Reviewed by
Jan
Gourmet Box (Dordogne) – Beautifully Presented
I was so excited to receive this box, immediately upon opening it I felt like I’d been whisked away to the Dordogne in south- west France, and former province of Périgord. I love discovering foods from different countries and so these subscription boxes really appeal to me. The box arrived in perfect condition as you can see, and was extremely well-presented and looks more expensive than it actually is.
As I pulled back the green tissue paper I was pleased to find a luxurious combination of wine and gourmet products which are all typical of the Dordogne.
The Dordogne is known for its cuisine, picturesque villages and the impressive vestiges of its prehistoric past, especially the world-famous cave paintings of Lascaux which I would love to visit one day.
Full Contents of the Box:
AOP PÉRIGORD WALNUT CROUSTADE (280 G)
SAVOURY BISCUITS WITH SHEEP’S MILK CHEESE AND AOP PÉRIGORD WALNUT (100 G)
CÔTES DE BERGERAC AOC 2014 WHITE WINE (75 CL)
CHOC DE MARRONS (100 G)
GOLDEN BOX WITH THREE ARLEQUINES (20 G)
CHICKEN THIGHS CONFIT IN DUCK FAT (800 G)
ARTISAN DUCK RILLETTES (130 G)
AOP PÉRIGORD WALNUT CROUSTADE
This was the first thing that caught my eye; a beautiful Périgord Walnut Croustade which is actually a walnut tart encased in puff pastry. Suddenly transported to France, I felt like I’d just popped into the local boulangerie. Freshly baked, crisp and packed with a sweet walnut filling.
Apparently walnut croustade is good for you too; well there are many nutritional properties of walnuts. Not only do walnuts lower cholesterol but they are also rich in magnesium and vitamin E – anyway that was my excuse for eating more than just one slice!
SAVOURY BISCUITS WITH SHEEP’S MILK CHEESE AND AOP PÉRIGORD WALNUT
These bite sized savoury biscuits are made with sheep’s milk cheese and walnuts; crunchy and delicious and go perfectly with a glass of the Cotes de Bergerac wine included in the box. The biscuits are made in Sarlat, the heart of the Périgord Noir, and contain no artificial colouring or preservatives and are very moorish indeed.
CÔTES DE BERGERAC AOC 2014 WHITE WINE
From the estate of Château Court Les Mûts has been producing wine since the 17th century, and its vineyards have been tended by the Sadoux family since 1960. Now, I’m no wine connoisseur so I won’t go into it too much but I can tell you this is a good wine, sweet tasting and easy to drink; hic!
CHOC DE MARRONS
Oh my goodness these are the height of self-indulgence; a lovely combination of dark chocolate, cocoa and candied chestnuts with a ‘hint’ of cognac flavouring but I say you can really taste it.
GOLDEN BOX WITH THREE ARLEQUINES
I’m not usually a one for chocolate but Arlequines were especially good, it’s just a shame there were only three of them in the box! Handmade Bonbons made of roasted walnuts dipped in dark chocolate and cocoa powder, were again nicely presented in their box. They’re also animal fat-free which is good to know.
CHICKEN THIGHS CONFIT IN DUCK FAT and the ARTISAN DUCK RILLETTES
Now I haven’t got round to trying these as yet, but to cook them it’s recommended by Gourmet Box to fry them with just a little bit of the confit fat to give them a crisp golden crust. Then to use the leftover fat to whip up a tasty batch of pan-fried potatoes and add cooked green beans with a bit of garlic and sprinkle with fresh parsley. Sounds good to me, I can’t wait to give this a go.
In case you’re wondering, I haven’t tried the Duck Rillettes purely because having had them before they are not to my taste; for that reason I’m saving these for our next dinner party since I know they will be properly appreciated by our guests.
Conclusion
I recommend Gourmet Box to anyone looking to discover different gourmet food products. The box as you can see was perfectly packed and presented very well and everything was of excellent quality. I must also mention the ‘use by’ dates on everything in the box were all good too. Although it’s hard to pick a favorite, for me, it has to be the walnut croustade; I want another one all to myself!
By Evelyn 
