FrenchDuck UK - Latest

As Christmas (and Winter) approaches we’ve been on the lookout for some French food delights for the festive season. Two objectives in mind - firstly some Foie Gras and maybe some rich warming winter dish from the South West of France.
Our first stop was Dordogne Direct near Cirencester who we’ve known for some time - only to discover that their name is now something of a misnomer - because their range of products now extends well beyond the Dordogne and South West - e.g. into the Languedoc and Provence. Here you can get hold of a jar of Petit Salé - a very French concoction made with proper Toulouse sausages, Puy lentils, herbs and garlic. This was one of the dishes featured in Rick Stein’s French Odyssey made with Salt Pork and Puy Lentils - a dish I have never seen in the UK. Even Rick’s recipe warns that it is difficult to replicate at home in Britain because of the nature of the pork salt cure.
From Provence they have some real gems - such as Rouille, the Spicy mayonnaise paste - made with chilli, mustard and pimento - which complements a proper Bouillabaisse (Mediterranean Fish Stew); an onion confit (Confit d’Oignons), an Aubergine Caviar! and of course a good selection of Foie Gras (fattened Goose or Duck Liver). I marginally prefer the Duck Foie Gras - it has more flavour, but Goose is definitely more refined and better textured.
Other UK sources of French Gourmet foods include:-
French Flavour in Wrexham, North Wales
Julien de Provence with a selection of products from Provence and the Lot Valley (SW France)
Devigne Wines & Confit Direct in Welshpool, wo have a wide range of products on offer.