Where to have a good steak in Lyon

When I was single, I often ask myself this question: What's the difference between being alone and having a guy in your life?

• You have to change your beddings more often because the boys just sweat a lot more when they sleep
• You have tidy your flat more often (needless to say why...)
• You have keep some beers in the fridge because they are not always French
• You have to adjust the shower back to your height because well, they are always not as short as you.
• You have to incorporate those big fat juicy steaks into your meal plans.

I cannot remember anything else- I am sure they will come to me.

I am sure there are boys not like that- but this were what went through my mind then.

Back to the topic, a good steak in Lyon: You have the Charolais Beef from the North and everybody is a critic of food in this city... Anybody have guts to put beef steaks on their menus would usually cook very correctly. However, there are 2 places I have tried and stood out:

L'Argot: It doesn't need a website- it has a face book page! 

Almost the number one restaurant in Lyon, the food is great, the wine is good and the butcher ambience is second to none. The service is super by the way. 

I don't think I have ever managed to take any photo their food... which says a lot about how of I have enjoyed my experiences there.

Les Garçons bouchers at Les halles Paul Bocuse: Very correct steak and really friendly service.

 So happy the look, I don't even know what to say...

To beef or not to beef, a real question indeed...

Carnet Gourmand again! The far eastern restaurants in Lyon

Did I say I like this place Carnet Gourmand a lot?

Well I do.

My beloved tofu dish!

We went back again this week again. We've repeated a few dishes and tried some new ones.

The usual for Mr. G!

One of my old time favourites. This dish of aubergine is a revelation!

Mr. G ordered his Chinese Staple item: Beef noodle stir fry...

See how happy he is!

So we were told by our Mandarin speaking professor that there are two essential Chinese restaurants to dine at:

One is Carnet Gourmand and the other one is called: Engimono- looked Japanese from outside with the trained Oriental eyes but I suppose for French people- they only care if the food is good or not.

We went to Engimono this week too. We had two sets of menu midi at €11: for Ravioli (5 dumplings, pork or shrimp) starters and dumpling soup or daily plate (special dish with soup and rice on the side), which I think is very reasonable.

I have only taken the photos of dumplings. They are Properly Chinese- traditionally they are poached instead of steamed and part fried like Potsticker or Gyoza. My professor talked nothing but how delicious those dumplings are.

While I am on the subject of Far eastern food in Lyon- We have also went to this lovely Thai place recently on Rue Neuve. It's called: Cocoo

Buffet à volonté at €14 weekday lunch, what's not to like? The food is fresh and correct. You can take whatever you want: starters/ main courses/ noodles/ fried rice/ desserts/ fruit...
I am not surprised that there were people going in non stop (it looks small from outside but it is actually a very large restaurant) while I was waiting for Mr. G on Rue Neuve that day. I am taking my Thai food loving friends back soon!

SHACK BBQ LYON

Life in Lyon is... shouldn't be fast paced comparing to London, but "too much to eat and drink but too little time to write about it!"

I am not the most diligent blogger as I know but too much have been experienced in a very short space of time- I don't know if I can ever do justice to all the wonderful things I have eaten and experienced.

Ok so randomly we were looking for a place for lunch, just like every other day here.

I had booked somewhere after my morning french class at Alliance française de Lyon.

But as we walked up the usual stairs following Google map- I remembered there was somewhere nearby we saw and it looked just like somewhere extremely promising for a meal- so we turned right instead of left- here we were: SHACK- BBQ restaurant. Vaguely I remember reading about it in those tourist booklets. (Expats' live, you often don't know where you are from where you thought you were...)

It started off by looking at IT- it looks like as if it is not open, from the usual ground floor level. Sticking my nose flat (with very little difficulty) up to the window and I saw there were some movements- It's open! So we went in and asked for a table. A table it is!

First floor by the window!

And we received our menu...

Menu Midi is €16 (3 course with everything!)

On the day of our lucky lunch: the soup maison is: Asian noodle soup with shrimps (think like like little pho) and other one is grilled tofu.

We took each:

Main course we took blackened beef steaks, saignant (with quite a lot of red)

Each of us took different item to go with: Macaroni or mini baked potatoes

Mr. G took the dessert after and we both had a mini coffee, everything inclusive ( I am not of the sweet tooth tribe)

€16 menu midi for the weekdays- good steak with starters and desserts and coffee- what's not to love about it??? I am coming back!

It is Too sunny in Lyon now!

Time to take the long slept sun screen lotion out and put it in your hand bag!

 Sôane river sunny side!

 Random l'apéro by Marche Satint Antoine

Snack with the beer and many glasses of wine.

Au P'tit Zinc: a place for the good old meat eaters

Vegetarian please look away.

For a long time my local friend have been telling me about this magical place.  

A place she described: "should you ever feel hungry for a big meaty steak at 1 AM,  this is where you should go."

I suppose as a chef, I am always keeping an eye out for those "out-of-hours" establishments. Lyon made me feel that it is quite a civilised city; I suppose it means that people go to bed at the reasonable hours after big hearty meals with fabulous wines of nearby regions and raise early to go to the markets... 

My special places in London includes those bagel shop/ bagel bake on Brick Lane after East end heavy clubbing, Vingt-Quatre Chelsea where you go to have pancakes and milkshakes after dancing to the 80's tunes at Maggie's next door and Duck and Waffle after non-stop drinking with your city-maties and you just need that little extra glass of champagne and night view to remind you how wonderful life still is plus some crispy pig's ears,  duck leg confit and waffle to go down with it. 

Now come to think about it: perhaps the Billingsgate fish market counts one of my special places too. 

It opens at 4 AM, just about time after clubs shut and you can even buy some fresh fish in the market for the lady in your life (your mum, your better half) so they cannot tell you off for coming home late.

There is this, I should say, a very Fabulous Cafe where I imagine all the fishmongers go, for a cup of tea or coffee or a hearty breakfast. You cannot miss it- it is the Only One there.

(The whole) Smoked haddock with two (looks very small but actually the normal size) poached eggs.

I confess I was being greedy so I ordered sautéed scallops with smoked salmon and scrambled eggs. 

My own fault really. I forgot that seafood from the sea, contains lots of salt. So for me there weren't enough tea/ lemon wedges to balance the taste on my tongue. But I still love it. It is fresh and it looks so Much. What's not to love about it? I am a chef. One of the most memorable breakfast.

So after much hype we went there on a whim One Saturday evening.

The place looks hearty. The kind of place you know either the food is so basic and people only love it because they are drunk or it gives you the kind of food to all your heart's content. 

Luckily for me, it's the better one.

The boss is a friend of our friend. So there were much the usual exchange of French greetings going on before settling down. We ordered the Essential Côte du beouf and souris d'agneau with a bottle of Saint-Joseph rouge. We were 3 adults and a child. 

After more French banterings and introductions to almost everybody in the place. We received our Easter blessings.

I have said earlier: Vegetarians please look away. If you are otherwise, you would know what I am gonna show here:

Côte du Boeuf served on a wooden board with sea salts and Béarnaise kind of sauce.  Separate plates of sautéed potatoes and green salad for each dinner.

I was curious, I went for the daily special: Souris d'agnau

Not much to look at, but it tastes butter soft and it looks pink with ratatouille on the side. Yummy!

More from the infamous Côte du Beouf of Au P'tit Zinc:

I am looking forward to going back again soon. Perhaps in a few hours at 1 AM.