Official Site of Ardèche Tourism
www.ardeche-guide.com

Going to Ardèche

Ecotourism

Gastronomy Ambassadors

Discover the different Ardèche's Gastronomy Ambassadors
by clicking on the links below :

- Claude Brioude, in the "Restaurant du Levant", in Neyrac-les-Bains.
- Philippe Bouissou, in the "Hôtel Faurie", in Saint-Agrève.
- The Villa Tartary, in Aubenas.
- The "Carafes en Folie", wine bar-restaurant, in Tournon.
- Jean Pierre Matraire in the "Relais du Vivarais", in Viviers.
- The "Bistrots de Pays", in Ardèche Plein Sud (Southern Ardèche)
and Plein Coeur (into the very heart).
- The 'Unusual Meals' Association.
- Olivier Samin in the "Carré d’Aléthius***", in Charmes-sur-Rhône
- Richard Rocle in the "Auberge de Montfleury", in Saint-Germain
- Bernard Mathé, in the "Restaurant Schaeffer", in Serrières
- « Auberge des Granges », in Bessas
- « Notes de Saveurs », in Aubenas
- "Auberge de Banne", in Banne
- "Auberge des 3 canards, au 565", in Guilherand Granges
- “Maitres Restaurateurs », « Addresses full of taste » in Ecotourism and "Goûtez l'Ardèche".

# Claude Brioude, in the "Restaurant du Levant"
Neyrac-les-Bains

Claude Brioude - Neyrac-les-Bains - Ardèche Situated at the heart of the small resort of Neyrac-les-Bains, the Hotel-Restaurant “du Levant” has been a gastronomic reference since 1886. The heir to 5 generations of cooks and a pupil of the celebrated Régis Marcon, Claude Brioude could not imagine any other future than in the family business. In this small hotel surrounded by hortensias, dominating the banks of the Ardèche, he shows his passion through a modern and creative cuisine.

His menu changes with the seasons; it is inspired by local markets. You can savour a duck foie gras with chestnut conserve, a shoulder of lamb en croûte and his cassolette of vegetables in Vinezac olive oil (locally produced)... A farandole of local products that Claude instinctively cooks in his own way!

All accompanied by the remarkable regional wines: AOC Côtes du Rhône ( ), Côtes du Vivarais ( ) or astonishing vins de pays that he unearths from small growers.

Hôtel-restaurant du Levant***
07380 Neyrac-les-Bains
Tel +33 (0)4 75 36 41 07 – Email

# Philippe Bouissou, in the "Hôtel Faurie"
Saint-Agrève

The famous chef from "Terrasses d’Uriage", near Grenoble, took over Hôtel Faurie () established in the small town of Saint-Agrève (), the "capital of Ardèche cuisine". Philippe Bouissou is undertaking a personal project in which he is combining his love of contemporary art to renovate the building and decorate the bedrooms and his love for his craft as a chef with unbounded creativity and a complete mastery of flavours.

In 2008, Philippe Bouissou was deserved his first Michelin star.

Hôtel Faurie ()
36 avenue des Cévennes
07320 Saint-Agrève
Tel +33 (0)4 75 30 11 45 - Email

# "The Villa Tartary"
Aubenas

This place in an intimate setting, with refined decoration offers an inventive cuisine with surprising tastes, mixing the flavours and spices of the world…

Lunch or dinner at the Villa Tartary is offering yourself a moment of pure happiness!

Franck and Sylvie, the owners, have made this old residence an outstanding address that is both seductive and fashionable.

The Villa Tartary ()
Quartier Tartary
07200 Aubenas
Tel +33 (0)4 75 35 23 11

# "The Carafes en Folie" wine bar-restaurant
Tournon

The ‘Carafes en Folie’ () is a wine bar, a restaurant, and a wine boutique, in brief, a place where you love to share a convivial moment around a good wine, or a good local dish, a place that you love to be.

‘Carafes en Folie’ offers a simple, creative cuisine based on the use of high quality products and will surprise you with its original marriages of sweet and savour notes, between traditions and originality.

Carafes en folie ()
Jean-François Malsert and Amélie Claeys
56 avenue du Maréchal Foch
07300 Tournon-sur-Rhône
Tel +33 (0)4 75 08 19 52

# Jean Pierre Matraire in the "Relais du Vivarais"
Viviers

In the image of an artist, Jean-Pierre behind his piano transforms, composes, and arranges the dishes that he is preparing to serve with great imagination and freedom.

