Restaurant review: Le Domaine d’Auriac, Carcassone

Emma Rawle enjoys Michelin-starred dining in a historic setting

A short drive from the walled cité of Carcassonne lies Le Domaine d’Auriac, a historic hotel in the Relais & Châteaux collection. The former townhouse was built on the foundations of an abbey in the 19th century and enjoys a beautiful setting surrounded by parkland.

The restaurant’s decor reflects that era, with ornate period wallpaper and a roaring fire in winter. However, the weather was fine on my visit, so I enjoyed the Michelin-star regional fare of chef Philippe Ducos while sitting on the terrace overlooking the gardens and golf course.

Sipping a Blanquette de Limoux sparkling wine cocktail and tucking into warm bread (a choice of walnut, fig or olive), I chose the menu du marché (€67). As a starter, the famous anchovies from Collioure were prepared in a variety of ways, all equally delicious. My main course was a veal cutlet; slow¬roasted to perfection with garlic and thyme, and accompanied by Swiss chard prepared as a gratin, as well as chanterelle mushrooms and cannelloni tubes.

Dessert was the speciality of the restaurant, a hot Grand¬Marnier liqueur soufflé, which had a good slug of alcohol. Sommelier Franck Sakhinis stayed local with the wine (and why not with such riches in Languedoc¬Roussillon?) selecting a white from La Clape and a red from Corbières.

Le Domaine d’Auriac

Route de Saint-Hilaire BP 554

11009 Carcassonne

Tel: (Fr) 4 68 25 72 22

www.domaine-d-auriac.com