10 bonnes adresses for fresh frog legs in the Lyon area!!

Well, it's summertime. Summertime means it's time to eat frog legs, so put on your greasy butter bibs and belly on up to the frog bar, boys and girls!!

The most important part of eating frog legs is being "in the know". You can't just eat them any old place. Many restaurants serve frozen frog legs and that, my dear readers, is a major faux pas! They must be served fresh and cooked just right which is not as easy as it may seem.

Bien sur, we all know that, traditionally, the frogs originate from the étangs (ponds) of the La Dombes in the "Pays de l'Ain", ancient principality of the Beaujeu family which only became part of the kingdom of France in 1762. Situated between Bresse, Lyon and the Beaujolais areas, it is a mere 30 minutes from Lyon.

You cannot eat good frog legs in town!! Non, non, non!! Parisians come to La Dombes with their Guides Michelin tucked under their arms, to eat the best frog legs at les bonnes adresses.

There is nothing like leaving the city behind and bombing around the French countryside on impossibly small and winding country roads. And just when you think you've lost your way and there couldn't possibly be any form of civilized anything near by, you turn a corner and there you see, nestled in a small nondescript village, a restaurant with about 500 cars parked out front. (Okay, slight exaggeration on the 500, there!)

Warmly greeted, you are then seated either on an outdoor terrace or in a lovely garden. An aperitif is promptly served and the meal commences, lasting for hours. Wine is poured and course after course is served as the sun sets and the garden lights come to life bringing with them playful shadows in the surrounding foliage and the sounds of insects playing their summer medleys.

Amuse bouche

Foie gras

Fresh frog legs cooked to perfection

Poulet de Bresse à la Crème

A vegetable dish

Cheese

Desert

And roll your old bones out on a stretcher!

Without further ado, I give you the top 10 bonnes adresses for frog legs in the Lyon area (Highly coveted by my ex-mother-in-law, mind you, and most certainly up to date!)

My personal favorite at the moment, the best meal for your money:

Chez Bibet in Saint Bernard, right on the Saône River with a massive terrace, great ambiance, a perfect place for visiting family and friends. I love that there are people playing Pétanque next to the parking lot round midnight when you stagger out of the joint.

The French institution, the classic, the insanely delicious, L'Ancienne Auberge de Georges Blanc in Vonnas. Guaranteed to be a meal never forgotten. Perhaps you can't afford Georges Blanc's gastronomic restaurant in Vonnas (which locals refer to as Village Blanc), but you can afford his mother's restaurant L'Ancienne Auberge. Still pricey, but top of the tops.

Restaurant Roland in Condeissiate. I love this place! The prices are right and the food is pretty good, (not excellent, mind) the frog legs are guaranteed delicious and fresh. The restaurant has been around for quite a while, the owners are a little spacey but kind and there is a quaint ambiance. I spent New Years Eve there two years ago with my bestie from the States, couldn't have had more fun.

Golf de la Bresse in Domaine de Mary, Condeissiat. (Golf, anyone?) Kidding aside, a lovely if not somewhat chic ambiance where the outdoor terrace overlooks the greens. Expensive, but well worth an excellent meal in an excellent ambiance.

La Tour in Chatillon sur Chalaronne. (Click here for a menu) Très chic, Lance Armstrong stayed here during the Tour de France! Chatillon is a gorgeous village which I know every square centimeter of by heart as it is "where I am from" in France, home to my ex-belle famille. A great place to spend the weekend, the architecture is stunning and perfectly preserved (thanks in large part to my ex-beaux papa), the covered market is renowned and insanely ancient, the church dates from the 11th century, there is a fantastic old castle, cute little restaurants and a lovely retreat for spa and relaxation (click on the Détentes button in the navigation for more info).

Le Saint Lazare in L'Abergement Clémenciat (just down the road from Chatillon sur Chalaronne). Very nice, very calm, lovely view of the French countryside. You can eat in the épicerie de la grand-mère section (moins cher and you must order the frog legs ahead) or in the gastronomic section (plus cher no ordering in advance necessary).

Restaurant Emile Job in Montmerle sur Saone. Très chic! They have a hotel as well in the event you can't roll your old bones on home!

Restaurant Serrurier also in Montmerle sur Saone, more of a "friture" restaurant which means more populaire (ordinary) and less expensive than a gastronomic restaurant like Emile Job.

Hôtel Restaurant de la Gare in St-Paul-de-Varax. Excellent frog legs, lovely setting (click on Présentation de l'établissement in the navigation) and nice cozy rooms to stay overnight if needed.

Le Buldo 2, quai Raoul Carrie, Lyon. Okay, okay, I know I said no eating frog legs in the city! but this isn't technically the city, it is just on the outskirts of Lyon directly across from the gorgeous L'Île Barbe (from the Latin insula barbara, meaning l'île savage or wild island). L'Île Barbe is home to one Gaul's oldest Abbey founded in the 5th century. Charlemagne commissioned a beautiful library on the island. It is a must visit place, and what better than to stroll around the island in the early evening and then dine on frog legs whilst admiring said island!

My aunt and uncle with me at Chez Bibet a couple of weeks back