Restaurant – L’Auberge du Pont de Collonges, Lyon, France
June 2011
Where else would my father and I go for my 30th birthday? We were both so excited to finally meet the godfather of classical French cuisine, Paul Bocuse. His restaurant, l’Auberge du Pont de Collonges in Lyon, France, has maintained his three Michelin stars since 1965. The exterior is that of a swiss château with murals depicting the career of Paul Bocuse surrounding its exterior walls. The inside is a regal setting with amazing attention to detail and impeccable service. The cuisine is everything you should expect from classic French food – creamy sauces, rich meats, choice cuts of seafood, and traditional desserts such as l’île Flottante and Baba au Rum – done to perfection. I had been advised to order the lobster salad, because you get a whole lobster for an entrée, and this was no lie.
There is that moment in life when you know you are in the presence of someone great, and as a child this might be santa clause. As an adult, for me, it was Paul Bocuse. To meet the man himself was amazing, a moment I will certainly never forget.
Rue d'Odessa 