Occitanie is a land of particularly rich crossroads, both cradled by the Mediterranean, the Pyrenees and the foothills of the Massif Central. Suffice to say that the cuisine of this territory evolves under multiple - cultural - influences and therefore does not hesitate to play with the mixture of genres; emphasizing accents that are both very maritime and very earthy, and can be played as much in gastronomic mode as based on sharing.
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In Assignan, the simplicity of La Petite Table
Very surprising discovery that that of the Castigno castle, in the heart of Minervois, which has taken over part of the village of Assignan with guest rooms and its many restaurants (including a Thai and a starred table). Accessible to all palates, the Petite Table figures prominently, in the center of the village, with its shaded terrace where you can feast on meats and fish grilled over a wood fire, but also on generous salads. Before or after a meal - preferably to be reserved - try a visit to the contemporary architecture cellar entirely covered with cork.
Prices: card, 20-30 €; children's menu, € 12.
The address: La Petite Table, rue carriera Granda, 34360 Assignan. Phone. : 04 99 57 05 07.
In Vailhan, the inspiring nature of Äponem
In Hérault, Äponem opened in July 2018 in the small town of Vailhan. Äponem / Photo press
Despite the address's isolated character, chef Amélie Darvas and sommelier Gaby Benicio were quick to get their “Äponem” noticed by food critics. Totally inspired by the wild nature of the Hérault, the two young women thus offer a real free taste journey - a fixed menu - which changes according to the arrivals and the harvests of the house vegetable garden. For example, this smoked bonito with lavender, this Iberian pig cheek, cherry and raw cocoa or even this ashy meringue with vegetable charcoal filled with a combawa cream. Aponem means happiness in the Patoxo dialect (Brazil). In Vailhan, we might run into him at every meal.
Prices: lunch menu, € 55; dinner, 89 €.
The address: Äponem L'Auberge du Presbytere, 1 rue de l'Eglise, 34320 Vailhan. Phone. : 04 67 24 76 49.
In Sète, The Rio for its conviviality
Building on his success with The Marcel restaurant, chef Fabien Fagne took over the Rio, a 1950s cinema that made the heyday of Sète moviegoers. Directly overlooking the Sète canal, the place now hosts exhibitions and shows as well as an outbuilding of the kitchens of The Marcel in bistro version, not to say tapas bar (here called Mini-Marcels). Based on recipes from the gourmet table, these small dishes obviously give pride of place to seafood - octopus, shellfish, squid, tuna, red mullet… - in raw, candied, snacked mode… To share, of course.
Prices: card, 25 €.
The address: The Rio, 7 quai Léopold Suquet, 34200 Sète. Phone. : 04 67 74 21 10.
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In Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone, Carré Mer or the summer hut of the Pourcel brothers
Le Carré Mer, the summer hut of the Pourcel brothers in Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone. Le Carré Mer / Press photo
It will be almost 10 years since chefs Jacques and Laurent Pourcel have moved to Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone beach every summer. At the heart of an environment that is still very well preserved, the straw hut reinvents itself year after year, rich in the journeys and discoveries of the two cook brothers who wish to offer new culinary stories. The menu is “simply” gourmet (St-Jacques ceviche, tuna tartare, Galician octopus), to be enjoyed at any time of the day or even to share thanks to a nice variation of tapas.
Prices: menu, 25-35 €.
The address: Carré Mer, Maguelone beach, 34750 Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone. Phone. : 04 67 42 06 96.
In Montpellier, the daring cuisine of Fauve
In Montpellier, the creative and modern cuisine of Faune. Mo.co / Press photo
In the bucolic park of the collections hotel, all that was missing was the sedentarization of local fauna. This is done thanks to the eponymous table which benefits greatly in summer from the green setting of the gardens of the contemporary art museum. Entrusted to the young chef Sydney Verdon, the cuisine is necessarily creative and modern, moreover with strong Mediterranean accents without being locked into borders, such as this cuttlefish grilled with harissa, this sea bass fillet in green curry sorrel or this coriander and kaffir lime falafel that has attracted more than a gourmet too happy to have unearthed this gourmet cache.
Prices: lunch menus, € 19 & 23; dinner menu, € 30.
The address: FAUNE - Hôtel des collections, Mo.co, 13 rue de la République, 34000 Montpellier. Phone. : 04 99 58 28 96.
Read also: From Arles to Aigues-Mortes, the Camargue in freedom
In Toulouse, Hito's Japanese sobriety
In Toulouse, Hito, the restaurant of Japanese chef Hitoshi Araki. Hito / Photo Facebook account
Some of them have taken the gamble of giving up their original gastronomy to embrace the French culinary tradition. Japanese chef Hitoshi Araki is one of them, having even opted for expatriation. After a visit to the Amphitryon, the cook decided to stay in Toulouse to open his own table, this time in a simpler setting. In any case at first glance because the plates of this address while sobriety ensure an unbeatable quality-price ratio. It will cost no more than € 15 for this “lunch” set consisting of cauliflower soup with grilled horse mackerel followed by pork loin, mustard sauce. Suffice to say that a reservation is necessary.
Prices: lunch menus, 15, 18 & 30 €; dinner, 35 & 45 €.
The address: Hito restaurant, 26, rue de la Fonderie, 31000 Toulouse. Phone. : 05 61 22 42 92.
In Payrin, the very confidential Villa Pinewood
In Payrin, Villa Pinewood offers meals to only a dozen guests. Florian Garcia / Press photo
Wine lovers may know Thomas Cabrol because he ran one of the best wine bars in the world in Toulouse. This did not prevent the emeritus sommelier from embarking with his wife Anne on a new gastronomic adventure. Between Castres and Mazamet, Villa Pinewood offers lodging (3 bedrooms) but above all meals for a dozen guests. A word of advice: you absolutely have to be on time since the meal is served at the whole table. But rigor has its charm because the couple compose a tailor-made menu every day which, it goes without saying, is accompanied by bottles chosen from Thomas' cellar. Last advice to live this experience: reservation required and only on the internet.
Prices: Pinewood Causse & Montagne Noire menu 50 €. Wine pairing 3 glasses, € 25; 6 glasses, € 50.
The address: Villa Pinewood, 328 chemin du Nègre, 81660 Payrin.