Always searching for colours, flavours, aesthetics. He works only with fresh products that he buys from small local producers. His “à la carte” and “set menus” change with the seasons. So you can taste duck foie gras with Ardèche chestnut conserve, a boar stew, or even escalope of foie gras fried with mushrooms... as for the deserts, they are colourful, contrasting in flavour and emphasis... tarte tatin with caramelized apples to hot goats cheese and sorrel sauce!

The wine list is not to be outdone, it emphasizes the fine local products.

Multimedia:
Presentation of the restaurant, on a French video.
And look at the pictures gallery.
Source : the Relais du Vivarais official website

Hotel-restaurant "Le Relais du Vivarais" ()
31 Faubourg des Sauterelles RN86
07220 Viviers
Tel +33 (0)4 75 52 60 41 – Email

# "The Bistrots de Pays"
Ardèche Plein Sud (Southern Ardèche)
and Ardèche Plein Coeur (Into the very heart of Ardèche)

The "Bistrots de Pays" () are considered ambassadors of their region, made up of places of a strong cultural heritage and a rich diversity of local provisions to cater for all of your daily needs. The “Bistrots de Pays” () are all of this, and much more.

Each bistrot has its own personality, character and specificity ! It’s up to you to discover them … preferably during the spring or the autumn when these bistrots are a part of the local way of life … and you are sure to remember them...

Three times a year at least, the "Bistrots de Pays" () are involved in organising festivities, cultural or culinary. For you, it is a way to discover a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

There are 19 "Bistrots de Pays" () in Ardèche

Contacts:
# For the "bistrots de pays" of the Ardèche Méridionale (Southern Ardèche): ()
Château Julien
07110 Vinezac
Tel. : +33 (0)4 75 38 57 01

# For the 'bistrots de pays" of the Ardèche Plein Coeur (into the very heart of Ardèche): ()
Château du Bousquet
07800 Saint-Laurent-du-Pape
Tel. : +33 (0)4 75 60 96 09

# The 'Unusual Meals' Association

Cream of dandelion or nettle sauce, cardamine and salad burnet salad, lavender ices, potimarron ice cream, dogwood jam, wild flowers and herbs offer an astonishing and unsuspected festival of tastes.

Guesthouses and restaurant owners, botanical gourmands have combined around the ‘les Menus Curieux’ () association to promote an ecology for the table and so introduce you to this everyday chemical alchemy.

You will learn to understand nature, to taste it, to assemble sour, acid or peppery tastes to compose refined and natural dishes. A rare experience that will lead you to appreciate the richness of the Ardeche flora differently.

Association « les menus curieux » ()
Mr Philippe Alcalde, President
Tel +33 (0)4 75 39 57 05 - Contact

Link to a map of the association’s members : Here

# Olivier Samin, in the "Carré d’Aléthius***"
Charmes-sur-Rhône

Ideally located near the northern “Côtes du Rhône” vineyards, in the village of Charmes-sur-Rhône, this hotel-restaurant was brought back to life not far from the Gallo-Roman sarcophagus of Senator Alethius. Stéphanie and Olivier greet you at Le Carré d’Aléthius in a friendly modern, entirely renovated setting. Nine well-lit rooms, some with a terrace, are available to offer you a restful stay.

Explore the dining room and the leafy patio to discover Olivier’s refined creative cuisine, surprising for its very fine quality. The Chef, who opened this establishment in early July 2010, has worked with such great names in gastronomy as Anne-Sophie Pic, which explains his exceptional cuisine.

Le Carré d’Aléthius
4 Rue Paul Bertois – 07800 Charmes-sur-Rhône
Tel: +33 (0)4 75 78 30 52 - Email.

# Richard Rocle, in the "Auberge de Montfleury"
St-Germain

Here, between the Coiron hills, vineyards and the River Ardèche nestles a small gastronomic inn. Angèle & Richard, the owners, have been able to transform the premises into a beautiful, warmly welcoming space with pure and elegant lines. The welcome that Angèle reserves for you is remarkable.

As for Richard's cooking, it is audacious, surprising, inventive… in the image of the “chef”, always seeking new flavours and new combinations. Inspired by the land, its roots, and its encounters, it delights the most delicate palates. Careful of the quality of the dishes that make up the à la carte and the menus, the chef selects the best seasonal products.

