"A perfect, original meal, from local products, in a cozy setting in one of the Plus Jolie Village de France after a scenic drive. What more could you ask for? We picked a wonderful day for our 2 hour countryside drive over to Collonge-la Rouge in the Correze department of southwest France. In summer, this hillside village built over centuries from the iron rich stone from the quarries nearby, is a jumble of small streets filled with tourists wandering through the red walls of the houses and shops and church. The tourists have gone, but the restaurants needed to feed them are left behind. Yesterday the town was empty, but the restaurants were well filled with happy french diners. We were lucky to have chosen the Auberge de Benges I had called ahead for a reservation and asked their location as the picture on Trip Advisor makes it appear it is in the open countryside. I was assured that indeed they are in the village, just on its lowest edge. You are required to leave you car in the parking at top of the hill as the village is officially car-less. There were in fact a few shops open as we followed the well marked trail down through the twist and turns of the town, to the auberge, perched looking out over a wonderful valley. In summer the patio view and tables should be one of the most perfect in France. In winter, we ate in the timbered dining room under the house above. We were greeted by a slim and efficient young man who was thoroughly professional and friendly throughout. The menu has offerings at 22, 35 Euros depending on combinations and plates, and a special 65 Euro Chefs menu. As we had the two hours now to drive back after lunch, we decided on the basic entree + plat. plus splitting a carfe of wine and a sparkling water. No dessert (we were going to split one but when we asked at the end of our main about the dessert options, were informed that we had to order them up front as they were all created individually -there you go for trying to be strong). The young professionally trained chef uses only local producers and currently available product. There is even a list of the actual farmers or producers he uses. The plates come out with wonderful sauces and deeply flavored food, representing the richness of totally bio ingredients. P had homemade fois gras entier with "deux pommes" which was a bit of word play on a small sides of apple (pommes) and potato (pommes "de terre"). The medium sized cross section of the fois, was was plated with the pommes sauces. I had escargot profiterole in a garlic ber blanc sauce. Lovely balanced flavors with the sauce around the two profiteroles with 3 snails each inside. P chose the traditional magret de canard in a rich duck stock sauce that was cooked to the exact level requested. I had a special treat, roast quail in a mediera sauce. The waiter had noted that the chef had just received a fresh truffle and could shave slices over my fowl and sauce. It is just the beginning of the truffle season here in the Dordogne so it was a real treat and of course I authorized the small suppliment. What came was a very generous portion of truffle spread throughout. The madeira sauce was rich and deep and the aroma of the truffle oohed its way into my sensory passages as the bites of perfectly charred quail were eaten. They had a nice, regional selection of wines at reasonable prices. I avoided temptation and stayed with the house bergerac red. It was a lovely meal in a quiet setting, and very well priced in the end (though with no cheese or dessert, only coffee and a small Perrier). This is a personal restaurant with its raison d;etre coming from the chef's passion for local and bio food to inspire him. It would have been nice if there had been a connection with him, the person. He stayed in the kitchen letting the food be his representative. Collonge la Rouge is only 20 minutes or so from Brive and the A20. So if you dont want to wander the back roads, you can get close by fairly quickly from anywhere in the South west."
