without sampling the

without sampling the traditional fare of a Lyonnais bouchon. Food can be hearty but I enjoyed a light lunch of delicate fish quenelles at Daniel & Denise Saint-Jean, awarded Bib Gourmand status by Michelin. Foodies should also explore the restaurants and bars of the Hôtel-Dieu, a 17th century hospital overlooking the Rhône, now repurposed as a dining and entertainment complex. This elegant building is also home to the newly revamped Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie, an interactive food discovery centre. So, back home have I made the smooth carrot sauce delicately flavoured with ginger? Or the mushroom sabayon that added a definite je-ne-sais-quoi to the spelt risotto? Well let’s just say not yet. But I have perfected a neat technique for slicing onions without crying, and when I don that Paul Bocuse apron, even my cheese on toast seems worthy of a Michelin star! Fact File Lyon and the Beaujolais both lie within the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region auvergnerhonealpes-tourisme.com. Further inspiration from valleedelagastronomie.com . Beaujolais Tourism: destination-beaujolais.com Foodie activities: chateaudejulienas.com; huilerie-beaujolaise.fr; chateau-pizay.com Eating out: latabledudonjon.fr Sleeping over: hotelvilla-alexandre.fr There’s a real buzz to Lyon by night, especially on board the Wagon Bar, a bus turned mobile restaurant where guests relax on the upper deck over a 5-course gastronomic dinner as they are driven over illuminated bridges and past floodlit monuments, through buzzing squares and past lavishly painted walls. A fitting finale to any city break. Fourviere basilica, Lyon Lyon Tourism: lyon-france.com Foodie activities: ecoledecuisine.institutpaulbocuse.com; chaisaintolive.com; lewagonbar.com Eating out: danieletdenise.fr; garconsboucherslyon.com Sleeping over: hoteldeverdun1882.com 46 | The Good Life France The Good Life France | 47