I'd wanted to try an authentic cassoulet for a long time - this hearty, rustic white bean stew with duck and sausage, indigenous to the southeast French countryside, is difficult to find in the U.S., and if I did find it, I'm sure a bowl of it this size would cost 40 dollars. Here in Carcassonne, however, this dish is very common, generous in portion, and inexpensive. Needless to say, I finally got my chance courtesy of this cozy bistro.
I can't say I'm a cassoulet expert after one sitting, but this one seemed to check all the boxes for me. Lots of white beans, a whole sausage, large hunk of roast duck with crispy skin, well-seasoned....if cassoulet gets any better than this, I probably need to live in southern France.
The stew came as part of a 13.50 euro menu that included a soup and dessert. The onion soup was decent, and the creme brulee was outstanding, with the nicely charred outer shell I love. We also had a mug of hot mulled wine, and a hot grog made with rum, lemon and tea.
What an enjoyable outing, eating cassoulet and drinking mulled wine and grog on a chilly night in a castle town. I could do this again... read more