June 16th, 2010 | 
Author: Those looking to sample the finest food when on a French holiday may be interested in a recently published book, which promises to explore the culinary delights of the Dordogne.
Published last month, Walnut Wines & Truffle Groves: Culinary Adventures in the Dordogne by Kimberly Lovato recounts the tasty treats encountered by the author on her travels in the region she describes as “France’s best kept culinary secret.”
According to a review in American newspaper The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the book is “part travelogue” and “part cookbook.” Lovato’s experiences in the region’s restaurants, fêtes, cafés and village markets are interspersed with recipes from her former travelling companion, the chef Laura Schalmost, who operates a culinary tour company in the US.
The book proper details some of the best delicacies available in the region, such as the titular walnut wine. Otherwise known as Vin de Noix, this alcoholic treat is among the adaptable recipes provided by Chef Schalmost alongside Ms Lovato’s descriptions of her experience with the drink she describes as a “combo of port wine and prune juice..very smooth, with no overpowering alcohol taste.”
Other recipes include regional dishes featuring the Dordogne’s famous gourmet produce, the black perigord truffle, as well as the rich stews and roasts of Occitan cuisine.
Throughout the book Ms Lovato describes both the best food on offer in the Dordogne as well as the best places to pick up local delicacies. As well as featuring the region’s seasonal markets and village festivals, the book lists some of the region’s finest restaurants and even briefly touches upon non-edible attractions such as the idyllic countryside and the majestic châteauxs which litter the valleys.
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