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 taste experience: a shiny outer envelope in gold or silver, bordered with sparkling bands, enclosing a white paper decorated with a joke, a poem or a funny quote, sometimes accompanied by a small firecracker made of two strips of paper, and finally enclosing 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, a professional pastry chef, is said to have exploited an innovative idea from his assistant. The latter, in love with a charming neighbor, had the idea of offering her chocolates wrapped in sweet words. Papillot was seduced by this idea and made it a prosperous business.
And the end of this story..
The legend offers two versions, one less favorable and the other more joyful.
- According to the first, Mr. Papillot, the head of the commis, surprised him and decided to fire him. However, having found the idea particularly interesting, he decided to exploit it: this is how the papillote came into being.
- As for the second version, the clerk would have married his beloved, who turned out to be the niece of Sieur Papillot himself.
