What to eat in Avignon?

1. Aïoli

We start this ranking with a must-have of Mediterranean cuisine. When your plate is served, in the middle will stand a small pile made of finely diced slices of carrots, potatoes, cauliflower and white fish. The smell of minced garlic will tickle your nostrils, and the sauce at the edge of the plate will make your mouth water. This dish is one of Avignon's oldest meals, and owes its origin to the creation of olive oil.

Beautifully presented, it's one of the most tasty and classy dishes you can enjoy in the "City of the Popes".

2. Ratatouille

Yes, Ratatouille comes from Provence, and consequently from Avignon! This dish is so legendary that it's the pride of the greatest French chefs, and which even owes its name to the famous animated movie "Ratatouille", is a must-have. Why is it so appreciated and consumed particularly in Avignon? It's one of the rare dishes that pays tribute to Provençal culture by serving products exclusively from its terroir: zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes, thyme, garlic, parsley, bay leaves... The aromatic bouquet served over the vegetables offers an explosion of flavors.

A few slices of bread from a delicious bakery in Avignon, and you're all set!

3. Anchoïade

Let's talk a bit about appetizers. Until now, did you know the term "Anchoïade", which designates an exquisite anchovy mousse? Generally, the city's inhabitants like to spread it on a few slices of bread, or accompanied by a nice fresh salad. Others tend to consume this mousse at breakfast to start the day well! In one bite, you'll have all the flavor of Mediterranean cuisine.

It's a distinguished and very appreciated Provençal aperitif, highly recommended! All that's missing is the delicious pastis to accompany it all.

4. Provençal King Cake

We know what you're thinking. Savory is good, but sweet is better. You're absolutely right. Let's give in to sweet little whims (we only live once after all). Come taste the Provençal king cake widely consumed in Avignon. A soft dough inside and slightly crispy outside, where one of the slices hides a mini treasure that is none other than the bean. Its history would date back to Roman antiquity, the recipe quickly arrived in France (to everyone's great joy), and quickly spread to the Provence regions. With family, it's an excellent dessert that children adore! So, who will be the king or queen?

5. Tapenade

Ready for a good old tapenade? It's a traditional dish of Provençal cuisine, easy to cook and always delicious. If you go to Avignon during summer, you'll likely taste this dish more than once, as it's known for its refreshing side. Used as a condiment worldwide, it's an extremely simple sauce to make (even the worst cook among you could do it with eyes closed) that accompanies many dishes. Made with olive oil, olives, anchovies and capers, nothing beats heading to the city of Avignon to taste one of the best tapenades of your life.

6. Châteauneuf-du-pape

A culinary favorite. After all, we're in "the city of the pope", so it stands to reason that the least we could do would be to create a wine in honor of these religious figures. Even though this drink can pair with cheese and all types of meats, it nonetheless remains unique in its kind. Know that these white wines rival the greatest! They are generally aged in oak barrels for 12 to 18 months before being bottled. Their length on the palate is, so to speak, intoxicating.

7. Avignon daube of Provence

Attention meat lovers: you're literally going to devour these pieces of lamb soaked in a white wine-based sauce. The dish's origin is quite legendary: it's said that religious people used lamb leather for writing (paper production was little exploited at the time). To avoid waste, the meat was used for this dish. Ingenious, right? A touch of olive oil, some carrot pieces, aromatics to enhance the meat's taste, an orange zest, the precious white wine, and bon appétit!

8. The navette

Another little sweet touch, the navette won't disappoint you for sure. According to our sources, they were invented to celebrate the arrival of Saint Mary who arrived by sea on the Provençal coasts. The navette owes its name to the famous weaving shuttles used to style women's long hair at the time. Today, this little dry biscuit pairs wonderfully with a cup of green tea enhanced with a zest of lemon juice. Flavored with anise or orange blossom, it's the kind of low-calorie dessert we love to eat at the end of a good meal.

9. Pistou soup

It's one of the most authentic dishes of the region. Warming, we love eating it by a fireplace, admiring the crackling of flames under the wood. This mix of fresh vegetables, straight from Avignon's agriculture, is full of flavors. It's a light dish (perfect if you're on a diet), the different aromas that emanate from it have made it particularly famous in southern France. With potatoes, beans, tomatoes and some zucchini, you'll get the pistou soup!

10. Candied fruits

Very famous in Provence, candied fruits are widely prepared in Avignon. It's simple, you enter a restaurant, and on the menu at the dessert level you can read a whole array of fruits, mostly from the region, that will be served to you: cherries, oranges, pears... They are cooked very slowly in sugar syrup and dried for some time before landing on our palate, then in our stomach. In a tart, a cake, or as a simple candy, it's a sweet treat coveted by young and old!