Eating out, eating in and regional specialities
of southwest France
The Dordogne and its neighbouring regions — the Limousin and the Charente — form one of the great food areas of southwest France, with a depth of local produce, regional dishes and artisan specialities that reward curious eaters at every level. Whether you're looking for fine dining or authentic local cuisine, this corner of France has plenty to offer.
From lively summer night markets to village auberges, bistros and serious restaurants, there is something for every mood and occasion. Six Michelin-starred restaurants are within an hour's drive of Beaux Souvenirs.
This is our guide to the best dining spots in the area, along with regional specialities to look out for while exploring menus, shops and markets.
Casa O Mialet
Where to eat near Beaux Souvenirs
Our village brasserie in Mialet is just a short stroll from Beaux Souvenirs. The owners are friendly and accommodating, the ambience convivial and very French. Casa O offers Corsican-influenced cuisine - three-course set lunch specials and evening meals, and you can sit inside, on the veranda or under shady trees. If you just fancy a drink, the bar is welcoming, and it's very pleasant to join the locals on a summer's evening. Many guests choose to go on their first Saturday evening or last Friday night - a relaxed meal without having to think about cooking at either end of their stay. We're more than happy to make a reservation on your behalf.
Within a short drive
Beyond the village, there are plenty of good restaurants within 15 to 35 minutes of Beaux Souvenirs - from traditional French auberges and riverside dining to a well-regarded restaurant in La Coquille that guests regularly recommend. Rather than listing places we can't always keep up to date, we keep a current list of tried-and-tested local restaurants in the gîte folder, and we're always happy to suggest somewhere based on what you're in the mood for - just ask.
Michelin one-star restaurant Moulin de l'Abbaye, Brantôme
Michelin Star near Beaux Souvenirs
One of the pleasures of staying in this corner of southwest France is just how close you are to some of its finest dining. Six Michelin-starred restaurants sit within an hour's drive of Beaux Souvenirs, spread across the Dordogne, Charente and Haute-Vienne - an exceptional concentration for such a rural and peaceful region.
Our closest, and the one we find ourselves recommending most often, is Le Moulin de l'Abbaye in Brantôme - a one-star restaurant set in a spectacular ivy-clad mill right on the river. Many of our guests dine there, combining it with a day exploring the town.
The remaining five Michelin-starred restaurants are within an hour's drive, which specialise in using local produce - we're happy to suggest one that suits your tastes and location.
Michelin dining can feel like a big spend, but a good tip is to go for lunch — most offer a three-course set menu at around €30–55 per person, making it excellent value for food of this quality.
Les Halles Limoges
Eating in at Beaux Souvenirs
Our well-equipped kitchen makes eating in a genuine pleasure. Pick up bread from the village bakery (6-minute walk), meat from the butcher, and fresh produce from Mialet's Tuesday morning market or the Bio shop - all within easy reach. Herbs from our garden are there to use freely.
The nearest supermarkets are:
- Carrefour at La Coquille (9 mins/7km)
- Intermarché at Chalus (18 mins/16km)
- Lidl and Intermarché at Thiviers (20 mins/18km)
Most villages host a weekly market, and during the summer you'll also find night markets — choose a meal and eat with the locals in a communal seating area with live music, or stock up on food and treats to bring back to the gîte. For serious foodies, the historic covered halles in Limoges, Périgueux, Angoulême and Bordeaux are well worth a visit. There are also specialist shops, farms and food events to whet your appetite for the regional specialities you'll find further down this page.
Don't overlook the village pizza van, which operates on Tuesday and Friday evenings, serving freshly made pizza - popular with guests as an easy last-night option. You'll find more details on our Mialet village page.
Regional specialities to try
Dordogne favourites
The Dordogne is one of France's great gastronomic regions — rich, indulgent duck and truffle country above all else. Here are the regional specialities worth seeking out in markets, shops and on menus during your stay.
