pretty blog! This is my first visit, and I'm looking forward to coming back. I've been to Lyon once (with my sister, who lives in Geneva, for the marche aux puces) and would look forward to going back there, too.
Thank you Martha & Audrey. So you're a fan of the puces, are you A?
I wish I could visit and peruse these little stores you have. They are so darling. And so unlike the large chains so ubiquitous around here.
I am making your tarte au citron tonight as part of our inauguration day celebration dinner. This is a unique recipe and can't wait to try it. Thanks Lucy
Small world Lucy, hubby worked around the corner from Thiellon Jean Marc, at LDLC (that is before he came to the states).
I was just trying to explain this to some friends who are coming to Paris - but the name eluded me... Thanks!
Am in love with those frothy confection dresses.
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