In the U.S., you have "The Deep South." In France, we have "La France Profonde" or in other words "the Deep France." Aurillac is in the "Middle South" of France, not connected by any motorway or "Bullet Train" to Paris or any other big town. To go there, you need to want to go there!

Interestingly, Aurillac is the town often referenced in the "TV Weather Report" in France as the coolest or the hottest town in winter or summer, respectively.

Aurillac is the Capital of the Cantal Province, in the South of the "Auvergne" Region (the volcanic region in France). It is 547 Km. south of Paris, 631 meters above sea level, and has 33,000 inhabitants and a nice river in the middle of town – "La Jordanne."

"Downtown" is very old, with houses from the XI, XII & XIII century. Many "Musketeer" films have been filmed on location in Aurillac, and you can feel the historic atmosphere when you walk around the small streets and narrow alleys. Since normally cars are not allowed, you can easily imagine yourself a Musketeer from another century.

# South [total 118 Km.]
Aurillac > Entraygues > Conques > Aurillac

# West [total 223 Km.]
Aurillac > Saint Flour > Garabit > Chaudes-Aigues > Aurillac

# North [total 113 Km.]
Aurillac > Puy-Mary (following the Jordanne River Valley) > Salers (one of the most beautiful "medieval" villages in France and the producer of the best French beef meat with the "Salers Cows") > and continue to Tournemire and back to Aurillac.

Today’s "Gourmet Corner" of course is dedicated to Aurillac, a town with many small "Brasseries", cheese bars, wine bars, pubs, and cafes.

"LA REINE MARGOT" is the most traditional restaurant in Aurillac, with a "red boudoir décor" in the smoking section. You will think you are in another century, but the service is gentle and the food is great, copious and with a good ratio of quality to price.

The best way is to sample the "Menu Reine Margot" for 24.00 Euros – a very reasonable price for a "Starter, Main, Cheese & Dessert"

# Cuisses de Cailles Confites Tièdes, flan d’épinards, coulis tomates
> Preserve of Quail Legs, Spinach Baled Custard, Tomatoes Sauce

# Salade Chou Farci (Silver Price 2004) et Noix Concassées
> Stuffed Cabbage Salad with Walnuts

# Tranche de Tête de Veau Tiède, Sauce Gibriche
> (Sorry there's no translation, just try it!)

# Emincé de Magret de Canard Poêlé, Choux, Jus Crémé Girolles
> Sautéed Duck Magret with Wild Mushrooms

# Pavé de Foie de Veau Poêlé, Polenta Aillé, Jus de Sauge
> Sautéed Veal Leaver Slab, Polenta Garlic Sage Sauce
(Superb)

# Pavé de Boeuf (Salers) Poêlé, Gratin Dauphinois
> Slab of Salers Beef (The Best in France) with Potatoes Gratin

For Desserts: You have the choice of Six, but the best is:

(Again, no translation)

The Restaurant also has a "Menu Gastronomique" at: 35.00 Euros. And if you are not too hungry, the "A la Carte Menu" give you the choice of the same dishes:

From 6.00 to 13.50 Euros for the Starters
From 8.00 to 18.50 Euros for the Main Dishes
And 4.00 to 5.50 Euros for Cheese Plate & Desserts

Unfortunately, people from Auvergne are very "Cost Conscious," so if you want an after dinner drink, you'll need to pay for it.

LA REINE MARGOT
Host & Cook : Alexandre Cayron
19, Rue Guy de Veyre
1500 Aurillac
Tel : +33 4 71 48 26 46
Fax : +33 4 71 48 22 39
(No Email)
Closed on Sundays & Mondays

Of course, if you don’t like Hearty French Food, you can always go to the Restaurant across the street, " La Cappadoce" for Turkish food.

"LE POMMIER D’AMOUR", located in the best Hotel in Aurillac, the Hotel Saint Pierre, facing the "Jordanne" River and the nicest avenue in town. The restaurant is modern, bright and warm.

As is the tradition in Auvergne, the restaurant also has "Three Menus" for you to choose from:

# Menu Pommier:
> Starter + Main or Main + Dessert;
for only: 15.50 Euros

# Menu Plaisir:
> Starter + Main + Cheese or Dessert;
at 21.00 Euros

# Menu Gourmand:
> Two Starters + Main + Cheese Plate + Dessert;
at 35.00 Euros

My recommendation the "A la Carte Menu" with a choice of:

- Starters at 7.00 Euros
- Main Dishes at 13.00 Euros
- Cheese Plate at 5.50 Euros and
- Desserts at 6.00 Euros

My selection would be:

# Starters:
"Carpaccio de Boeuf Salers, Eclats de Tuiles au Cantal"
# Main:
"Pavé de Rumsteack de Salers à la Moutarde Violette" 
# Dessert:
"Soufflé Glacé au Litchi et à la Mangue Epicée" 

LE POMMIER D’AMOUR
Cook: Geraud Lac
16, Cours Monthyon
15000 Aurillac
Tel : +33 4 71 48 37 60
(Closed for Lunch and Sundays)

For a good selection of after dinner drinks at very reasonable prices, you can move to the "Méphisto Bar" just across the hall, where an ever-changing exhibition of "paintings or photos" changes every two months.

Right now, for the months of April and May, a Photo Exhibition (with 30 portraits) about the new fashion trend in Japan, "The Lolitas of Tokyo", is on display by Freddy Santamaria

The hotel has a 1960 decor have rooms at appropriate prices from:
> 50.00 to 95.00 Euros and two Suites at 105.00 Euros
> Breakfast at only: 8.00 Euros (Room or Restaurant)

Personally, I prefer the ones, on the second floor (avoid the back views) facing the " Promenade du Gravier" and "La Jordanne" River.

The Hand Made Umbrellas
(Aurillac is the "umbrella capital" of Europe!)

Visit:

> "L’Ondée"
27, Rue Victor Hugo – Tel: +33 4 71 48 29 53

> "Piganiol"
28, Rue des Forgerons – Tel: + 33 4 71 43 05 51

> "Cadres Décors"
4, Rue des Forgerons – Tel: +33 4 71 48 59 01

--- With the original "Carré" (Square) Umbrella by Gérard Delos. It can be "Custom Made" (One Unit) with your photo, etc.

The other boutique you must visit is:

> "Couderc"
14, Rue Victor Hugo – Tel: +33 4 71 63 67 91

Since 1908, the best "non industrial" producer of local alcohols has been: "The Gentiane Spirit" and the "Marc d’Auvergne"