Page 146 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL SUMMER 2019 PORTUGAL

POSTCARD FROM DIJON

Story and Photography by John Muncie

OK, I have to confess. Jody and I were almost
smugglers. That’s how good the mustard was in
France.
It won’t surprise you that this tale of mustard
skulduggery involves a visit to Dijon. Not only
is it the foodie capital of France’s Burgundy
region (the city hosts an annual International
Gastronomic Fair) but it’s the birthplace of
world’s best mustard.
Our introduction to Dijon and its mystical
mustard connection came near the end of a
wandering three-week trip that took Jody and
me, my stepson, Ben, and his mate, Job, from
Berlin to Nuremburg to Dresden to Strasbourg
and finally to Dijon.
On our second day there, we joined one of
those free city walking tours. It began in the
courtyard of Dijon’s monumental Ducal Palace
and wound along the cobblestone streets of
the downtown (a UNESCO World Heritage Site)
to the Place Francois Rude – locally called
“Bareuzai” – which features a mind-bending mix
of medieval half-timbered houses and
Renaissance mansions.
Along the meandering streets of the oldtown
we passed two famous mustard boutiques. La

146 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE WINTER/SPRING 2024