All the roots of Lyonnais gastronomy are in the kitchens of these famous mères , these cooks of bourgeois houses who one day opened their restaurants using the recipe books which delighted the families they served.

The Mère Brazier was one of them, the greatest for sure. It was her, in fact, who taught an urchin called Paul Bocuse how to cook. It was then Jacotte her granddaughter who took over the restaurant in Rue Royale, with her mother Carmen. A restaurant frequented by illustrious people such as Prévert and Edith Piaf.

Today, Mathieu Viannay has taken control of this mythical restaurant on the Croix Rousse slopes (a true Lyonnais restaurant!) with its earthenware décor and its lovely period woodwork.

He continues to propose the Mère Brazier specialities such as artichoke hearts with foie gras, half-mourning fattened chicken (with truffle pieces under the skin), Chabraninoff, a dessert with vanilla ice cream which dates from the period of Gaston Brazier, son of the Mère and Jacotte’s father.

But Mathieu, elected Chef of the Year by the Toques Blanches Lyonnaises and crowned with 2 Michelin stars, adds his own touch to the dishes of this incomparable restaurant. His pâté en croûte would indeed resemble that of the great cook, and the lobster served with Bresse poultry is a nod to the chicken with crawfish.

Jacotte is delighted to see the family house in such good hands. It is there moreover, that she unites the jury to award the Eugénie Brazier literary prize that she founded. Honoured this year; the Japanese Fumiko Kono, the Indian Esther David and the African Léonora Miano. The radiance of the city continues to pass by these cooks, Les Mères .