The Land of Duck

The South-West region of France, near Toulouse, is the land of duck. There are several duck specialities to try there. The first is foie gras. My brother in law actually manages a plant where they create duck delicacies such as foie gras in this area. I have a rule to try something 3 times before giving up on it. This was the case for fois gras. But, I recently tried a fourth time to taste some foie gras he brought home for a special occasion. Yum! It was covered in pepper which balanced the natural sweetness of the sweet duck liver. The next must-try is the greasy and crispy duck confit or confit de canard. This is pieces of duck such as thighs and legs that is cooked in duck fat. It is tender and rich and the meat falls right off the bone. Finally, cassoulet, a dish of beans, sausage and duck confit. This is a rich, comfort food. I tried it while I visited Toulouse. However, my friend in Paris makes a superior cassoulet. She promised me one this September which is serious business! I have been looking forward to her cassoulet for 3 years now! Duck isn't all there is to the South-West of France. However, it is worth trying in all its forms for they are all rich with flavor and uniqueness.