Albi Restaurants

4 more images

For a wonderful picnic. . . . .

. . . . . Buy food in the market!

This time, when I passed in Albi, the market was open, and, even not busy at its fullest, there was some choice in butcheries, cheese shops, at fruit sellers stalls. . . . In Central France, if you want to go for a picnic, the best choice is to buy “produits du Terroir” (local products, literally land production), and those you get at some specialised shops or at the market.
For a tasteful picnic, you will first need local ham, here dry ham, from swine which grew up outdoor and was fed organic (well, more or less!); ask for jambon du pays, the expensive one, preferably, so you do not risk to be deceived, or better, ask to taste, the butchers generally agree to give you a mini-slice.
Then, you will certainly try the dry sausage (saucisson); it is NOT salami, but real sausage, dried in the cool air of the mountains; not too hard, not too soft, choose a medium one; take about one saucisson (200-250 grams) for 4 persons; if you do not finish, you can keep them for several days in a cool place but not in a fridge. A piece of saucisson with whole wheat bread is a king’s meal in the south France countryside, and people working in the outdoors, far from home or village (shepherds, masons, peasants. . . ) have their lunch with that (and a bottle of local red wine!).
Of course, a French meal cannot go without cheese, and in Albi you have plenty of choice of local goat cheese; not only have they beautiful names, but also shapes and colours, smell. . . again, try them, you may not like the old dry strong ones, and prefer the more creamy young cheeses; there is for all tastes.
And for desert, sample some fruits; in summer, peaches are juicy and excellent.
So, then walk in a bakery, buy baguettes and if you like red wine, your meal will be perfect; plain water does well, also (but. . . no sweet drink! No, no, no!) then, find a nice place on the river banks, or, like I did, last time, in the St Salvy cloister; sit on a stone, cut your bread and saucisson. . . . . Enjoy!

A nice resto in front of the Cathedrale. Fast service, and quality food. You won't do it for the "amount" (because the daily menu is not the type of dish you will order if you are realy hongry) you will do it for the view!!!

Favorite Dish: Large choice of day-to-day menu, very tastfull, but unfortunately not if you are realy hungery. As I was :-D my Satisfaction rate will lower as it should, bearing this in mind!

A nicely decorated cafe very close to the Cathedral. The waiter and owner were extremely sweet. There is plenty of outdoor seeting with views of the church.

Favorite Dish: I had a lovely salad Nicoise, and my friend had a tasty omelette with eggplant and tomoato. If you feel game, you can try their rabbit. Their coffee was very pleasent and they offer very nice desserts.

2 more images

Share the same bricks with St.Cecile Cathedral.
Feel like You are in the medieval ages.

Favorite Dish: forgot the name, but it was a dish with small octapus...very tasty