It may come as a surprise to many Lyon residents to know that papillotes were actually created in Lyon.
A delicious treat
The papillote is both a visual and gustatory experience: a shiny outer envelope in gold or silver, bordered with glittering bands, containing a white paper adorned with a joke, a poem or a funny quote, sometimes accompanied by a small firecracker made of two paper tabs, and finally containing a chocolate or a fruit paste.
Find of his clerk
Papillotes were born in Lyon in the 18th century. According to legend, a certain sir Papillot, Papillot, a pastry chef by trade, is said to have exploited an innovative idea from his assistant. The latter, smitten with a charming neighbor, had the idea of offering her chocolates wrapped in sweet nothings. Papillot was captivated by this idea and turned it into a thriving business.
And the end of this story..
The legend offers two versions, one less favorable and the other more joyful.
- According to the first version, Mr. Papillot, the head of the kitchen staff, caught him and decided to fire him. However, finding the idea particularly interesting, he chose to develop it: this is how the papillote came about.
- As for the second version, the clerk would have married his beloved, who turned out to be the niece of Sieur Papillot himself.
