Cassoulet and Duck Confit

We're still here in France - our last full day is tomorrow.  We were going to go into Limoux for lunch at a pizza restaurant today that I read about on Trip Advisor.  However, at the very last minute, we remembered that we had bought a can of gourmet cassoulet with duck confit.  The weather had turned cloudy and a bit chilly so we elected to stay home and eat the "canned beans".  Well, this is not like any canned beans we have ever eaten before.  Cassoulet and duck confit are specialities of this area of southwest France and this particular brand came from Castelnoudary - the self proclaimed cassoulet city of the world.  Early on in our stay here we had bought a small can of cassoulet and it was good but not memorable.  Then, I ordered it when we had lunch in Carcassonne and it was good but not superb.  So, as I heated up this can of cassoulet, I did not have high expectations but since we were hungry, having had practically no lunch, I was optimistic that it would be at least satisfying.

I prepared a nice salad with buttery lettuce, cherry tomatoes from the yard, a fantastic pear from Christine & Pierre's orchard and goat cheese - with a touch of balsamic vinaigrette.  This was accompanied by a bottle of local Limoux Brut bubbly and, of course, French bread.  We were blown away by the taste of the cassoulet from the can!  Wow!  And it contained two duck legs and two pieces of sausage - tender and tasty.  I wouldn't mind taking a case of this home because I'm sure I won't find it at our local Mega Supermarket.  Oh well - I may have to try to make it some day.  Oh, we very much enjoyed the Brut too.

Tomorrow we will have our final French meal in Limoux at lunch - maybe we will go back to Le Lounge where we had the fantastic creme brulee foie gras.  Then, it's on to Holland Sunday morning.