Visit in January/February

We own a small bistro in Sonoma County, California. We are brining our chef, servers and wives to France the last week in January. We will be staying in a rented house just north of Beziers in St. Chinian. We expect to do day trips to various wine regions for tastings including Pic St. Loup, Frontinian, Corbieres, Colliure, Cahor (maybe) and visit city/villages such Montpelier, Sete, etc. We are looking for recommendations from trip advisors about not to miss bistro/restaurants that feature authentic local, regional (not tourist traps) cuisine in the area. Thanks for your help. Michel

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One side trip I recommend you take is to the village of Minerve, the name of which is the origin of the appelations Minervois.

To the west is Castelnaudary, worth a visit just to eat cassoulet.

http://www.ville-castelnaudary.fr/

In Carrassone, La Cite

http://www.carcassonne.culture.fr/

To the south I recommend a trip to Collioure (for the scenery and restaurants) and Banyuls (for the wine).

http://www.ot-collioure.fr/

To the east, visit the villages on the north side of the Etang de Thau, one of the world%26#39;s largest production locations of oysters (eaten year round) and mussels. Locally Picpoul de Pinet is the preferred wine with these dishes and in Pinet there are several producers one may visit. There are just too many wines in the area you are visiting to name them all but the links here might be helpful:

www.languedoc-france.info/links/links.htm

Cahor is too far to the west unless you have a great deal of time. Consider visiting the Pont du Gar just to the west of Avignon or Avignon itself.

We do seem to spend a great deal of time in this area about which one could write a great deal. It is impossible to recommend restaurants in a general sense but if you have questions specific to type of food and city, I shall be happy to suggest a few.

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Parfum des Garrigues in Maraussan, is quite typical and delicious. get ready for some boar meat!

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If you go to Collioure, eat at Le Neptune.

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Hi

Local restaurants with local resident reviews are listed here :

the-languedoc-page.com/tourism/languedoc-tou…

Peter

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Thanks for all of your ideas. We will definitely check out the suggestions you have made. We are looking forward to the trip and to learning all we can about the food, wine, people and culture of the Languedoc. Michel

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we%26#39;ve just returned from the Bezier area and enjoyed a wonderful tour of the Sieur D%26#39;arque winery in Limoux (90 mins frm Bezier), tasted their delicious sparkling wine which predates Champagne !

If you get the chance to travel up the coast, stop off at Cap D%26#39;agde to sample the great seafood at Le Nautic in the Avant Port...to see the presentation alone is worth the visit !

Enjoy !

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These are all worth trying:

Parfum de Garrigues in Maurassan

L%26#39;Octopus in Beziers

L%26#39;Ochre Rouge in Herepian

L%26#39;Auberge d%26#39;Abbaye in Villemagne l%26#39;Argentiere

Have fun!

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Popular UK chef Rick Stein just did a brilliant TV series for the BBC called %26#39;A French Odyssey%26#39; where he travelled the length of the Canal du Midi on a barge sampling and recreating local dishes along the way. Bezier is the finishing point for the Canal du Midi (a world heritage listed site). The book and the DVD might save you a lot of legwork.

bbc.co.uk/food/…frenchodyssey_i.shtml

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Hello

I would recommend:

Le faitout in Berlou (newly opened restaurant in beautiful countryside).

La potiniere and L%26#39;Octopus (try the menus dégustation) and Barba fish restaurant in Beziers (try a loup au gros sel with one of his very reasonably priced vintage champagnes)

Also try and get to the coast (e.g. village of Bouzigues) for oysters and Picpoul de Pinet (local white wine variety).

L%26#39;auberge de Vieux puits at Fontjoncouse is about an hour away but a superb 2* michelin restaurant.

We own a winery in Saint Chinian and you are welcome to visit for a tasting if you like. Just reply for details

enjoy your visit to the Languedoc,

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