Gastronomy
Flavors of Ardèche: putting together your holiday basket
Before filling the basket, look at the number of meals left in the stay. A cheese intended for lunch and a product to bring back after several hours of driving do not require the same precautions.
The products come from different territories: Ardèche chestnut groves, Rhône valley orchards, livestock farms and vineyards. Asking for the origin on the stall avoids confusing a product sold in Ardèche with a product that was manufactured there.
What to eat during your stay
A young Picodon, an abomasum and vegetables are enough for a first meal. Picodon AOP is a goat's cheese whose taste and texture evolve with maturation. Tell the cheesemaker the planned date to eat it; for a dry or matured cheese, have conservation explained to you.
Caillette and cove belong to the local cuisine, but their recipes vary depending on the house. Our guide to Ardèche gastronomy details these dishes and their uses at the table.
In summer, seasonal fruits can replace a pastry to prepare. Buy them at different maturities rather than a whole case ready to eat on the same day.
Chestnut and honey for the return
La Châtaigne d’Ardèche AOP protects fresh, dry chestnuts and flour. The fresh harvest belongs to autumn; processed products are found throughout the year. On a cream, a biscuit or a preparation, look at the composition and the announced origin of the fruit.
Chestnut flour, a jar of honey or a can are more easily transported than fresh products. Keep the manufacturer's advice on the packaging, and avoid fragile purchases just before a long journey without suitable equipment.
Come back with a meal to prepare
The basket can make up dinner without much work: a quail with a salad, bread, cheese and then fruit. For a group, check quantities and diets before purchases.
If you pass by a cellar, explain the menu and your tastes. Ardèche wines cover several appellations; a bottle is chosen with its producer, without having to know all the tasting vocabulary. Plan the return with a driver who is not happy.
The tourist office and producers publish the welcome days. Consult this information before traveling: the store open in August does not necessarily have the same hours in November.
