Cucina italiana in the land of cassoulet??? Such is the impossible feat that Cinzia and Fabio Antonini have been pulling off for over a decade now. The duo left behind their careers as interior designers in Rome in order to renovate an old wine storehouse located just a stone’s throw from Carcassonne. And they made sure to bring the transalpine slow food movement from their former lives along with them, mastering the art of locally-sourced fare: the couple produces their own wine, while their bambini handle the rare eats – like Edoardo, who raises buffalo and makes the only artisan mozzarella in Corbières, and Giacomo, who works his magic in the kitchen! The day we visited, lunch felt like a proper Sunday feast: comforting smoked scamorza croquettes; delicate guinea fowl thigh stuffed with salami, served with a creamy sweet potato purée and sautéed endives – unless you felt like opting instead for the butternut squash, taleggio and parsley risotto, or the sea bream fillet with herbs and sautéed Chinese cabbage; and to ensure you need to take a nap afterwards, there’s classici tiramisu, panna cotta or affogato with farm-fresh ice cream produced just down the road. // Megan Linar

FEELING THIRSTY? In addition to often organic wines from both France and Italy (a house grenache-syrah blend at €6 a glass, Viafrancia, a viognier produced by Baglio di Pianetto at €30 a bottle, or an organic Venetian prosecco from La Jara at €35), there’s a short selection of classic cocktails also available (Rossino, Bellini, Negroni, €8-11).
PRICE: : À la carte €43-49.