Wines:
- Bergerac wine - Pécharmant wines are the finest from this area, blended from Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc
- Monbazillac - Sweet dessert wine
Signature dishes:
- Foie gras - Fattened duck (canard) or goose (oie) liver, prepared in numerous ways, including pâtés
- Confit de canard - Slow-cooked duck leg
- Cassoulet - Pork, duck and white bean stew
- Pommes Sarladaises - Potatoes roasted in duck fat with garlic and parsley
- Salade Périgourdine - Salad with walnuts and duck gizzards
- Cou d'Oie Farci - Gooseneck stuffed with goose meat
- The Black Truffle of Périgord: Fresh from late November through February - look for Sauce Périgueux (truffle sauce) on menus
Other specialities:
- Cèpes - Wild mushrooms
- Cabécou - Small, round, flat goat's cheese
- Trappe d'Echourgnac - Hard cheese with smoky flavour and added walnut liqueur
- Walnuts - Look out for liqueur, oil, cakes, biscuits and nougat
- Chestnuts - Infused in honey or in black pudding
- Strawberries - Gariguette, Darselect, Charlotte and Mara des Bois varieties
Sweet treats:
- Canelés - Small domed cakes made from batter and glazed
- Gâteau de Roi - Flaky pie with almond paste
Traditional dishes:
- Blanc de Turbot Rôti Gnocchi à La Farine Châtaigne - Roast turbot with chestnut flour dumplings
- Tourain blanchi - Garlic soup with egg whites
- Velouté aux châtaignes de Périgord - Chestnut soup
Trappe cows cheese made by nuns in a monestry
Specialities of the Limousin
Limousin favourites
Just over the border into the Limousin, the food culture shifts — think exceptional beef, hearty stews and some surprisingly good sweet treats.
Meat & savoury:
- Limousin Beef - From the famous red-brown cows
- Cul Noir Pork - Famous black-bottomed pig from St Yrieix la Perche
- Boudin noir - Black pudding with chestnuts
- Limousin Grillons - Shredded pork flavoured with garlic and herbs
- Mique - Giant dumpling cooked in stew with pork and vegetables
- Potée Limousine - Meat and vegetable stew
- Bréjaude - Limousin soup with bacon, potatoes and turnip
Cheese:
- Calhada - Goat's cheese
- Pâté de pommes de terre - Potato pie filled with crème fraîche
Sweet treats:
- Clafoutis - Batter cake filled with cherries
- Cruesois - Very soft and moist hazelnut and butter cake
- Madeleines - Small almond-flavoured sponge cakes
- Massepains - Small golden almond biscuits
Other specialities:
- Galetou - Salted buckwheat pancakes with ham and cheese
- Sweet chestnuts
- Limousin apples - The only apple in France with an AOP quality label
- Limousin cider and apple juice
- Brive Violet mustard - Made from grape must, red wine and spices
- Vin Paille - Sweet wine from dried grapes (only 50,000 bottles produced annually)
Piegut Pluviers - Torteau Fromager
Specialities of the Charente
Charente favourites
The Charente is cognac and Pineau country, and its wonderful produce is well represented at the Wednesday market at Piegut-Pluviers, just over 30 minutes from Beaux Souvenirs.
Drinks:
- Cognac - Most famous: Courvoisier, Hennessy, Martell and Rémy Martin
- Pineau des Charentes - Fortified wine made by adding unfermented grape juice to Cognac
Food:
- Barbezieux chicken - Bred for flavour since the Middle Ages
- Poitais - Charente lamb with delicate flavour
- Chabichou du Charente - 6cm high cone-shaped goat's cheese
- Torteau Fromager - Black-skinned cake made from fresh cheese
- Farci Poitevin - Stuffed herb terrine with vegetables and bacon, tied in cabbage leaves
- Broyé du Poitou - Sweet butter pastry cake
- Charente Melon - Fragrant and juicy with orange flesh
- Sauce aux Lumas - Snail sauce
Plan your culinary adventure
From a meal on the doorstep to a Michelin-starred lunch in the countryside, Beaux Souvenirs places you at the heart of one of France's great food regions. The Dordogne, Limousin and Charente between them offer a depth and variety of food and drink that takes years to fully explore — and we've barely scratched the surface ourselves. We're always happy to point you in the right direction, recommend a restaurant, or suggest what to look out for at the markets — just ask
Things to See & Do
Mialet
The charming village of Mialet is located in the Dordogne, South West France in the Aquitaine region.
Top 12 Attractions
There are so many places to visit and things to do in our area. To give you a little taster we have created a list of our top 12 favourites.
What to See in Our Region
There are countless places to visit within a 2-hour radius of Mialet. Here are the main sites, including drive time and distance.
Where & What to Eat
Eating out is a fabulous experience in this part of France and there is a huge variety of establishments to choose from.
Festivals & Events
Annual calendar of festivals & events in the Dordogne and nearby departments.
Sports & Outdoors
The North Dordogne or Perigord Vert is a perfect location for those with a great affinity to the great outdoors.