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Ardèche specialties
The culinary heritage of Ardèche is a pillar of the region, a treasure of our mountains and the jewel of our valleys.
Thousands of flavors: rustic and bold or mild and authentic, there are so many facets to satisfy every taste. From the mountain peaks to the depths of the gorges, in the middle of a village or around a table, it is a notable feature of the department that cannot be missed, and is there solely for our enjoyment. Find chestnuts nestled alongside a scoop of ice cream on the corner of a plate, caillette cheese next to dry sausage in a butcher's shop like two friends, or picodon and tomme cheese in a salad vying for the crique at the edge of a chestnut grove.
So many dishes and so many flavors that will create so many wonderful memories!
THE CRIQUE
A must-try in Ardèche, this potato pancake seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic will delight your taste buds. An icon of our region, it can be enjoyed just as easily at a picnic table as in a fancy restaurant. There's a recipe for this convivial specialty to suit every taste, and it's as crispy as it is melt-in-the-mouth.
- But to taste it, you'll need to visit:
- And as a bonus, here's a recipe for crique from the Aubenas-Vals Tourist Office:
THE CAILLETTE
This is, of course, a specialty of the Ardèche and Drôme regions. While this pork dish cooked in caul fat is traditionally served with green salad in Drôme, in Ardèche it is accompanied by spinach or Swiss chard!
Whether served hot or cold, it is sure to impress.
- And it awaits you here:
- The Sources Volcans Tourist Office offers you a recipe:
THE BOMBINE
What used to be known as “the poor man's dish” is now one of the jewels of our Ardèche region. Bombine is a stew made with small cubes of potato, onions, olives, carrots, bacon, lamb, pork, and beef—as many ingredients as there are tastes and versions. The dish is cooked in the oven for several hours and shared among several people.
- In summer, in Saint-Andéol-de-Berg, bombine is served at the village festival meal!
- Bombine is a regular feature of festivities!
THE CHESNUT
A true star of our department since 1960, it is now back in the spotlight. The Ardèche chestnut has been a protected designation of origin since 2014. It is closely linked to our mountains, whose slopes are covered with chestnut groves.
Whether dried or fresh, this autumnal treasure is sure to charm you.
It has given our region a multitude of dishes that we hold dear:
CHESTNUT CREAM
A creamy chestnut cream that is perfectly sweet, loved by young and old alike, and tastes just as good on a scoop of ice cream as it does on whipped cream!
THE CASTAGNOU
Or chestnut Kir is the perfect Ardèche aperitif ! Pour one-third chestnut liqueur and add two-thirds white wine. There you have it, the perfect castagnou!
LOU PISADOU
Shortcrust pastry, rum-flavored frangipane, chestnut cream for a unique Ardèche pastry that is just as delicious cold as it is warm!
THE CASTAGNADES
The starlet even has its own festival!
From October to November, the people of Ardèche celebrate the heritage of their region's brown gold with concerts, games, and tastings.
That's right! The chestnut tree has been serving the people of Ardèche since the 13th century. So, in autumn, the tree nicknamed “the bread tree” is celebrated throughout the Ardèche in the Monts d'Ardèche Regional Nature Park.
It's a time of year when every aspect of this monument to everyday life in the Ardèche is highlighted! A festival that brings people together as well as delighting them!
