News from Caussi

Auberge de l'Abbaye - Villemagne

From the Kilbreth family (May 2008): we really enjoyed  the Auberge de l’Abbaye in Villemagne. It was exceptionally good—and the wine they  recommended was from Caussi!  You can get menus starting at 27 euros and going all the way to about 58, so you can make it as pricey as you want. But it’s a lovely spot in a spectacular 17th century Abbey with 1 star cuisine, all based on fresh, local ingredients.

From a French guide book:

Charmante petite auberge de campagne, située dans un village classé, au coeur du Parc Régional du Haut Languedoc. Utilisant une petite partie d'une ancienne abbaye cistercienne, cette auberge bénéficie d'un cadre exceptionnel, voûtes du XIIéme siécle, mobilier en bois massif. Vous y goûterez une cuisine originale et inventive élaborée exclusivement à base de produits frais et locaux.

Spécialités : Roulades de Foie Gras aux Figues et Magret sur son croustillant, Etoile d'Anchois de Sète avec sa Poivronnade à boire.

AUBERGE DE L'ABBAYE
Place du Couvent
34600 VILLEMAGNE L'ARGENTIERE
Tél : 04.67.95.34.84
Fax : 04.67.95.34.84

Excellent Casual Restaurant in Pezenas

Our friend and Marseilles native Marion Dubois strongly recommends La Flambee in Pezenas (27, rue de la Foire) for its warm, casual atmosphere accompanied by a simple menu of homemade pasta, house pizzas, grilled shrimp, and salads, all of incredibly high quality.  Very welcoming ambience.

Located in one of charming historic buildings in the heart of Pezenas...Don't miss.

LA FLAMBEE – LES BABOUCHES DE MOLIERE
27, rue de la Foire 
PEZENAS

Tél : 04 67 98 09 19

closed Sunday evenings and Mondays

 

Les Marronniers in Pezenas

After a day of antique shopping and a visit to the Saturday market, we had a great lunch at Les Marronniers in Pezenas in November...Set a 19th century mansion with a beautiful courtyard lined with chestnus trees and outdoor tables for the summer, the dining rooms are charming spaces carved out of the mansion's parlours. At lunch, the cuisine is French traditional featuring veal dishes of the Lyons region.....in the evening, tapas and Spanish cuisine are offered... This restaurant was a huge hit with our French friends..

Location: 6 avenue de Verdun, Pézenas. 04.67.90.13.80.  Closed on Mondays. For a full review (in French): http://restaurantsdumidi.midiblogs.com/archive/2007/04/17/ss.html

Oysters in Meze

We were enchanted with the Mediterranean village of Meze (near Agde) during a visit in November 2006.  Sitting in the bright sun, eating local oysters and fish stew in an outdoor cafe on the harbor was a highlight of our recent trip.  The spot is apparently known to visitors from northern Europe as we heard Swiss and German spoken around us but nary a word (as usual in Languedoc) of English.

Seafood lovers

From the Blattler family (August 2006):
We are lovers of any kind of seafood!  We ate great fruits de mer and oysters in Cap-d’Agde (restaurant La Reine des Mers) and at Valras-Plage. At St.Pons we enjoyed great local food at a lonely restaurant behind the main street (across the street from the little park at the head quarter of the Parc National du Haut-Languedoc Great place for a French lunch.

La Forge in Bedarieux

We loved La Forge in Bedarieux. It had excellent food at very reasonable prices.
from the Kogan family (August 06)

Where:
LA FORGE
                        22, avenue Abbé Tarroux, BEDARIEUX Tel 04.67.95.13.13.
Spécialités : Cassoulet de la mer aux pois chiche de Carlencas,
                        Menus de 15 € à 35€. Menu du terroir à 15 €.

Beziers Restaurants

Beziers, a city of about 40,000, is the nearest metropolis to Caussi (about 15 minutes away.) You don't need to go to Beziers to eat well but if you crave a bit urbanity, you can munch on mussels and local wine at one of the cafes in the central market. Or be extravagant and dine at L'Ambassade. Here Patrick Olry cooks ambitious food in an ultracool setting (4 67 76+ 06 24).  Framboisier is also good (we love the warm oysters in champagne sauce) (4 67 49 90 00). 

Although we haven't tried it yet, La Raffinerie in Beziers on the Canal du Midi comes with much praise.  One reviewer said, "Dine with style and good taste. The interior has been carefully designed to exude excellence.  Menus are original, with surprises both succulent and succinct. The wines are chosen well. The prices very reasonable, and the service gracious. What more could one want?!" (14, Avenue Joseph Lazare, 04 67 76 07 12)

Finally, a few miles north of Beziers, in the village of Maraussan, a restaurant called Parfums de Garrigue has a country feel (see doorway above).  It's surrounded by vineyards and, as at all local restaurants, the wine list includes selections from the best local winemakers. (4 67 90 33 76)