January 20th, 2010 | 
Author: The small Dordogne village of Queyssac has opened a new bistro restaurant that will almost exclusively use local products in its meals.
SudOuest reports that the village, located just outside of Bergerac, will offer traditional regional dishes and is to be managed by a popular Parisian chef. Queyssac’s “Pub of the Presbytery” is located in a refurbished 17th century clerical building. The village is home to several examples of Dordogne’s preserved historic architecture, including a 17th century church, a medieval paved plaza and a traditional stone bread oven.
However until now, there has been little to draw tourism into the heart of the village. Valerie Champelos, the chef and manager of the bistro, says that she hopes that the small restaurant will offer a bucolic alternative for diners in the Bergerac area.
Champelos, a native of Queyssac, has returned to the village after years spent cheffing in Paris. During her career she has become a popular figure among many of the area’s food fairs and events, as well as those in other areas of France. Her cooking is based upon fresh, local produce and traditional rural recipes.
Aside from the modern kitchens, the “pub of the presbytery” will still retain the features that give it it’s historic charm. From the old stone rectory, grand fireplace and the exposed timbers, the building will fit many people’s ideas of the idyllic simplicity of rural life perfectly. Its menu will have both a daily selection of dishes and a list of ‘classics’ that can be ordered at any time. These include fois gras omelette with mushrooms and truffles, sweetbreads with mushrooms, gribiche (a product of French cuisine akin to mayonnaise) and the traditional French breadstuff, Millas.
The building will also host a local bakery and grocery store in the near future. As the restaurant has only 22 seats it may be best to ring ahead if you visit on 05 53 58 73 36. Some fluency in French may be necessary however.
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