On the banks of the river Saône sits île Barbe, an enchanting, magical paradise that is listed among France’s historical monuments. In 1977, the eccentric writer Félix Benoît proclaimed the island independent and declared himself the governor of this new territory. Benoît was a gourmet through and through and would have been delighted with the cuisine of Jean-Christophe Ansanay-Alex, who has turned this restaurant into one of the best in Lyon with delicious recipes, such as cold foie gras brioche and quince ketchup with grenadine or morel mushroom velouté served like a cappuccino. The new governor of the island, that would be Chef Ansanay-Alex.