Where to eat a good cassoulet?
A must-try dish in south-western France, cassoulet requires real expertise. Here are five addresses where you can indulge in this comforting stew.
Cassoulet is one of the great classics of Southwestern cuisine. Possibly originating in Castelnaudary, it was invented during the Hundred Years' War to invigorate the town's inhabitants, who were under siege from the English. The dish is said to have given them such strength that they succeeded in liberating the town! But even today, the origins of cassoulet are disputed between Castelnaudary, Carcassonne and Toulouse.
Since then, the cassoulet recipe has evolved somewhat. Before the introduction of beans from Latin America in the 16th century, the dish was prepared with broad beans. Here are five places to go for a good cassoulet.
Le Genty Magre, Toulouse
Le Genty Magre is a must-try in Toulouse. Romain Brard, who runs the restaurant, draws inspiration from regional recipes and adds his own personal touch, such as his now-famous cassoulet, which won the Grand Jury Prize at the World Championship! It consists of beans, of course, but also half a duck confit and sausages, all simmered for several hours.
- Where to eat it? Le Genty Magre, 3 rue Genty Magre, 31000 Toulouse
- www.legentymagre.com
L'Hôtel du Centre et du Lauragais, Castelnaudary
If you're passing through the pretty town of Castelnaudary, you'll certainly want to recharge your batteries with a good home-made cassoulet. To do so, head to the Hôtel du Centre et du Lauragais, right in the heart of town, to discover the unmissable cassoulet with duck and pork confit, topped with sausage. A dish that still contributes to the reputation of this popular venue!
- Where to eat? Hôtel du Centre et du Lauragais, 31 cours de la République, 11400 Castelnaudary
- www.le-centre-hotel.fr
La Table de Franck Putelat, Carcassonne
Incredible but true: there's a gourmet version of cassoulet! It's on the menu at La Table de Franck Putelat, in Carcassonne. Here, cassoulet is revisited with pigeon cooked in the devil's oven with Castelnaudary beans, accompanied by a leg of pigeon confit... And tuna worked like ham. A true reinterpretation that's a must-try.
- Where to eat? La Table de Franck Putelat, Hôtel Le Parc, 80 chemin des Anglais, 11000 Carcassonne
- www.franckputelat.com
Le Lautrec, Albi
Le Lautrec offers "yesterday's cuisine in today's style", with two cassoulets on the menu. The first is a "cassoulet d'antan" with manchon and duck sausage confit with Lautrec pink garlic, while the second is a "cassoulet de l'archevêque" with cod, pink garlic and saffron. Enough to confuse you, but also to delight you!
- Where to eat? Le Lautrec, 13/15 rue Henri de Toulouse Lautrec, 81000 Albi
- www.restaurant-le-lautrec.com
Restaurant Benoît, Paris
Benoît is a gastronomic restaurant belonging to the Alain Ducasse Group. Here, the great classics are brought out of the closet with a menu as gourmet as it is refined. Amidst pâté en croûte, escargots en coquille and hare à la royale, you'll find the famous homemade cassoulet with white beans... The perfect way to travel to the South-West of France for a meal.
- Where to eat? Benoît, 20 rue Saint-Martin, 75004 Paris
- www.benoit-paris.com
©pmonetta
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