6th July 2008

Lot and Quercy Food and Drink, Recipes and Restaurants

Famed for it's gastronomy and wine, the Lot and Quercy region has much to offer...

Useful Information

Access everyday information to help your French food-shopping experiences flow more smoothly.

Seafood Vocabulary
CrabIf you are bewildered by the range of seafood, the names, and the questions you are asked at the seafood counter, this should help!
French Meat Cuts
pigIt is not just a case of simple translation when buying meat in France, because the French cuts differ from those in the UK. Here are some explanations and vocabulary...
Mysterious Veg
chardHow to use the mysterious vegetables that you see in French markets.
Flour in France
BreadWhich flour to use for what; about the grades.
Foie Gras Explained
Spiced foie Being unused to this product in the UK, the various forms of foie gras can be confusing at first...
Market Tasters in France
tastersHow to deal with traders offering tasters at the markets of France.
Market Manners in France
market stall"How to deal with market stall pressure.
British Vs French Supermarket Stock
supermarketDifferences between French and British supermarket stock; how it is treated differently, and where it comes from.
Supermarket Vs Market
vegThe differences between supermarket stock and that of the markets and individual shops. What do you get for your money?
Ordering Steak
steakHow to request the ‘doneness’ of a steak in French.
Sauce Names
waiter Ever wondered what the difference is between ‘Béarnaise’ and ‘Périgordine’ sauces?
Market Days


Food and Drink

Welcome to the Gastronomic delights of the Quercy

The Lot and Quercy region is justly renowned for its food and hospitality including such treats as Foie Gras, Truffles and Ducks and Geese in all their different guises. We have restaurant reviews, wine tastings and recipes for you to explore.
Also visit our separate sections on Cahors Wine, regional Recipes and our discussion forum which has its own Food and Drink section.

Lot and Quercy Restaurant Guide

Lot and Quercy Restaurant GuideLooking for places to eat in the Lot and Quercy region? Check out our Restaurant Guide and read reviews of some of our favourite eating places...

The French Wine Shop

An English wine connoisseur in Figeac

Jolly Good French Wine in FigeacAnthony Nielson, former owner of a London advertising agency, arrived in the Lot 11 years ago. He literally fell in love with the little town of Figeac, bought and ... more...

Wild Venison in the Quercy

Roadkill anyone?

Wild venison in the QuercyWhen we lived in Sussex we were used to having the odd free addition to the pot courtesy of a stray pheasant or rabbit that had wandered too close to the road, but we never came across anything as large as a deer... more...

Armagnac

The Other Cognac

Armagnac from south-west FranceOften overshadowed by the better-known Cognac region, the Armagnac region in south-west France produces a brandy that is actually older, rarer and with a more complex flavour than that of its "mass-produced" rival... more...

Eating Wild French Mushrooms? – Take Care!

Mushroom Mayhem

Satan's BoletusGemma Driver, Editor of the FrenchEntrée Gastrozone relates a true story about poisonous wild mushrooms in France. “A terrifying tale of how greed landed me in hospital!”
Now a memory and a slight embarrassment, the experience of poisoning myself... more...

The Black Wine of Cahors

Revered by Tsars, Popes and Princes

AOC Cahors wine Why black? Principally because it is almost black, just hold a bottle up to the light and you’ll see into its deliciously inky depths. Cahors wines are reputedly the darkest in the world; they are also some of the strongest and richest and will keep for years... more...

Gramat Hotel and Restaurant

Lunch at the Lion d'Or

Gramat Hotel - The Lion d'OrSpring rains were falling in sheets as we drove up on to the high Causses, north east of Cahors, to the historic little town of Gramat. We’d been invited to lunch at the town’s most prestigious hotel and restaurant - The Lion d'Or... more...

Regional Products of the Lot

On est sous la charme - under the charm of the region

Cahors wine - Chateau MercuesThe Lot region hides a wealth of treasures just waiting to be discovered. The relaxed and pleasant lifestyle works like a charm on visitors, and has induced many to settle here. Part of the attraction... more...

Saffron

The red gold of the Quercy

Photo: CDT Lot Jean MaureilleCultivated in Quercy since the Middle Ages, for a long time saffron was to be found in gardens and in kitchens, for use in the preparation of traditional dishes. ... more...

Cookery Courses In France

French cooking holidays with Jim Fisher.

KitchenGemma Driver, creator and editor of the FrenchEntrée Gastrozone pays a visit to Jim Fisher (Masterchef finalist and former Rick Stein chef) to participate in one of his popular cookery courses... more...

Autumn - Mushroom Season in the Lot

Mushroom Madness by Sarah Weston

Mushroom season in the Lot and QuercyAs the long hot summers draw to a close, and the mists in the valleys rise bringing rain and the coolness of autumn, the towns empty and the children return to school, the locals prepare themselves for the mushroom season. Although the season is relatively short, lasting about a month, it is an important part of the calendar... more...

Geese, Ducks and Pigeons

The staple fare of the Quercy

Photo: CDT Lot Jean Maureille This is a land where the splendid goose has been King for a thousand years. Although perennially popular, goose is expensive and revered and so generally used only for feasts and special occasions... more...

The Wines of Domaine du Garinet, Cahors

Trellised VinesJamie Goode, wine expert and self-confessed anorak pays a visit to Mike and Sue Spring at Domaine du Garinet in the AOC Cahors wine region...
more...

The Wines of Clos Triguedina, Cahors

Prince Probus wineWine anorak Jamie Goode pays a visit to Clos Triguedina, home of some of the oldest vines in the AOC Cahors wine region... more...

Regional Products of the Lot et Garonne

Produits Regionaux

Marmande Tomatoes Fruit growing is a speciality of the département which is renowned for its plums (the famous pruneaux d’Agen), strawberries, succulent melons and the pomme d’amour, Marmande tomatoes. Good quality wines are produced in the Duras and Buzet regions, and... more...

Regional Products of the Tarn et Garonne

Les Produits du Terroir

Reine Claude Plums This region has a well-deserved reputation for producing fabulous quality fruit and has a huge annual production of plums, melons, table grapes and garlic in addition to several varieties of wine ... more...

Local Restaurants

Use the links or logos below to see a searchable map of your chosen region:
Restaurants in the Lot

Restaurants in the Lot et Garonne

Restaurateurs in the Tarn et Garonne

Lot
Lot et Garonne
Tarn et Garonne

Bookshop

Michelin Guide

Michelin Red Book - the essential guide to places to eat and where to stay. French edition only £12.52.

Browse through our bookshop and order your travel guides on line.

Have you tried...?

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Pont de Valentré, Cahors

Autumn Vines

Albas Wine Festival

Iris Post Box - Riviere Basse

Marie - Castelfranc

Marie - Albas

La Poste - Rouffiac

Place de Gambetta - Cahors
French Entrée