Head to Ariège with the new restaurant-grocery store concept Chez Noù, a stone's throw from the Victor Hugo market
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One hour from the Ville Rose nestles a small territory of character, where forests, lakes, caves and castles hold magnificent discoveries... But, beyond its must-sees (the Orlu valley, the town of Foix or the Parc de la Préhistoire), Ariège is also home to local products that make your mouth water! This is why the Chez Noù concept intends to win the hearts of the people of Toulouse.
It all started four years ago, when the Ariège Chamber of Agriculture, based on an idea by Philippe Lacube, decided to create the territorial brand Noù Ariège Pyrénées. The goal? Promote the great work of local producers, label them with specifications and bring visibility and notoriety to Ariège.
"Very quickly, we imagined opening a business in Toulouse", explains the project manager. "The Victor Hugo district stood out as the ideal location". After raising 500,000 euros in 2022-2023, the project is taking shape... and Chez Noù finally opened its doors last April, a stone's throw from the market.
More than 70 producers and 300 products: the tempting references of the Chez Noù grocery store, renewed according to the seasons, come exclusively from small Ariège producers carefully selected. Along the well-stocked and nicely presented stalls, you can find pâtés as well as charcuterie and dried beef, as well as trout, preserves, honey, biscuits, ice creams, lemonade... Everything to please yourself.
A refrigerated display case reveals very appetizingfresh cheeses. In the basement, the cellar will please lovers of local wines, mostly organic, as well as beers and spirits; the opportunity to discover some gems! Those who prefer non-alcoholic aperitifs will try kombucha, this sparkling fermented drink that the people of Ariège enjoy sipping, and which is becoming more and more trendy in France.
After doing some gourmet shopping, why not sit down in the adjoining room or on the terrace? "The restaurant menu is still evolving in order to best reflect the Ariège identity", confides Stéphanie Tétrel. "It changes according to the arrivals and the chef's desires".
Nevertheless, you have every chance of finding fresh salads, hearty burgers, beautiful cuts of meat or trout fillets… all in a "bistronomic brasserie" spirit. The products are as much as possible from Ariège producers and accompanied by local wines and beers.
The project manager is delighted: "We received a great welcome from the locals, especially during the first nighttime opening of the Victor Hugo market last May. The restaurant even has regulars, most of them lovers of Ariège". Note: it is also possible to privatize the charming room in the basement, whether for a business lunch or a family reunion.
Good deal: opt for the menu of the day (starter + main course or main course + dessert), on the slate. For its part, the Toulouscope team enjoyed a Aston trout fillet on a bed of vegetables and, to finish on a sweet note, a strawberry soup with diplomat cream and pistachio pieces... For the aperitif, Chez Noù also offers charcuterie boards and/or farm and artisanal cheeses (at lunchtime and in the evening from 6 p.m.).
The primary goal of Chez Noù is above all to "create a link between Ariège and Toulouse, to be a great tourist and agro-tourism showcase". Thus, producers are invited every week to present their farms and their products to customers, in a spirit of sharing and good humor. Even better: for the inauguration of the grocery store-restaurant, a transhumance was organized in the streets of Toulouse!
Practical Information
Timetable: Open Tuesday to Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday to Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
