Chartres Local Cuisine: Traditional Dishes, Top Restaurants & Recipes

Chartres Local Cuisine: Traditional Dishes, Top Restaurants & Recipes

Chartres, located in the region of Centre-Val de Loire in France, is not just famous for its stunning cathedral but also for its delectable local cuisine. Influenced by the rich agricultural produce of the region, Chartres offers a variety of traditional dishes that will tantalize your taste buds. From hearty stews to delicate pastries, here's a guide to the local cuisine in Chartres.

Traditional Dishes

1. Blésoise

The Blésoise is a traditional dish that originated in Chartres. It is a sausage made from pork and beef, flavored with spices and herbs. Served with mustard and fresh bread, the Blésoise is a popular choice among locals and visitors alike.

2. Chartres Style Soup

Chartres style soup is a hearty dish made with a variety of local vegetables, such as leeks, potatoes, carrots, and onions. Seasoned with fragrant herbs and cooked in a rich broth, this soup is perfect for warming up on a chilly day.

3. Beauce-style Pâté

Beauce-style pâté is a delicious savory pie made with a combination of pork, beef, and poultry. The filling is seasoned with spices and encased in a flaky pastry crust. It is often served as an appetizer or as part of a picnic spread.

4. Orléans-style Tripes

Orléans-style tripes is a popular dish in Chartres and the surrounding region. It is a stew made with beef tripe, onions, carrots, and white wine. The dish is slow-cooked until the tripe becomes tender and flavorful.

Top Restaurants

If you're looking to sample the best of Chartres' local cuisine, here are some top restaurants to consider:

1. Le Georges
2. L'Apostrophe
3. La Cour
4. Le Comptoir de Maître Kanter
5. Le Pichet

These restaurants offer a range of traditional and contemporary dishes, showcasing the flavors of Chartres.

Recipes to Try at Home

If you want to recreate the flavors of Chartres in your own kitchen, here are a couple of traditional recipes to try:

1. Blésoise Sausage

Ingredients:

• 500g pork
• 500g beef
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried sage
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• Casings for sausages

Instructions:

1. Grind the pork and beef together using a meat grinder.
2. In a bowl, combine the ground meat, salt, black pepper, nutmeg, thyme, sage, garlic, and Dijon mustard. Mix well.
3. Stuff the meat mixture into the casings, forming sausages of desired length.
4. Grill or fry the sausages until cooked through.
5. Serve with mustard and fresh bread.

2. Chartres Style Soup

Ingredients:

• 2 leeks, sliced
• 2 potatoes, diced
• 2 carrots, diced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 sprig of thyme
• 1 liter chicken or vegetable broth
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. In a large pot, sauté the leeks, potatoes, carrots, onion, and garlic until softened.
2. Add the bay leaf, thyme, and broth to the pot. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to simmer for about 20 minutes.
3. Remove the bay leaf and thyme sprig. Using an immersion blender or a regular blender, puree the soup until smooth.
4. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Serve hot with crusty bread.

Now you can enjoy the flavors of Chartres right in your own home!