Bargain Banquet In An Ancient French City

Overview—

This week we have no introductory video! That is because I am traveling, and next week you will see where 😄.

Michelin Quality Excellent Value—

I recently had lunch with my Scottish friends Gregor and Susan, who have lived in the Languedoc region of southern France for decades. We visited La Barbacane Restaurant (recommended by Michelin), within the old city of Carcassonne.

Their lunch menu? Basically—white linen and silverwear, amuse-bouche, three courses, bottled water, two glasses of wine, coffee and after-dessert pastries—for €55.00, or $62 (no tip necessary; service included). All within a sprawling and sumptuous century old dining room.

Menu—

Dishes

Oeuf de la ferme de Villeneuve cuit cocotte, crème de Potiron, magret de canard, fève tonka, èmulsion de châtaigne [Baked egg from Villeneuve Farm, pumpkin cream, duck breast, tonka bean and chestnut foam]

Supréme de pintage française farci à l'ail des ours, raviole de côtes de blettes au vin jaune, noix et comté, crème et jus [French guinea fowl breasts stuffed with wild garlic, Swiss chard stem, ravioli with Vin Jaune, walnuts and Comté cheese, cream sauce and jus]

Poire Williams compotée, sablé aux amandes, crémeux à la cardamome verte et miel de nos ruches [Stewed Williams pear, almond shortbread, green cardamom crémeux and honey from the restaurant's own hives]

Homemade bread

Wines

Domaine Sarrat de Goundy. Le Marin. La Clape AOP. 2025. [50/25/10/10/5 Bourboulenc, Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Macabeo, Roussanne]

Domaine Cailhol Gautran. Cantus Vitis. Minervois AOP. 2024. [Syrah, Grenache, Carignan]

Domaine Nomboly Traydou. Moment Présent. Jurançon. 2020. [Petit Manseng and Gros Manseng]

(We paid slightly more for adding a final dessert wine, from Jurançon.)

I compared this menu to a lunch from a restaurant of commensurate quality in Napa Valley in California. The price there (including taxes and tip) would be between about €145 and €175 ($160 and $190). So, attractive pockets of southern France can be surprisingly affordable.

"Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars - Season 2" by Apple TV

Special Edition Vino Voices This Friday—

Once again I was provided advanced screenings of this series from Apple TV. Episode 7 will be publicly released on October 30th and features two restaurants in Germany—one in Berlin and the other in the wine country of Deidesheim. I'll include a review, photographs and a video this coming Friday in a Vino Voices Special Edition release. Tune in!

Wine of the Week

Mas Del Périé. Les Escures. Malbec. 2024.

From Cahors, this 100% Malbec includes unusually soft tannins and delicate flavors. The wine is certified biodynamic (by Demeter), and is made from grapes from vines at least 25 years old.

Free Recipe from The Winemakers' Cooking Companion Cookbook

My cookbook titled The Winemakers' Cooking Companion was compiled over a ten year period. It includes 108 recipes from 18 countries—contributed by winemakers, winery chefs and winery owners. The book launch dinner took place on September 16th in my village in southern France, as described above. Fifty diners joined. There will also be an event at the Green Cat art gallery in December.

Recipe—

Below is a free recipe from my cookbook for a recipe from the Beaumont Family Estate Winery in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Canada.

More Free Chapters From The Book Vino Voices: Wine, Work, Travel, Life

I'm continuing to provide all chapters from my book Vino Voices: Wine, Work, Travel, Life for free here. Originally written over a decade ago, this book has been revised and is available as an e-book. It is 230 pages long and includes interviews with more than 45 professionals in a dozen countries who work in the world of wine, and explain why they love their work. It includes more than 100 photographs.

Below is the concluding chapter from the book. In future editions of Vino Voices I'll include pdfs of past Forbes articles I've written that relate to food, wine and travel.

Click below to download chapter 35—the final chapter where I summarize thoughts about why winemakers (and those involved with wine) choose their profession.

Sign Up—Free Newsletters, Recipes, Videos—

Signing up to this Vino Voices site is free, and there is no obligation. You can unsubscribe anytime. Free weekly or biweekly newsletters will include information about food, wine, travel and books, as well as access to free recipes, video commentaries, and links to over 400 articles I wrote for Forbes during the past decade.

This is also an opportunity to join a community with others who share similar interests.

You can sign up using the box below. I will also send you a copy of my e-book titled Vino Voices: Wine, Work, Travel, Life. This e-book has just been republished. Hardback and paperback editions will also be available this summer. It is 230 pages long and includes interviews, made in a dozen countries, with more than 45 professionals working in the world of wine. They explain why they love their work. The book includes more than 100 photographs.

What's Next In Vino Voices—

Soon to be featured:

• Dubai! What are popular bar wines in this colorful United Arab Emirate? A lively host named Zedan from Cameroon tells us . . .
• Interview with Allie Ketcham of Ketcham Estate Winery from the Russian River Valley in Sonoma County, California.
• Casual wine and food scene in Malibu, California.
• More Texan wines—of robust quality.
• Food/wine culture of Serbia—full scoop!

Thanks for tuning in!

Follow me on Instagram at @tjlmullen or at @VinoVoices.