Cuisine in the Dordogne region France
The French have always been renowned for their amazing cuisine, finest ingredients and love of eating good food. Obviously, they do some things very well and no one can compete with their bread and pastries but at times we have all been disappointed with the French food and boring menus in touristy places. So when you find something a little different or special it’s worth mentioning.
I have to say overall I was impressed with the food in the Dordogne region of France. Most of the restaurants were great and although they were mainly French or Italian we discovered a few different places too. There are far too many to mention so I have picked out a few places to eat that were a little unique in some way. These are not overly expensive or fine dining restaurants but places that offered us good food and a memorable experience.
People often ask how we find great places to eat when we travel and to be honest most of the time it is recommendations by locals or people that know the area. I will always ask the owners or staff of our accommodation for recommendations in France.
If I don’t have any recommendations I will have look on trip advisor or travel blogs for ideas or I just wander around the villages to discover hidden gems.
SmooVie- Vegan Cafe
Tucked away in this quaint little village called St Léon de Vézère we found a gorgeous vegan restaurant called SmooVie. It is quite possibly the cutest little hole in a wall I have seen. We were attracted to the place by the name and people outside ordering food. The menu was very interesting and we were all excited about trying the different foods on offer. The whole menu is vegan and sounded tasty to even my meat-eating family (I am the only vegetarian).
We decided to share a few dishes so we could sample more of the menu. It was a great idea as we got to taste so many unique dishes. We had sweet potato and coconut soup, a mixed sandwich that had a homemade mushroom terrine with delicious sauces and a falafel wrap. The children had vegan hot dog wraps with a special salad and sauce. Desert was homemade vegan cheesecake and a banana muffin. The homemade lemonade and the green smoothie were delicious too.
Originally we were going to take a picnic down to the river, that would have been lovely but after discovering the little courtyard around the side we couldn’t resist eating there. The tables and chairs were set under a big fig tree and with the warmth of the sun it was a perfect setting. I was so happy sitting there I could have stayed all day.
We enjoyed talking to the owner and her friendly staff who were from all over the world and very helpful and informative. We learned that the village gets very busy in the peak of summer and is very quiet in the winter.
After being in France for some months we loved this place as it gave us some original foods and new tastes we hadn’t had in awhile.
Another great reason to try this place is that they are open all day from 11 am to 7 pm, serving food and drinks non-stop all day.
Which is hard to find in France with most shops closing in the middle of the day and restaurants open only from 12 pm until 2 pm or 7 pm until 9 pm. It was nice to have the luxury of taking our time and ordering a bit later in the afternoon.
When in Europe in the summer I tend to start the day late and having a late lunch suits us well.
I thoroughly enjoyed our little visit to this village and SmooVie. The village although small is very pretty and worth a walk around. Most of the places to eat in this village looked inviting so I think we will be back and may even stay a little longer than the day.
Shabby Chic Corner- Cafe
Shabby Chic Corner is quite possibly the cutest little ‘salon du tea’ you will ever see. Located down a tiny little back street in Issigeac, it could be easily missed if you haven’t seen the sign or read about it already. Thankfully we walked around the little street and found this charming place. Each table was set outside perfectly ready for high tea with fresh flowers and pretty decorations.
They have a tiny little menu with teas, coffees, juices, and cakes. We had the fresh scones with jam and cream, as did most of the others at the café. The family and I thoroughly enjoyed this little treat in the sun. The tea was served in a perfect vintage teapot and teacup. The homemade scones came with homemade berry jam and the cream was topped with strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and a slice of lemon that was the perfect touch to our morning tea.
When we arrived there were a few people sitting outside enjoying the sunshine but before we knew it every table was full inside and out. The staff, all very friendly and efficient, spoke both French and English. It was a sunny day so everyone was seated outside but I am so glad I ventured inside and saw the impeccable tea room set up beautifully with every pretty touch you could imagine. Even the bathroom was lovely with perfume, scented soaps, and hand towels. Soft shabby chic furnishings with vintage French music playing in the background set the scene well. The fresh cakes on display all looked and smelt amazing.
If you’re just passing through the village or you want to organise your friends baby shower, birthday or bridal shower make sure you make this a stop. Being a girly girl I could have stayed in this pretty little place forever.
Chez Julien Restaurant
This hidden little gem was recommended to us by the chateau we stayed at for my sister in laws wedding. It is located in a tiny little village called Paunat, full of perfectly maintained stone houses and a beautiful big Church. The restaurant is located just next to the church in a beautiful garden surrounded by large trees and lush little lavender bushes and flowers. You can sit inside but during summer it was too pretty to sit inside. The first time here we enjoyed our meal on the balcony and the second down on the cobbled stones amongst the trees, which was just divine. It’s a perfect way to dine in the summer in France, as it doesn’t get dark until after 10 pm. I can imagine it is cosy and welcoming in the winter too.
The restaurant runs most of the year and the host/owner Julien is very charming, attentive and helpful as are all of his staff.
They are very helpful with the French menu if you don’t speak French and willing to accommodate dietary requirements and children too.
We went a few times with the children and once without and it was enjoyable every time. There was plenty of space for the children to play and move without bothering the other diners too much. The children tried some great French food as they did a special little child’s menu for us with an entrée of pate and bread, followed by the main meal of duck, rabbit or chicken with vegetables and French fries of course. Desert was fresh strawberry with cream and ice cream or crème brûlée. And let's just say the children enjoyed their meal very much.
The menu always seemed interesting and had changes every time we came here. Most of the food was very French but had a modern flair. The menu had so much variety from duck, rabbit, seafood, pasta and some great vegetarian options. The prices were very good and the three-course meal is the best value and you won’t be disappointed with the dessert. I loved the crème brûlée!
The wine menu was excellent and had a great variety of mainly local wines from the Bordeaux region and with a few other wines from the world.
It is easy to see why chez Julien has a following of both locals and tourists. It is a popular place so make sure you book as we were disappointed a few times when we arrived without a reservation and couldn’t get a table. You will have to look up the village and use your GPS as it’s well hidden although not too far from main villages. On a beautiful summer evening, it is well worth the drive for the ambiance and the great food.
La Noix Cassee Restaurant
In the middle of the French countryside, this adorable stone farmhouse converted to a B&B has the most charming little terrace restaurant. We spent mother’s day here and loved every minute of it. The grounds were full of fresh coloured flowers, roses, and lavender. It was the most gorgeous setting with the green countryside surrounding the property. Their dog was under the table and as charming as the picturesque scene. The chef/owner Pierre uses only fresh local produce and his lovely wife, the host made the whole experience personable and warm. They were all very accommodating to our dietary requirements and children. It was child-friendly although it would have been nice to have an adult only night here too.
We enjoyed three courses and sparkling rose. Being pregnant was torture as it was the nicest bubbles I had tried in a long time. I had a little sip and wanted more it was so good. It’s a good excuse for me to go back.
The French menu changes regularly and is made with the freshest ingredients. There is so much attention given to every meal and plate served. We enjoyed all the different dishes that included risotto, asparagus, soup, terrines, pasta, fresh vegetables, salmon, duck, and beef. Everyone including the children enjoyed their meals and that is not mentioning the desert. The three tasting dessert plate was the best, very creative and different each time. The whole experience was special and made us keep going back for more. Nothing fancy just a heart warming meal.
Let me know if been you have to any excellent restaurants in this region, as I would love to try them next time I am in France xxoo