BRET’S TABLE is offering culinary tours in Lyon, France, the epicenter of French gastronomy. Lyon is a walkable city and allows us to enjoy the convenience of a centrally located hotel and be close to the action. During the week, we will immerse ourselves in the delicious foods and wines of the city and region. Day One: Our tour begins in the afternoon as we gather to get the lay of the land and then head off for an apéritif. From there, we’ll meander to an authentic bouchon pour un dîner incroyable (for an amazing dinner).
After dinner, we may take a stroll to the Terreaux Square to admire the fountain, the facades of the Museum of Fine Arts, the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall) or around the Peninsula, which the locals call La Presqu’île. Day Two: Our day begins with petit déjeuner (breakfast) at la café maybe close to the largest square of Lyon, Bellecour. Then it’s on to the restaurant kitchen of a local chef to embark on a farm tour or perhaps go foraging for mushrooms (depending on the time of year and availability). Afterwards, we will head back to the kitchen, don our aprons and participate in a hands-on multi-course cooking class. In the afternoon we will be free to explore on our own; maybe poke our heads into the Grand Hôtel Dieu, wander around the different courtyards, walk along the Rhône or ease into the evening with a boat cruise on the tranquil Saône river.
Day Three: Decisions, decisions, decisions, an all-day wine tour that will include a déjeuner pique-nique (picnic lunch) or maybe enjoy déjeuner (lunch) at a local Bistro. Day Four: We will scope out another favorite patisserie for a café au lait and pastry before our early morning jaunt to the 9:00am Market Tour and Cooking Class. At the top of the hill is found Lyon’s largest outdoor market with over 100 vendors and producers. There, we will fill our baskets with the freshest ingredients and of course stop at a favorite boulangerie and fromagerie for our cheese course. Afterwards, we’ll head back to the kitchen and dive into cooking a classic French market-based meal from the best of the season’s offerings. We spend the time to work through several recipes, as our cooking teacher gives us a multitude of ideas and inspiration for our own French cooking at home. Our class is set according to what is currently in season and available at the market.
Count on a full morning of instructive visits and cooking classes well into late afternoon. After a busy day, we will head back down the hill, stopping for another apéritif. The evening is free to again wander around the city before crashing for the evening. Day Five: We will meet for another café au lait et croissant before heading to what just might be a culinary sensory overload. Over 50 of Lyon’s finest butchers, charcutiers, fromagers, pastry chefs, and wine specialists have set up shop inside a recently renovated building, thus making it a veritable foodie amusement park. Les Halles is named after Paul Bocuse, one of Lyon’s most revered and well-known chefs. We will scope out a place for lunch, nabbing a place early and enjoying a glass of wine, as the market fills up quickly during lunch. If we are lucky enough mon ami (my friend) Olivier or Aurelein will join us for our déjeuner.
Afterwards, we will head back for an afternoon petit somme (nap) and a quick dinner before enjoying an evening, if you desire, at the Ballet Arts Center of Lyon. Otherwise, it’s an evening free to explore or relax to your hearts content. Day Six: Our petit déjeuner will get us started before we head out to meet our ride for another drive in the countryside. We may go north to the Beaujolais or Bourgogne region, or south to the northern region of the Côte du Rhône. In either direction, we will stop along the way for wines of the region, a bit of history and of course, a stop for lunch.
Another option may be to participate in a morning walking tour to discover the secrets of Lyon and the treasures that await us. We will end with a leisurely Michelin star lunch. The afternoon/evening will remain free for any last minute shopping before we pack and disnos au revoir (say our good-byes).
Fine Print – Each tour is based on the availability of the local independent business partners associated with Bret’s Table and may vary from the outline listed above.
Flight and hotel are not included, which allows you to choose your departure and arrival cities. It also gives you the freedom to book a budget or lux hotel as well as take advantage of flight/hotel packages.
For inquiries regarding cost and time of year, please email me at bretbannon@bretstable.com.
