Restaurant
For a romantic weekend, head to Beaujolais and its village, which attracts lovers from all over the world.
Latest edition : 26 April 2020
Calling his restaurant “paradise” in a village with the sweet name of Saint-Amour, it had to be done. Presumptuous the chief? Not really. Irreverent, sure. It's because man alone is a poem!
As a child, Cyril Langier loved his grandmothers' pastry. As a teenager, he came across a book by Georges Blanc and decided to become a cook and do his internship at Georges Blanc. After the army (where he cooks at the Élysée), he spent three years in Istanbul before taking over this old sleeping inn in the Beaujolais vineyards with his wife Valérie.
Cyril and Valérie visibly had a blast transforming the peaceful village inn into a charming little hotel. Between antique objects and contemporary furniture, we have only one desire: to settle there.
Nothing is “as it should” in this establishment, whose street side facade looks like a peaceful village inn. By pushing the door, we find ourselves in a welcoming bar with a beautiful zinc bar with a red body. It would be the wrong door, it does not really look like a starred restaurant (1*Michelin).
When entering the dining room, it's always a surprise. Despite the silverware and beautiful crockery, it is only classic at first glance: black walls, black curtains, mismatched chairs and tables, black and gray striped tablecloths, funny "daring" paintings, forks suspended from the ceiling, a large heart on the wall (we are in Saint-Amour) formed by forks... The whole forms a "modern baroque" style full of humor and winks to love. Only this slightly off-the-wall setting can serve as a setting for the colorful and inventive cuisine of the chef, a traveler at heart and passionate about spices...
Spices which warm, which color the atmosphere, which surprise in association with good local products. From his travels, Cyril has kept the memory of flavors. A true gastronomic artist, he always dares new blends, makes his guests' taste buds travel. As the dishes arrive, the air smells of spices A tireless and enthusiastic worker, Cyril takes pleasure in creating his various dishes whose magnificent presentation full of fantasy is sometimes perplexing.
Valérie sometimes finds it hard to hide her smile as she picks out the blends imagined by her husband's boss! "In each dish, I slip a spaghetti in one form or another," smiles the chef with his smile of an eternal joker. It's my Italian side! Each month, Cyril composes a unique menu, served for lunch and dinner for four weeks. The only way for him to be able to do everything alone in the kitchen, with just a clerk.
In February, he surprises, among other things, with a marinade of Charolais fillet with pistachio, green anise and dill, a turbot with grated turmeric and coriander leaves, a crispy chocolate tube with a caraway cream, endive and walnuts nuts....
But let's not reveal everything, so as not to spoil the surprise! Even if it is very likely that Cyril will be sold out for Valentine's Day, just like his neighbour, Masafumi Hamano and his restaurant February 14 (that can't be invented either!).
By the way, both restaurants have one Michelin star each. A feat for a village of barely 600 souls!
The inn of paradise, Le Plâtre Durand, 71570 Saint-Amour-Bellevue, tel. : 03 85 37 10 26; open from Wednesday to Sunday evening, as well as Saturday and Sunday noon.