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BY MARDI MICHELS

When you think "South of France", do you think ""? Gascony, the "other" South of France is just as worthy a culinary tourisnn destination with more to offer than most realize. From to foie gras, prunes to hazelnuts, this unknown corner of the country's Southwest offers much to discover! Four years ago, discovering - I Gascony on the first of many visits I was seduced J LI b y its food, friendly people and sunflowers. Here are some tried and true favourites. This 17-day Regional journey allows you to explore some of the most magnificent places of France and Spain to immerse yourself in the local LES MARCHES cultures and traditions including Lyon, , Any culinary journey begins at a market. At the Saturday San Sebastian and the . Begin nnorning Nerac market, locals catch up with friends your trip with a Welcome Reception in Paris and no one's in a rush as they discuss the merits and sample and wine. Then head of these tomatoes over those ones - so don't be in a t o the picturesque Valley and later join a hurry. Here, the usual market offerings share stall space Local Expert to explore the cobbled streets of La with local specialties. Rochelle's Old Quarter. You will then travel to the Dordogne Valley and enjoy a 3-night stay at the The best charcuterie, for example, is found at the L'Art luxurious Signature Hotel, Chateau Des Vigiers du Cochon stand run by Dominique and Christiane set amidst the famous vineyards of this beautiful Chapolard. Market purchases or browsing complete, grab unspoiled region. a chocolatine (what people in the region call a pain au chocolat) and head to the Taverne Henri IV to enjoy a cafe creme and soak in the market atmosphere. You'll probably CULINARY & WINE HIGHLIGHTS : also encounter foie gras at a market or in a restaurant. Throughout this journey, enjoy many experiences To learn about its production, head to Souleilles farm that introduce you to the food and wine of this and museum in Frespech where you'll find happy region. In Saint-Emilion, enjoy a visit to a local hand-fed ducks and a proprietor with the utmost respect cellar to sample some of the great wines of the for his animals. region with an expert vintner. In the beautiful town of Sarlat-la-Caneda enjoy some of the L'ARMAGNAC AND SWEET TREATS unique regional dishes specially prepared with You can't leave Gascony without tasting Armagnac! For local produce at a family-run countryside inn. some of the best, visit Ladeveze in Fources (worth a look Length: 18 days for its circular layout and pretty central "place"). If you're lucky, Alexandre Ladeveze himself will teach you how to From $5,850-$6,025 CAD per person properly taste this local digestif. In terms of wine, it's not a well-known region, however Buzet is producing some ENSEMBLE EXCLUSIVE PROMOTION: fine Bordeaux-style red blends, as well as the regional Save $200 CAD per couple Armagnac-fortified aperitif Floe de Gascogne. For cellar, vineyard visits and samples from many winemakers, INSIGHT VACATIONS visit Les Vignerons de Buzet. TAe .Jirl of Touring in S/y/e

SUMMER 2016 | BONViVANTTRAVEL.CA I 21 Le Florida in the spa town of Castera Verduzan

(or Market Menu) at lunch for 27€. In summer, sit in a shady courtyard and enjoy Chef Benjamin Toursel's take on seasonal, local ingredients like goat cheese mousse with radishes and pickled mustard seeds. Eric Sampietro takes inspiration from the terroir in Gascony too and gives it a modern spin at La Table des Cordeliers. Think foie gras with truffles and beet carpaccio. The Cote Bistrot offers a more affordable menu, while the restaurant proper is set in an old church, offering a beautiful backdrop for If you have a sweet tooth, check out Chocolaterie your meal. Family run since 1935, Le Florida in the La Cigale, said to be the inspiration behind spa town of Castera Verduzan, has a Michelin "Bib Joanne Harris' famed novel, Choco/at. In Agen, Gourmand" and offers beautifully presented food at award-winning Yves Thuries sells artisanal chocolates a fraction of the price you'd pay in a larger city. In featuring local hazelnuts and piment d'Espelette the heart of Nerac, L'Art de Vivre has an innovative, (a regional chili pepper). seasonal menu and often features a prune and Armagnac souffle not to be missed! Local ingredients shine in restaurant meals From Armagnac to Michelin-starred meals, this here. Auberge le Prieure in Moirax boasts one other South of France has every gourmand's whims Michelin star and offers a bargain "Menu du Marche" covered, deliciously! Bon appetit! |

mim mmk Armagnac, the grand old master of French brandies, hails from Gascony, in South-West France, and predates its northern neighbours Cognac by 150-odd years. For many, the difference between the two isn't always clear, though they are distinctly different. Firstly, Armagnac can be made from four grape varietals, while Cognac is almost exclusively made from the Ugni Blanc grape. Armagnac is also made using a single distillation in a column still, as opposed to Cognac's double pot distillation. While both of these brandies are oak aged, it's Armagnac that carries a vintage date. Yet, for historical, logistical and geographical reasons, the popularity and production levels of Cognac far outweighs that of Armagnac, and even though its popularity is on the rise, it remains the domain of smaller producers. There are three sub- in Armagnac, with most of the production coming from Bas Armagnac, though there are various single varietals available, making for an impressive array of flavours and characteristics from one producer to the next. When looking for Armagnac, note that they start hitting their peak at about 20 years of age, and start falling off in one aspect or another after about 30 years.

2 2 I BONVIVANTTRAVEL.CA | SUMMER 2016