Food Chez Le Moulin
I have always loved to cook and before moving to France I wanted to enhance my skill, to a more professional level. I completed the six week diploma course at the Ashburton Chefs Academy in Devon and later returned for a week of patisserie training. At Le Moulin we grow much of our own fruit and vegetables and our eggs are mostly from the hens in our orchard. Spare time in the summer and autumn is spent making preserves and chutney, bottling fruit and making soups and sauces to freeze. For our guest meals I use as much locally sourced meat, cheese , milk and other products as possible. We have locally produce organic beef, a foie gras producer in the village and our own honey.
We are very happy to cater for most dietary requirements, however our kitchen is not guaranteed to be allergen free. All equipment may have been used for meat or dairy products. If a member of your party has severe allergies, we will help you to the very best of our ability, but it may be necessary to make alternative arrangements.
Breakfast
Breakfast is generally served in the dining room over the mill stream. White linen cloths, local pottery, vintage china and fresh flowers make breakfast ChezLeMoulin a very personal and charming experience to be enjoyed at leisure. Guests departing early do not need to miss out, they can have their breakfast packed up as a picnic to take with them.
Home baked goods can include croissants, muffins, brioche, various breads. These change on a daily basis. Homemade fruit conserves and our own honey are accompanied by a range of cheeses, cooked meats, yogurts, fresh fruit and a choice of cereal. Tea, coffee and fruit juice are always available and hot chocolate can be made to order. In winter the stove is lit to make it cosy and in spring the windows open to enjoy the sunshine and ducks at the front of the house. On warm sunny days breakfast is sometimes served on the terrace at the back of the house.
Brunch
Many of our guests have friends or family in the area or have come for a wedding or other event nearby. Brunch is a relaxing way way to pass a morning with a larger group. Served in our dining room buffet style, guests are free to take a plate and eat in the garden, sit in the cool shade in summer, or stay by the wood burner on cooler days. Taken over two hours, it can be served at a time that suits your group, usually between 10am and 1pm.
There will be a larger selection of baked goods and some additional dishes, dependent on the size of the group.
Charges for brunch will only be for those guests who are not having breakfast with us as part of their stay and replaces breakfast on that day.
Special dietary requirements can be catered for.
20€ per head.
Examples of supplementary brunch items.
- muffins
- brioche
- cheese croissants
- herb scones with various fillings
- breads and rolls
- bircher muesli
- Green salad
- Quiches
Dinner
Most nights guests are invited to try out our many local restaurants, however there are sometimes when it’s a little more difficult or when it would just be nice to enjoy a few glasses of wine on the terrace and not go anywhere. Normally I will do dinner once during a stay of three days or more. This must be arranged in advance and costs 30€ per person and including wine. Dinner can be provided for Gite guests on request in advance.
Dinner is served like a relaxed dinner party, chamber d’hote style and could be on the terrace under the pergola or in the dinning room around our large table.
We serve three courses with accompanying wine for each course, using vegetables from our garden and local produce. It is always a fixed menu that I will discuss with our guests in advance, no one wants to be presented with their ‘bete noir’ on holiday..
For guests dining with us separate arrangements can be made for young children, again with advanced notice. I’m always happy to make something for the baby, or your toddler.
Sample Menus
- Fois Gras with figs in honey
- Salmon en papillote with jewel couscous
- Cardamon Poached pear with chocolate sauce and homemade ice cream
- Blue Cheese and walnut tart
- Slow cooked pork belly roast baby potatoes and fresh garden vegetables
- Lemon cheese cake with red-berrys.
- Vegan/ Vegetarian
- Mediterranean mézé with crudités,
- Thai style curry, fresh coriander and tomato salad, home made flat breads
Vanilla cake with mango sorbet.
Restaurants
There is a wide selection of restaurants in the nearby towns and villages, with a variety of cuisine, some excellent fine dining, some local bistros and some with amazing locations. We have tried many of them and are happy to make recommendations and reservations. There are also some lovely restaurants to visit as part of a day out. I can supply a comprehensive list, but here are a sample of our favourites.
L’Enclos, Cazères
9 Place de l’Enclos,
31220 Cazères
Tel: 05 62 01 20 98
Maison Castet
44 Avenue de la Gare
31220 Martres-Tolosane
Tel: 05 61 98 80 20
Sunday Lunch Tuesday 8pm-12mnt
Haut Paturages
Les Haute Paturages
31110 Artigues
Tel: 0561791047
Auberge La Soulan
Col de Mente
31440 Boutx-Le Mortis
Tel: 05 61 79 10 65