VVF Cantal Salers Vendes, Bassignac

In the picture postcard village of Tournemire, a renovated barn, whose bare stone walls and timber rafters have been preserved, is now the scene of an airy restaurant with a modern extension overlooking the Doire Valley. Managed by the same team as the Puy Tilleul, down the hill in the village, the menu highlights home-grown Cantal produce: locally sourced ingredients, tableware by local artisans and coffee roasted in Aurillac. Concise, polished menu dotted with nods to tradition, like truffade. Panoramic views from the picture windows and big-boned fare served with heartwarming sincerity.

This restaurant occupies a converted mill built out of black volcanic stone with a slate roof. Set just outside a village, it overlooks a pretty lake, beside which the terrace is laid in fine weather. The interior is the epitome of snug with a stone fireplace, a bar and mismatched furniture. The chef signs recipes tailored to modern tastes using local produce (even the coffee and cocoa is roasted locally) to which he adds a well-travelled spin: trout jazzed up with a chimichurri sauce or veal that resembles couscous… Beautiful plating and talented craftsmanship. Platter of regional cheeses.

Beds of aromatic herbs, Japanese enclosure, rose garden etc. These gardens created by a famous cosmetics brand celebrate both the poetic nature of the site and the virtues of nature. In the restaurant with its beautifully restored old timber frame, the chef elevates the Corrèze terroir by using spices encountered during the years he spent in Asia and the West Indies – the resulting dishes are as fragrant as they are confidently prepared.

Perched in the Cantal mountains, this pleasingly rustic farmstead is the fruit of a beautiful family saga spanning six generations. Tuck into generous traditional cuisine rooted in the local terroir – featuring the legendary truffade, served with every dish, and the family recipe for tripoux à la tomate. All dishes are sincere and precise. And then there is the trolley of regional cheeses, with Salers, produced just a few metres away, taking pride of place.

This restaurant in a peaceful village in the Corrèze hinterland charms with its tranquil setting and view of the Corrèze valley (especially from the terrace). The bright dining room with a festive atmosphere is the playground of chef Thomas Ceaux and his partner Pauline Gane, who works front of house. The chef cooks up seasonal cuisine that showcases the local terroir: Limousin veal, creamy peas and chorizo; crispy puffs with red berries, vanilla mascarpone cream, and strawberry and raspberry sorbet from Tulle. A place with a loyal following.

This dinky establishment, in the hands of Cyril Auboiroux for some ten years now, rolls out a concise, inspired menu composed of a choice of three starters, three main courses and three desserts. Local produce steals the star roles (Limousin beef, Corrèze veggies, sturgeon and caviar from Dordogne), albeit with the occasional more far-flung gourmet escapade and unexpected creations like an amber beer ice cream. Artistic plating enhances the perfectly paired contrasting flavours. Delightful, professional front-of-house team.

Don’t miss this opportunity to discover the work of a jovial, self-effacing chef, as modest as his food is good. Premium seasonal produce takes front stage in his dishes: free-range duck breast, purée of quince and prunes and a spicy gravy. Rugged, deftly crafted, lip-smacking food! In fine weather, head for the pretty terrace in the back garden.