This is not a part of my normal series “why you should visit…” but something I just had to incorporate due to my love of food.

When I first went to France years ago, Paris, with a friend. I didn’t exactly have the best food or wine experience. I was young (21) and my friend’s preferred dinner included no carbs and many meals of apple and cheese. yikes.

This August I decided to tag along with my awesome friend Nico to his hometown of Castelnaudary to see more of France from a local’s perspective. For some reason I wasn’t expecting to be wowed by the food since I never remembered anything spectacular from my previous experience.

For example: I love cheese but feel that if it’s so stinky you have to triple wrap it in paper – it’s not for me.

Instead, as usual when you think you know what to expect, you actually don’t. I –Loved –Everything! 

One example: Eating with a  family we indulged in a cheese plate every night and I loved it, even the strong roquefort, though my favorite was camembert. While at my friend’s house, we ate perfect gazpaucho, a dreamy dark chocolate cake, crisp champagne, local Rose wine and many meals involving duck {which can be hard to find in Italy}.

There is truly nothing like the experience of actually sitting down with someone’s family and eating what they eat. You can’t buy that in a restaurant.

Why talk about what I ate though, and instead share this photoblog of my favorite dishes this trip. Enjoy!