Le Parvis in Albi

Albi is such a charming town, it was no surprise to find a very nice restaurant, and especially one directly across the street from the Saint Cecilia Cathedral. When we stopped here for tea that afternoon, we took a look inside and placed a reservation for dinner. They had an early reservation available, but the restaurant filled up fast, so we were lucky to get a table at all.

Escargot, the dependably good starter to any dinner in France was excellent; garlic laden, buttery and tender, it was a great way to assess the kitchen.

Duck Gizzard Salad, how could one possibly resist something not seen on a menu before? I jumped at the chance and thought the gizzards were very flavorful and much less chewy than I had expected. I'd order this again, if the opportunity ever presented itself.

Cassoulet is not quite the same in each restaurant, but the basics are. This particular interpretation was not bubbling over the edges of the casserole dish nor was it very crisp on top, but it was made with the right ingredients.

Besides the beans, duck confit and sausage, the Le Parvis cassoulet had a nice piece of thick cut bacon added. The multiple meats contributed more complex flavor to an already outstanding dish.

This particular duck breast arrived as a thick cut rather than a whole breast. I couldn't help but wonder what happened to the rest of it. Was it so big it was divided between two patrons? There were more things to worry about on the plate. The duck fat fried potatoes weren't crisp, but perhaps they were roasted and not fried. Not being able to read French, the nuanced description from the menu was lost on me.

White chocolate mousse over a sponge cake with a caramelized apple dollop on top was creamy, sweet and spicy with cinnamon. This restaurant is worth visiting again. I've linked their website, but I'm afraid it has no menu listings.

http://www.restaurantleparvis.com/en/presentation