BRET’S TABLE is offering culinary tours in Lyon, France, the epicenter of French gastronomy. Lyon is a walkable city and allows us to enjoy the convenience of a centrally located hotel and be close to the action. During the week, we will immerse ourselves in the delicious foods and wines of the city and region.
Day One: Our tour begins in the afternoon as we gather to get the lay of the land and then head off for an apéritif. From there, we’ll meander to an authentic bouchon pour un dîner incroyable (for an amazing dinner).
After dinner, we may take a stroll to the Terreaux Square to admire the fountain, the facades of the Museum of Fine Arts, the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall) or around the Peninsula, which the locals call La Presqu’île.
Day Two: Our day begins with petit déjeuner (breakfast) at la café maybe close to the largest square of Lyon, Bellecour. Then it’s on to the restaurant kitchen of a local chef to embark on a farm tour or perhaps go foraging for mushrooms (depending on the time of year and availability). Afterwards, we will head back to the kitchen, don our aprons and participate in a hands-on multi-course cooking class.
In the afternoon we will be free to explore on our own; maybe poke our heads into the Grand Hôtel Dieu, wander around the different courtyards, walk along the Rhône or ease into the evening with a boat cruise on the tranquil Saône river.
Day Three: Decisions, decisions, decisions, an all-day wine tour that will include a déjeuner pique-nique (picnic lunch) or maybe enjoy déjeuner (lunch) at a local Bistro.
Day Four: We will scope out another favorite patisserie for a café au lait and pastry before our early morning jaunt to the 9:00am Market Tour and Cooking Class. At the top of the hill is found Lyon’s largest outdoor market with over 100 vendors and producers. There, we will fill our baskets with the freshest ingredients and of course stop at a favorite boulangerie and fromagerie for our cheese course.
Afterwards, we’ll head back to the kitchen and dive into cooking a classic French market-based meal from the best of the season’s offerings. We spend the time to work through several recipes, as our cooking teacher gives us a multitude of ideas and inspiration for our own French cooking at home. Our class is set according to what is currently in season and available at the market.
Count on a full morning of instructive visits and cooking classes well into late afternoon. After a busy day, we will head back down the hill, stopping for another apéritif. The evening is free to again wander around the city before crashing for the evening.
Day Five: We will meet for another café au lait et croissant before heading to what just might be a culinary sensory overload. Over 50 of Lyon’s finest butchers, charcutiers, fromagers, pastry chefs, and wine specialists have set up shop inside a recently renovated building, thus making it a veritable foodie amusement park. Les Halles is named after Paul Bocuse, one of Lyon’s most revered and well-known chefs. We will scope out a place for lunch, nabbing a place early and enjoying a glass of wine, as the market fills up quickly during lunch. If we are lucky enough mon ami (my friend) Olivier or Aurelein will join us for our déjeuner.
Afterwards, we will head back for an afternoon petit somme (nap) and a quick dinner before enjoying an evening, if you desire, at the Ballet Arts Center of Lyon. Otherwise, it’s an evening free to explore or relax to your hearts content.
Day Six: Our petit déjeuner will get us started before we head out to meet our ride for another drive in the countryside. We may go north to the Beaujolais or Bourgogne region, or south to the northern region of the Côte du Rhône. In either direction, we will stop along the way for wines of the region, a bit of history and of course, a stop for lunch.
Another option may be to participate in a morning walking tour to discover the secrets of Lyon and the treasures that await us. We will end with a leisurely Michelin star lunch. The afternoon/evening will remain free for any last minute shopping before we pack and dis nos au revoir (say our good-byes).
Fine Print –
Each tour is based on the availability of the local independent business partners associated with Bret’s Table and may vary from the outline listed above.
Flight and hotel are not included, which allows you to choose your departure and arrival cities. It also gives you the freedom to book a budget or lux hotel as well as take advantage of flight/hotel packages.
For inquiries regarding cost and time of year, please email me at bretbannon@bretstable.com.