Ultra-gourmet trail across France

Before catching your first train to Paris, make sure you stop by the gourmet bistro-style restaurant Bleu Canard and taste their sophisticated dishes made using fresh, local products. Example of a dish from the menu (depending on the season): split pea purée, creamy mushrooms with almonds, roasted cauliflower, caramelised onion, bergamot jelly, kai choy pesto.

Where to sleep: next to the train station, Mama Shelter is a sure bet and there’s likely to be an event going on there early evening. You won’t be disappointed with the restaurant menu full of comforting dishes such as ham pasta to enjoy out on the terrace. 

• How about an energising and contemplative walk from the Gare du Nord to the Bourse du Commerce where you’ll find the restaurant L’Epis d’Or and the delicious croque monsieur by chef Jean-François Piège, an ode to this great classic of Parisian bistro-style cuisine. This particular version is made with a touch of elegance and the very best of local products. 

• Then, head to the Parc Georges Brassens, a little haven of greenery in Paris. The park pays tribute to the poet. To see: the aromatic plants in the Jardin des Senteurs, the educational beehive and the grapevines. 

• A few streets away, foodies will be delighted with the menu at Grand Pan that varies every day and reflects the classics of French cuisine, such as marrowbone, girolle mushroom fricassé, rib of beef, salmon fillet, etc. In the most welcoming of bistro atmospheres, chef Benoit Gauthier, son of a butcher who trained with some of the great chefs, serves his delicious and beautifully presented dishes made using seasonal products with his incredible sauces. Not-to-mention the desserts... Who can resist the chocolate lava cake striped with salted butter caramel?

• In the evening, you’ll be staying near the Gare de l’Est so you can catch your train to Reims the next morning.

Where to stay: at the hotel Okko with a 2,600 m2 rooftop public garden and fitness room to get rid of some of those calories…

This charming town at the heart of the Champagne region is closely tied to the history of France. 

• Before lunch, go for a stroll around the town which is surrounded by vineyards. The view is superb and there’s a real country feel here.
• After that, we absolutely recommend the restaurant-delicatessen Au Bon Manger and the International Klein Blue front. They serve tasty, traditional French dishes such as black pudding and sautéed potatoes, seasonal vegetables, or if you’re just looking for a light bite, there’s saucisson or pâté.
• In the afternoon, of the many champagne houses, we recommend the Villa Demoiselle with distinctive architecture, a blend of Art Déco and Art Nouveau. While there, go on a tour with a tasting of Demoiselle Champagne or Vranken Diamant Champagne. 

Where to sleep: at the  La Caserne Chanzy (former fire station), a very chic and cosy hotel with a restaurant and spa. 

• Dijon is a town that is well-known for its mustard and wines, but it is also brimming with architectural wonders that you can admire on a walk towards the Eiffel-style Halles (indoor market halls), an unmissable place for foodies. Come and check out the local products here on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
• You can’t possibly come to Dijon without tasting the town’s famous condiment. Learn the secrets behind making this tasty, iconic mustard with this enjoyable and affordable workshop.

Where to stay: Under beautiful, old stone arches, the hotel La Cloche is in the town centre and is the guarantee of an enjoyable, elegant stay thanks to the spa and gourmet bistro-style restaurant, Les Jardins by La Cloche.

• Admire the beautiful scenery out the window for two hours. Once you arrive in Lyon, a city renowned for French fine-dining thanks to its fantastic chefs, it’s time to head straight to a fine-dining establishment for lunch! Rustique (just next to the train station) is one of the recent additions to the city’s Michelin-starred restaurants, and it is certainly not lacking in audacity: pike biscuit marbled with smoked eel or barbecued young pigeon, served with caramelised spelt and liquorice flavoured blueberries and Antésite liqueur. Does that sound tempting?
• You can then walk or cycle along the river Saône to get to your cookery class at L’Atelier Gourmand.

Where to stay: at the hotel Hotelo with a chocolate bar (that also serves other sweet treats, waffles, etc.), where you can expect a warm welcome and it’s only 5 min from the train station!

Make sure you have your camera handy for the train ride all the way to Annecy, also known as the ‘little Venice of the Alps’. You'll soon see why, as this town has just as much to offer as the Italian city.

• When you get there, the bistro Mazette is just a 10-minute walk from the train station and the menu is varied: as an example, for a starter you could order a pie with comté cheese and truffle-infused ham, and as a main course, pike ‘quenelle’ dumplings with spinach and langoustine sauce.
• You'll be spending the afternoon on the shores of Lake Annecy in a Michelin-starred restaurant surrounded by mountains and famous for its award-winning chefs. One of them, Yoann Conte, has been mentioned in the Michelin Guide’s sustainable cuisine category for his commitment to respecting the environment. A great reason to go and taste his dishes made with “raw products that he really brings out the flavour of like nobody else”, all in a chalet-style atmosphere. 

Where to stay: at L'Impérial Palace Annecy, an establishment that is involved in a great number of environmental initiatives and encourages its guests to adopt the same behaviour.

• After a morning train journey, drop your bags off at the hotel and set off along the ViaRhôna cycle route alongside the river Rhône, to an exceptional restaurant!
• In a subdued atmosphere filled with greenery and Japanese style decoration, chef Anne-Sophie Pic puts all her creativity into her exceptional concoctions. She has been awarded two stars by the Michelin Guide and provides a magical culinary experience, where every dish has a story to tell and awakens the senses.
• If you’re feeling peckish in the afternoon, don’t miss the Valence Suisse, a shortbread biscuit in the shape of a little person with pieces of candied orange peel, and flavoured with orange blossom.

Where to stay: at the Maison de la Pra, an authentic and charming hotel right in the town centre, with just 2 suites and 2 rooms.

• From the train station, it’s just a 10-minute walk to hotel Florence, so you can stretch your legs before dropping your bags off at the hotel.
• Then, set off on foot or by bike to a seafood restaurant: Coquillages Bouchet. We recommend the marinated razor clams, signature scallops, Royal gambas and the exclusive dishes such as marinated oysters with creme fraiche, yuzu and trout roe. 
• In the afternoon, take the time to visit and take in the atmosphere at the harbour, the Colline du Château and the Promenade des Anglais.

Where to stay: Hotel Florence, the first 3-star hotel in Nice to be awarded the eco-label, and just a 5-minute walk from the Promenade des Anglais.

This is the longest train journey on this trip. For those who didn’t think to stop and pick up some food from the famous Bio Brod bakery in Nice, you can choose something from the bar menu on the train. At the moment, you can opt for a pearled barley salad, poached egg, pea cream and sweet & sour turnip, brought to you by chef Thierry Marx!

Lire aussi :

• 8 expériences gourmandes à vivre dans la Vallée de la Gastronomie
• 15 restaurants locavores à tester absolument en France