As we slowly drove through the Bourg-en-Bresse province towards the gastronomic village of Georges Blanc in Vonnas, our mission was crystal clear - we wanted to taste some local Bresse free-range chickens!
Not to be mistaken with the 3-star Michelin restaurant by chef Georges Blanc across the street.....
Our destination was L'Ancienne Auberge, a bistrot also owned by Georges Blanc, serving a wide range of authentic family dishes and regional cuisines.
The former lemonade factory was renovated as a bistro to re-produce a brasserie identical to the one run by the Blanc family at the beginning of the century. The design philosophy could very well be summed by one word - tradition. The Bressan style woodwork, wooden floors, framed black-and-white family pictures, checkered tablecloth and beamed ceiling all contributed to this wonderfully warm and authentic atmosphere.
Bresse chickens are prized for their gamey depth of flavor with ultra fine and tender texture. That would be the focal point of our lunch this afternoon.
We started things off with the signature Bresse chicken in "Mother Blanc" creamy sauce. A small bowl of Basmati rice was served on the side. The sauce was absolutely perfect, thanks to the recipe from grandmother Blanc. The chicken was flavorsome but we felt that the texture was a little on the hard side. Perhaps not as fine or tender as advertised.
Upon further investigation, we noticed that the color of the meat was slightly darker than usual so we suspected that it could be a black or grey feather variety Bresse chicken here.
The other main course, Bresse chicken (leg) roasted with candied pineapple gave us a slightly different (happier!) result. This time, the meat did match our lofty expectation. Tender, juicy and flavorful.
From the color of the meat, this should be a white Bresse.
If you ever drive near the Vonnas region and start craving for Bresse chicken, this is the place to be.
Food Rating: 5.5/10
Price: €€€
Address: Place Du Marche BP 11, 01540 Vonnas, France
Tel: +33 (0)4 7450-9050
Tel: +33 (0)4 7450-9050
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