Taste the Lot
A Foodie’s Paradise!
Explore the Culinary Treasures of the Lot
As a passionate traveller, you will know that one of the best ways to experience a new culture is through its cuisine. So lucky for you, the Lot is a foodie’s paradise – rich in gourmet creations that have made this region famous: walnuts, Rocamadour cheese, truffles, foie gras, Agen prunes, IGP free-range lamb and much more. From delectable cheeses and savoury charcuterie to locally produced wines, beers and spirits, you simply can’t miss out on this region’s incredible range of flavours and ingredients. They are guaranteed to tickle your taste buds and leave you begging for more!
Regional Specialities
In addition to the local products, there are many regional specialities that you should try during your stay. Some dishes have been inherited from neighbouring regions, such as les farçous, a crispy Swiss chard fritter from Aveyron. Fortunately for us, the recipes have been shared across borders. And today, it is easy to find these delicious dishes in restaurants and markets in the Lot.
One of the most famous dishes in the region is the unique dessert called Pastis. Ask for ‘pastis’ in a restaurant and instead of the aniseed drink you are more likely to get a flaky pastry filled with apples or prunes. Another regional speciality is the Truffade (originally from Auvergne). It is a potato dish with garlic and Cantal cheese, and served with green salad and a slice of local cured ham.
Artisan Beer In The Heart of Cahors Wine Country
Without a doubt, the Lot is most famous for its beverages, particularly the Cahors wine, a deep red wine made from Malbec grapes. But as well as wine the region also produces a variety of artisanal beers and spirits, including a warming walnut liqueur and a liqueur de prunes.
Brasserie Artisanale Ratz, Cahors
This is a great activity if you are an artisan beer fan or just want to do something different when you visit Cahors.
It is a modern brewery creating excellent beers in a great setting. There is also a very informative free tour of the Ratz Brewery, and at the end of it you can enjoy tasting some of the draught or bottled beers. Visits are free if booked in advance.
Are you ready to savour the mouth-watering gastronomy of the Lot ?
D’Family & Co. Duravel
Local bar and restaurant run by an absolutely charming couple. It is great for coffee, drinks and good value lunches. They serve delicious burgers with everything on them! Saturday morning is market day in Duravel. So you can grab a few supplies from the ferme du Bourdicou stall, browse and buy from the book shop, then sit and watch the world go by from the restaurant terrace.
D’Family & Co specialise in traditional cuisine prepared with fresh, seasonal produce. Open lunchtimes and evenings, drink or dine indoors or on the sunny terrace outside. They also broadcast some of the main sporting events.
Restaurant HENRY, Puy L’Eveque
Probably our ‘go-to’ restaurant when we have friends and family to stay because they can normally cater for everyone. They do a very reasonably priced Menu de Jour. Great service and friendly staff. The food is simple, delicious and consistently good.
Beautiful outdoor seating area and lovely to sit there with an afternoon coffee.
Chateau de Mercues, Cahors
Our favourite place, because who wouldn’t want to dine in a 13th Century French chateau with spectacular views?
At lunchtime they serve a limited Bistro menu. The Michelin-starred restaurant, Le Duèze, offers various set menus and a fine selection of gourmet dishes à la carte. The food and service are wonderful – overall it is just an incredible dining experience.
The chateau also offers winery visits and wine tasting. Check the website for full details and hours of opening.
Restaurant Côté Lot, Puy L’Eveque
This place is an absolute gem. We enjoyed dinner here and the experience was perfect from start to finish. The food is delicious, fresh, seasonal, very reasonably priced and served by knowledgeable and helpful staff. The experience is further enhanced by the breath-taking views from the restaurant window of the valley and river Lot below.
Le Medieval, Puy L’Eveque
Small gastro restaurant with beautiful dishes created with fresh produce. Good regional wine list too. The evening menu is slightly more expensive than at lunchtime, but the dishes are more elaborate. You can tell that the chef cares about his work and puts a lot of love into the preparation and presentation.
The choice of dishes is limited, so if you are taking a group check the menu first to make sure there is something for everyone. We also recommend booking in advance as it is a small, intimate place and can get very busy.
Chateau de Chambert, Puy L’Eveque
The Holodeck is an outstanding restaurant with stunning views, Food, service and ambiance are all fantastic and we would say it is well worth a visit. There is a selection of menus to choose from including a set lunchtime menu and a children’s menu. The atmosphere is very relaxed for such a high quality restaurant.
As well as the restaurant there is a separate wine bar where they also serve tapas. Wine tourism activities include tastings, guided tours, workshops, and biking and hiking tours. Booking is easy either over the phone (staff speak French, English and Spanish) or via the website.
More to Come
We constant update this page whenever we have a gourmet restaurant review to add. So remember to check back before your stay at La Bergerie to see what’s new. If you have any recommendations, please get in touch. It is always good to have additional feedback.