The Lot Region has much to offer food lovers, from local delicacies such as the rare black truffle to the renowned “black wines” of Cahors. A number of restaurants for all occasions are within easy reach of the Manoir.The owners of Manoir Les Gaillardoux share their Bonnes Adresses with their guests.
Local Delicacies
First and foremost is the renowned (and rare) black truffle, sniffed out by trained pigs and shaved into dishes for a luxurious, heady twist. Other local delicacies include geese and duck in every guise, from magret to foie gras, while Toulouse is the home of the classic cassoulet.As far as cheeses are concerned, prestigious Roquefort, Bleu des Causses and the small, round, melt-in-the-mouth pebbles from Rocamadour vie for attention on the cheese board, along with other cheeses made from goat, cow or ewe’s milk.
And to finish your meal, why not try a Gâteau à la broche (spit-roast cake) or Pastis gascon, with its extremely delicate layers of raised puff pastry? In the summer months, the sweet melons of Quercy and Lectoure provide a refreshing alternative.
Cahors Wines
The area is renowned for the “black wines” of Cahors and some particularly good white wines. The name
“black wine” dates back to the time when the local wine-growers heated some of the grape bunches or the ‘musts’, resulting in very dark wines.
“black wine” dates back to the time when the local wine-growers heated some of the grape bunches or the ‘musts’, resulting in very dark wines.
A recent innovation is the ‘New Black Wine’, produced from 100% old Malbec vines in a similar fashion to the wines exported to England as long ago as the 13th Century. Most of the famous chateaux and local vineyards welcome visitors for guided tours of the vineyards and cellars, and offer wine tasting and an opportunity to purchase wines.
Further afield, world-famous Montbazillac, a sweet, perfumed white wine ideal with “foie gras” and desserts, is produced in the Bergerac area to the north-west.
What to drink in Cahors
Manoir Les Gaillardoux is located in an area of over 10,000 acres of vineyards and wineries producing locally grown wines from pure Malbec grape or blended with other varieties such as Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, which are the main components of the best Bordeaux wines. We are fortunate to have a huge choice ranging from inexpensive Coteaux de Quercy vineyards to the very best Appellation Controlée from Clos Triguedina, as selected for and served to President Macron at the Elysée Palace.
There are at least 120 vineyards along the Lot valley from Cahors to Puy L’Eveque and further west towards Bergerac. Many vignerons welcome visitors to taste their wines and learn how they are made. The individuality of each wine depends on the land, the weather and the style determined by the winemaker.
At Manoir Les Gaillardoux, we organise gastronomic dinners and wine tasting at our tables d’hotes. A special treat is a black wine produced by recreating a 12th century methodology used when Cahors wines were exported to England for Eleonor of Aquitaine and her husband Henry II.
Weekly rental from Saturday to Saturday exclusively