FOOD & DRINK IN THE PRYENEES

This is a guest blog by Amber W.

I've been visiting France for many years and have always been surprised by the cuisine. I understand France has numerous world famous restaurants and chefs, it is known as a country of high quality dining and I've therefore been disappointed at the lack of variety in the meals available.

My ski holidays have been mainly in The Alps so the usual fondue, raclette and tartiflette on offer are no doubt delicious but - in my eyes - not particularly adventurous. 

In other parts of France the menus I've seen are usually meat or fish with one vegetable on the side or a salad. There's nothing wrong with what's on offer - it just doesn't excite me. 

Vegetarians have a notoriously difficult time eating in France, either a cheese omelette or salad and chips seem to be the staple options there.  And vegans had better take their own supplies if they don’t want to live on chips all week! 

In the Pyrenees the food was much more interesting to me, it was based on a lighter diet - more Mediterranean I felt. There were far more vegetables and I felt the dishes had more flavour. 

To go off menu to suit a vegetarian or vegan diet appeared far easier and more acceptable than in a lot of the rest of the country. The impression I got was that in the Pyrenees the people in the kitchens were experienced chefs who were passionate about their menu, versatile and eager to please their diners. 

The food we were served in every single case appeared to have been prepared with care, to our specifications and with quality ingredients.

This is highly rated wine area and this was certainly reflected in the wine we were offered. In short the food and drink here was delicious, fresh and of fantastic quality. 

When I first arrived in the Pyrenees. I was surprised by the endless Bio (organic) shops we passed. They are everywhere, in tiny mountain villages, in the middle of nowhere as well as in the towns. Having spent a week here I now understand this better; there is a definite air here of people wanting to do their best for their health and the environment. The population and clientele here appear to take care over what they are eating and drinking - particularly where it's sourced from.