Gastronomy Midi Pyrénées

Press release

Right up there with the 26 Great Tourist Sites of Midi-Pyrenees, such as Rocamadour, the Millau Viaduct and Toulouse, is another intangible one: gastronomy. It doesn't exist in only one place, it is everywhere: part of our land and our vineyards, visible in our markets, and at home with our producers and great chefs. This great site will give your holiday a very special flavor.
Gastronomy alone is sufficient reason to take a vacation in Midi-Pyrenees. It's a region in which fine food and good cheer are part of everyone's culture, where striving for excellence is commonplace and meals eaten with family or friends are always festive times. There are long and well-established gastronomic traditions in Midi-Pyrenees. They are based on extraordinary local knowhow and on quality local products like foie gras, Quercy black truffles, and even Roquefort cheese and saffron. Unique specialties such as cassoulet (a slow-cooked stew made with meat and beans), garbure (a thick ham soup with cabbage and other vegetables) and aligot (a fondu-like dish of cheese blended into mashed potatoes) contribute to the region's culinary charms.
First in France in terms of land area devoted to organic agriculture, Midi-Pyrenees is at the forefront of the fight for healthy food. In addition to having 120 products labeled for their quality (AOC/AOP [government certification of food items from specific locations], Label Rouge [Red Label], IGP [Protected Geographic Identification], AB [government organic certification]), Midi-Pyrenees has launched a Food Quality Expo (Salon de la Qualité Alimentaire, or SISQA). Notable regional products include the Chasselas grape, pink garlic from Lautrec, Cabécou (a soft goat cheese) from Rocamadour and free-range lamb from Quercy. You will find these products in the flourishing markets of cities and villages throughout Midi-Pyrenees. You will taste them in the region's fine dining establishments, many bearing important restaurant-network labels (Restaurateur de France, Bistrots de Pays, Cuisineries de France, Logis de France and more). Regional gastronomy reaches its culinary heights through the region's Michelin-recognized chefs. Midi-Pyrenees boasts more than 20 of them: bold young talents and unique characters deserving of their stars, three for the likes of Michel Bras, or two for chefs such as Michel Sarran and Yannick Delpech in Toulouse, and Bernard Bach in Pujaudran (Gers). Notable for its vineyards, Midi-Pyrenees produces high-quality wines. The Cahors and Gaillac appellations, and the vine-covered lands of the Gers (including the legendary Armagnac) are labeled Vignobles & Découvertes (Vineyards & Discoveries). Explore, discover and taste: the flavors of the region are all here for you to savor. Come share them with us!

Contact

Birgitte Reimers
Midi-Pyrénées Tourism Board