World famous as a wine region, Bordeaux also turns out to be something of a foodie paradise. Over the last few years, the city and region have gradually made their mark on the gastronomy map. As a result, they now rank alongside Paris and Lyon as top culinary spots in France. But, as well as fine wines, what else can you expect to find on the menu in this part of the country? Read on to discover what to eat in Bordeaux, Aquitaine and Gascony.
The all important terroir
But before we get down to the food itself, let’s ponder the word for the essence of dining in this part of France. Terroir is the watchword and you’ll find it come up time and time again for both food and wine.
Its literal meaning is ‘soil’, but its connotations go far deeper and anything du terroir carries the region’s unique identity. And as far as cuisine in Bordeaux goes, nothing is more important than locally grown ingredients and how they convey their connection with this part of France.
Top foodie tip
For the best foodie treats, choose French restaurants with a seasonally changing menu. That way, you ensure fresh local (du terroir) ingredients in every dish.
Not sure what’s on a French menu? Read our guide to find out
What to eat in Bordeaux, Aquitaine and Gascony for starters
As is the case in the rest of France, eating out in this part of the country involves several courses. For starters, you can’t go wrong with:
Oysters
Always the local speciality, the best oysters come from Cap Ferret in the Basin de Arcachon in Nouvelle Aquitaine. One of the seven oyster growing areas in France, Arcachon has around 350 small-scale oyster farmers. They mainly produce for the surrounding area only, so be sure to taste oysters on your trip to Aquitaine.
For the most authentic oyster experience, sample them at one of the oyster shacks on Cap Ferret itself or at the Marché des Capucins in Bordeaux. You’ll find that they always come accompanied with bread and butter.
Caviar
Wild sturgeon has been a staple in the Gironde Estuary for centuries, but caviar only came into play in the 1920s. Since then, the Bordeaux area has become the largest farmed caviar producer in France through sustainable and ethical processes.
- Caviar de Neuvic, around 80km from Bordeaux, is one of the largest producers and you can take a tour of the estate to discover a world of French caviar.
- Or try local caviar in any good restaurant in Bordeaux – St James at Bouliac is a favourite with us. Local chef Mathieu Martin’s menu even includes a map of the area showing where all the produce comes from.
Top tip
You won’t be the only ones heading for that great restaurant, so book ahead to be sure of a table. If it’s a Michelin-star venue, make your reservation several weeks before your visit.
White asparagus
Vegetables almost always come on their own at French meals. And in spring in Bordeaux expect to find asperges du Blayais on the menu. The nationally famous white asparagus comes from Blaye, a citadel town overlooking the Garonne estuary. The season for this local produce runs between March and May.
The terroir gives the vegetable its characteristic sweet taste and you can try the best at good restaurants in the region alongside a glass of wine from the region. The best restaurants in Bordeaux include La Tupina, a classic venue on the city’s dining scene.
Did you know?
Chef Rick Stein cruised on the hotel barge Rosa when filming his world-famous French Odyssey series.
>>> Find out more about his trip and the food he discovered on the way
What to eat in Bordeaux as your mains
Many main dishes in this part of France include the phrase à la bordelaise, meaning that the main ingredient comes with a rich sauce. The base ingredients include shallots, demi-glace (bone marrow and broth) and dry red Bordeaux wine. Some recipes add a dash of the local region’s Armagnac or Cognac for extra flavour.
Lamproie à la bordelaise
Dating back to the Middle Ages, this typical dish places the lamprey fish at the centre of the stage. Lamprey are similar to eels and live in the Gironde Estuary where they are fished between December and May.
Lamproie à la bordelaise is a sort of stew with bordelaise sauce, potatoes, leeks and lamprey blood and meat. Many Bordeaux restaurants serve it in season and you can also sample it at the Sainte-Terre Lamprey Festival held annually at the end of April.
Boeuf de Bazas
Beef from Bazadaise cows is a true Gascony speciality and according to locals, one of the world’s top meats. The free-range and grass-fed herds graze in Bazas, a town to the south of the Garonne River.
Only 13 butchers have approval to sell this prized boeuf, so it isn’t easy to buy it. The best restaurants in the area feature boeuf de Bazas on their menu. They include the Brasserie Bordelaise, another well-established eaterie in Bordeaux that showcases local beef (and many other produits du terroir) on its menu.
Top tip
A hotel barge cruise makes a great way to discover what to eat in Bordeaux, Aquitaine and Gascony. Enjoy local specialities and treats as you glide along the Canal de Garonne.
>>> Book your holiday on Saint Louis or Rosa
Desserts to eat in Bordeaux, Aquitaine and Gascony
This part of France has a very sweet tooth, so if you’re looking for a sugar fix at the end of the meal, you’re in luck. You’ll find a typical local pastry or cake in almost every town and village, but Bordeaux is best known for the following sweet treats.
Canalés de Bordeaux
The local favourite, a canalé is a cake baked in a fluted copper mould and seeped in honey and/or rum. The best come with a soft interior and crunchy caramel outside. You can buy them in mini, bite-sized portions or in large versions if you’re hungry (or forced to share!).
You’ll see them in patisseries throughout the region and they’re particularly common in Bordeaux itself. La Toque Cuivrée has numerous shops in the city and around where you can buy some of the best canalés in town and even a canalé-flavoured jam for your tartine (toast) snack.
Did you know?
Aquitaine, Bordeaux and Gascony are perfect for exploring on a self-drive hire boat. Easy to drive, the boats come in various sizes to suit you and your holiday companions. Plus, the Canal de Garonne has lots of hire-boat bases.
>>> Find out more about hire boating in Bordeaux
Macarons de Saint-Émilion
These almond biscuits date back to 1620 when the Ursuline nuns at Saint-Emilion invented one of the region’s most popular sweet bites. The original recipe remains a treasured secret, today held by just one person, Nadia Fermigier and just one factory bakes the real thing.
You can buy them in the village of Saint-Émilion at the shop next to the post office or try them at the nearby tea shop. Unsurprisingly, the macarons de Saint-Émilion pair perfectly with a glass of local wine or Crémant de Bordeaux.
Top tip
If you choose to hotel barge down the Canal de Garonne, you can easily visit Bordeaux and Saint-Émilion on one of the private buses.
Dunes Blanches
‘Light and airy’ takes on a whole new meaning in another Aquitaine and Gascony delicacy. The dunes blanches, named after the white sand dunes on the Aquitaine coast, combine choux pastry and cream to perfection. You can buy the world’s best cream puffs at Pascal’s shop in Bordeaux and, as Pascal says himself, any time of day is dune blanche time.
Wine accompaniments
Bordeaux wine is the obvious (and probably, only) accompaniment to all this delicious French food. You can try it at the many vineyards in the region and at any restaurant. But one of the best places to sample the most famous vin in France is at the iconic Cité du Vin in Bordeaux.
As well as discovering the history behind the region’s wine and how to make it, you can also combine the best with fine dining at Restaurant Le 7 on the 7th floor. Fabulous views of the Garonne are a given (those of the bridge and Port de la Lune are particularly fine) as is the choice of wines. The wine list runs to more than 500 by the bottle and an impressive 32 by the glass, which makes wine pairings an easy choice with such a special meal.
Discover the best of this part of France
See for yourself exactly what to eat in Bordeaux, Aquitaine and Gascony when you choose a boating holiday in the region. Whether you’re river cruising, hotel barging or self-drive hire boating, fine wining and dining beckons throughout your trip on the waterways.
Read more French food articles
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- The best French food blogs
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- History of soft French cheeses
- 3 Comté recipes for the weekend
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