This Christmas, give a useful, gourmet gift! Discover HERE our Christmas gourmet hampers filled with nuggets from our small craftsmen from France and Spain and schedule delivery of your hampers on the date of your choice. As always, you can personalise your gifts with your own words for the recipient...
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This month LA GOURMET BOX whisks you away to Dordogne, the former province of Périgord, a region whose stunning geographical diversity is evidenced by the colourful names that distinguish its various landscapes: Périgord Vert (Green), Blanc (White), Pourpre (Purple) and Noir (Black). The Périgord Noir, for instance, is named for the dense, dark oak forests that blanket the countryside.
The Dordogne is known for its cuisine, picturesque villages and the impressive vestiges of its prehistoric past, especially the world-famous cave paintings of Lascaux. This GOURMET BOX invites you to take a surprising culinary journey and discover the most delectable specialities of a fascinating region.
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Winery: Château Court Les Mûts.
The estate of Château Court Les Mûts has been producing wine since the 17th century, and its vineyards have been tended by the Sadoux family since 1960. These passionate oenologists are always thrilled to explain the many properties of their wines, which are highly regarded by the leading wine guides and critics (the wine we've selected, a smooth and surprising Bergerac, won the Gold Medal in Paris in 2015). This masterful blend of the Sauvignon and Semillon varieties strikes a perfect balance of acidity and sweetness. The grapes were harvested at the height of aromatic ripeness, just before the onset of noble rot, to preserve all of their freshness and sweet flavour. This velvety wine boasts a seductively exotic aroma of peach, lychee and grapefruit. Ideal when paired with foie-gras or desserts.
Artisan: Foie Gras Danos Frères.
Although the Périgord's most famous speciality is confit de canard or duck confit, it also produces many other wonderful delicacies, one of which we've chosen for you: this slight twist on the traditional recipe uses the whiter, tenderer meat of chicken thighs. The confit was made with duck fat, salt and pepper on an old-fashioned family farm near Trémolat in the southern Dordogne. The Danos brothers, artisan preservers since 1966, have won several awards for their savoury products. To cook these delicious thighs, we recommend frying them with just a little bit of the confit fat to give them a crisp golden crust. Use the leftover fat to whip up a tasty batch of pan-fried potatoes. Add cooked green beans with a bit of garlic and sprinkle with fresh parsley. Et voilà—dig in and enjoy!
Artisan: Foie Gras Danos Frères.
A highly recommendable traditional French hors d'oeuvre, these 100% duck rillettes are a genuine treat for the taste buds. Made with duck meat and fat, salt, pepper and herbs, in 2013 they won the Gold Medal at Saint-Sever. You can eat them at room temperature spread on toast, but they also make a delicious cold appetizer if you refrigerate them for 12 hours before serving. You'll be amazed by their smooth, creamy goodness!
Artisan: Lou Cocal.
These savoury biscuits with the authentic flavour of sheep's milk cheese and walnuts will make an original, crunchy addition to your gourmet hors d'oeuvres spread. They are made in Sarlat, in the heart of the Périgord Noir, and they contain no artificial colouring or preservatives. The master pastry chefs at this old-fashioned biscuiterie look to the region's traditional recipes for inspiration when concocting their exquisite creations. The name Lou Cocal actually means "the walnut" in Occitan, so it's no surprise that this ingredient features prominently in their products. And we knew that our GOURMET BOX would not be complete without a gourmet treat based on the walnut, a product typical of the Périgord landscape and an integral part of its cultural and culinary heritage.
Artisan: Lou Cocal.
This crisp, delicious culinary speciality is a must. Though it looks like a lovely golden sun, it's actually a walnut tart encased in puff pastry. In addition to being delicious, this tempting morsel is good for you because of the many nutritional properties of walnuts, which not only lower cholesterol but are also rich in magnesium and vitamin E. You can't go wrong with this premium energy food!
Artisan: Domaine de Béquignol.
A marvellous combination of dark chocolate, cocoa and candied chestnuts with a hint of cognac flavouring. One bite will send your taste buds straight to seventh heaven. These heavenly sweets come from Béquignol, an artisan confectionery in Carlux. Founded over forty years ago, they are past masters at combining chocolate with the Périgord's famous nuts, such as these chestnuts.
Artisan: Domaine de Béquignol.
To complete this delightfully sweet interlude, we have selected a box with three Arlequines, tasty bonbons made of roasted walnuts dipped in dark chocolate and cocoa powder. Made by hand, these confections come with an animal fat-free guarantee; in fact, the only fat is cocoa butter. An all-natural pleasure.
One of our GOURMET BOXES will contain a fantastic gift certificate that entitles two fortunate gourmands to a night at the guesthouse run by Anne Fouquet, in the heart of the Périgord.
The lucky winners are in for a truly unforgettable experience. A feeling of contentment and wellbeing washes over visitors as soon as they step into this hillside house in La Roque-Gageac, considered one of the loveliest villages in France. The sense of harmonious equilibrium that pervades this building is only partly owing to its singular construction, a perfect combination of modern architecture and traditional elements, of clean lines and voluptuous curves. The guest rooms are bright, elegant and warmly inviting. This relaxing getaway includes a delicious breakfast of fresh products, most of which are homemade ... Visit this wonderful guesthouse on our Blog Here.
Picture rights: Thérèse Laumaillé Photographies
