Can anyone recommend a moderate priced restaurant in or near Carcassonne with cassoulet on the menu? About 25 years ago, in that area, I had this dish and it was wonderful. Looking at menus of eating places now--it seems to be a very expensive
item, 30-40 Euros. Thanks for your help.

One of the best cassoulets I've ever had was at the restaurant Histoire Gourmande in Carcassonne. I don't remember it ever costing 30-40 euro, though it's been some time since I had it. That would be a criminal price to pay for beans and sausage and duck. At any rate, it's cooked in a wood fire there, as it is in many places in Castelnaudary, the "birthplace" of cassoulet, and is truly authentic.

Since Carcassone is on the way to Toulouse, if you find yourself in that interesting red-brick city you will be able to spot cassoulet on many menus. Follow the hearty meal with prunes in Armagnac.

Last year I had a great cassoulet in Caunes Minervois at Hotel D'alibert. It was part of a set menu of 3 courses for 26 euro. I can highly recommend it. Caunes is about half an hour outside of Carcassonne to the north. Their menu changes regularly according to what is available so I can't promise it will be on.

Another vote for Histoire Gourmande in Carcassonne (the lower town). If you're in the upper town (Le Cite, the walled city part), there's a great place tucked around the corner from Place Marcou, in rue St Jean called Restaurant Le Marquiere - cassoulet, foie, Pigeonneau, you named it. And good prices for such a lovely place. Or try the Brasserie Le Marcou in the square - it's busy, but the Cassoulet was very good.