For those who want to be surprised, the “carte blanche” menu (PDF) shakes up habits! (reservation only).

Multimedia
Virtual visit of the Auberge de Montfleury
Source : their official website.

Auberge de Montfleury
Quartier de la gare – 07170 St-Germain
Tel: +33 (0)4 75 94 74 13 - Email.

# Bernard Mathé, in the “Restaurant Schaeffer”
Serrières

This venue on the banks of the Rhone River has become a landmark for gastronomy and oenology run by the same family for three successive generations - over 80 years!

Bernard Mathé is a specialist of game, and is particularly inspired by Mediterranean cuisine in summer. He devises his menu around truffles in January, around morels in spring. He also excels in the preparation of sweets and spends much of his spare time visiting northern “Côtes du Rhône” estates in search of the very best.
His prestigious cellar boasts over 350 references for the Rhône Valley, as well as a wine produced by Bernard Mathé, as he is now the owner of a vineyard in the heart of St-Joseph.

His establishment also includes a hotel with 15 rooms overlooking the Rhône and, like the restaurant, combining modern comfort and a tradition of fine quality. Bernard Mathé can be proud of his achievements in the past thirty years, fuelled by his love for his profession. This love is contagious and he has passed it on to his son, who plans to pursue this mission.

Hotel Schaeffer (Logis de France)
RN 86
07340 Serrières
Tel: : +33 (0)4 75 34 00 07 - Email.

# « Auberge des Granges »
Bessas

Beneath the stone vault of the main dining room (), Tarik Mezri () serves up fresh seasonal produce in innovative dishes () that showcase the techniques he has learnt from all those leading chefs, whilst still incorporating the traditions of his grandfather.
This gastronomic treat includes dishes such as citrus carpaccio with grilled lobster, chestnut soup with foie gras ravioli – stylish dishes that combine contemporary cuisine with a traditional twist.

Multimedia:
Pictures gallery
Source : The “Auberge des Granges” official website.

Auberge des Granges ()
Les Granges
07150 Bessas
Tel: +33 (0)4 75 38 02 01

# Restaurant « Notes de Saveurs »
Aubenas

Opened in June 2011, this gastronomic restaurant in the Dôme St Benoît district of Aubenas () is a first for Jérémy and Sylvie Clavier and the realisation of a long-held dream.
Jérémy worked as chef at La Chaumette in Privas (). ‘But we always wanted our own place where we could offer gastronomic but simple food,’ explains Jérémy.

Using seasonal local produce, they now offer a monthly menu that features three starters, two fish choices, two meat dishes, and three desserts. Their raw materials include the freshest flavours of Ardèche, from chestnuts and blueberries to renowned Mézenc beef, an AOC product raised on pastures above 1200m.
Always careful to choose the best available produce, Jérémy’s undeniable flair can be seen in signature dishes such as fried quail in a chestnut crust.
Dine in the cosy vaulted dining room or on the terrace overlooking the Ardèche mountains.

Restaurant « Notes de Saveurs »
16 rue Nationale
07200 Aubenas
Tel: +33 (0)4 75 93 94 46

# Auberge de Banne
Banne

A welcoming inn with the atmosphere of a 1920s bistro.
Inside are walls of exposed stone, beautiful bottles beneath a glass roof, tables with white cloths and contemporary lights; outside, a shady terrace for 80 people beneath tall trees.

The cooking is traditional, local and seasonal. Chef Philippe Bataille oversees the kitchen and has already amassed a faithful fan base for signature dishes such as his quail duo with tomato confit; organic Villefort trout; and tiramisu with Ardèche chestnuts.

Auberge de Banne
Place du Fort
07460 Banne
Tel: +33 (0)4 +33 (0)4 75 36 66 10 - Contacts

# “Auberge des 3 canards, au 565”
Guilherand Granges

Right in the heart of Guilherand Granges (), this restaurant is widely regarded as one of the best places to eat in Ardèche, an address that food lovers are happy to share because chef Thierry Astier is such a big fan of quality produce and local flavours.
Originally from the south-west, Thierry loves the challenge of bringing out the full flavour of every ingredient with inventive combinations. Give your tastebuds a treat with fillets of sea bass marinaded in lemon and olive oil, or Grand Marnier soufflé with citrus fruits.

Auberge des 3 canards, au 565 ()
565 avenue de la République
07500 Guilherand Granges
Tel: +33 (0)4 75 44 43 24 - Contacts