Southwest of Toulouse?

[RandyB]

I'll be spending a week at a rural gite in a tiny village an hour and a half from Toulouse. The nearest town is Saint-Girons.

I don't suppose anyone knows the area and might have recommendations? I found a promising place called the Hôtel restaurant Eychenne but don't know more than their own website says: "Gastronomy like you hardly find any more."
http://www.ariege.com/hotel-eychenne/

[hoteliere]

We have stayed at the Hotel Eychenne twice for five or six days each stay. Wonderful menu and wine list. We tried to eat our way through the menu, need to go a third time.

See my posting from January for more details and other area suggestions.

[RandyB]

Now I really feel dumb. (Thanks for not mentioning it, hoteliere!) I'll admit it myself. I saw your January posting and even replied to it and passed it along to the friend who has actually rented the gite. Then I promptly forgot and later made the posting above.

Hotel Eychenne looks to be about 9 km from the gite, so an easy drive for lunch or dinner.

[hoteliere]

We all have those moments.

Market Day in Saint Girons is Saturday.

Cheeses to try in the Ariege region: Bethmale, Moulis, Rogalle, Saint-Lary and La Calabasse.

One restaurant that looked nice but we did not have time to try was L'Auberge d'Antan. Web site link is on www.ariege.com.

The Eychenne is the base for Lance Armstrong's cycling team while training in the Pyrenees each year. If you want a list of menu items from last October, let me know.

If you would like some ideas on things to see and do in the area, email me off the board at [e-mail].

[RandyB]

One of my favorite cheeses is the Cabri Ariègeois. I think it comes from this region, but I'm not sure exactly where. I don't know the other cheeses you mentioned, but I am looking forward to trying them. I also appreciate the other info, and may email you as the time gets closer.

[Parigi]

"Cabri Ariègeois. I think it comes from this region, but I'm not sure exactly where"

I love it too. All I know is that it's from a farm near Foix, south of Toulouse...

[RandyB]

I would really love to visit that farm. I think April is the start of the "season" for this cheese, so that would be a good time to go.

[Parigi]

Try the mairie of Foix.

[RandyB]

Good idea. I just sent an email to the tourist office in Foix.

Thanks!

[Delucacheesemonger]

When visiting friends south of Toulouse, they hve the farm send some to their home so it was waiting for my visit. At worst, perhaps your gite can do the same for you. The problem with cheeses like that and even muenster or Epoisses is that they usually have little ripened at the farm and as they may need as much as 6 weeks to get them to be pudding, your lump will be quite firm and young. That was what happened with the Cabri my first trip, it was fixed by ordering far in advance on future visits.

[RandyB]

Saint Girons was a little farther from Arguenos, where I'm staying, than I realized. Only 50 km, but an hour on narrow windy roads, and longer coming home in the dark. Nonetheless, the three of us had a lovely meal for 28 Euros each. We were all glad we made the drive. Thanks for the suggestion.

Tomorrow we drive around the same distance to Bossost, Spain, where several restaurants get rave reviews at much lower prices than the equivalent quality in France.