LUXE Serendipity magazine

By Donna Richardson

Destination Orléans Valley: 10 unmissable tastes of a gastronomy shaped by history

Orleans, is a city in the heart of the Loire Valley, which rests on the banks of the Loire River. Known as the city of Joan of Arc, it is rich in history and cultural treasures that inspire wonder. Explore its beautiful landscape, significant monuments, captivating museums, and lush parks and gardens. Just a short trip from Paris, The Loire Valley is known for its fairytale castles and rich gastronomy – Orleans invites you to experience its vibrant cultural and architectural heritage, leaving you with unforgettable memories.

However, history has also long been written at the table. From the Renaissance and onwards, the city developed into a pivotal hub on the Loire, welcoming spices, fine wines, coffee and produce from across the globe. Barrels of southern wines, left to rest on the quays, accidentally gave rise to a unique vinegar‑making tradition that still thrives today. This subtle blend of Loire terroir and cosmopolitan culinary culture gives this destination, both distant and familiar, its unique flavour. To wrap up 2025 on a high note, Orléans Val de Loire invites visitors to savour this gourmet heritage through 10 specialities, places and experiences to be discovered over a weekend – or longer, should the flavour linger!

The world’s finest “œuf mayo”, prepared in Orléans

Awarded in 2025 as the world’s best “œuf mayo”, this iconic dish can be enjoyed at Le Gric, the restaurant run by chef Marie Gricourt, the first woman ever to cook in the kitchens of the French presidential palace, the Élysée. The plate celebrates three local products in a deceptively simple dish that reinvents tradition: Martin‑Pouret vinegar, Beaugency celery and Courtenay rapeseed oil.

Where to try it? Restaurant Le Gric, 8–10 Rue des Halles, 45000 Orléans. Open Wednesday to Sunday. More info

Le Kiosque, when Michelin stars meet the marketplace

Michelin‑starred chef Christophe Hay, renowned for his craft, proudly embraces his farming roots. His vision is to share the produce of both land and river, always with respect for the product and the planet. With the same philosophy, he took on the bold challenge of opening Le Kiosque in the very heart of Orléans.

Launched in September 2025, this gourmet counter draws inspiration from the concept developed at his 2‑starred Fleur de Loire: everyday gastronomy crafted from seasonal local produce and short supply chains. Expect stone‑ground breads, citrus‑based pastries (from greenhouse‑grown fruit), seasonal snacks and fine grocery items, an accessible and sustainable take on haute cuisine.

Where to find it? Le Kiosque, 10–20 Place du Martroi, 45000 Orléans.

Orléans vinegar: a taste that stands the test of time

With 200 years of history behind it, the Martin‑Pouret house has stood the test of time. Today, it remains the last vinegar maker preserving the traditional Orléans method. This age‑old, slow‑fermentation technique has won over Michelin‑starred chefs and legendary establishments such as Pierre Gagnaire and the Ritz, and even became the official vinegar of the Élysée.

In 2025, its brand‑new factory in Boigny‑sur‑Bionne opened to visitors. True to its spirit of innovation, Martin‑Pouret has also launched three surprising vinegar‑based lemonades: Raspberry, Citrus, and Sauvignon‑Basil. The house perfectly embodies Orléans’ new motto: “belle et re‑belle,” beautiful and boldly reimagined!

Where to taste it? Ateliers Martin‑Pouret, 690 Rue du Vieux Bourg – 45760 Boigny‑sur‑Bionne / City‑centre boutique: 11 rue Jeanne d’Arc – 45000 Orléans. Guided tour “Secrets and Flavours of Orléans” organized by Orléans Val de Loire Tourism – More info

Cotignac makes a sweet comeback

This quince‑based delicacy, once the favorite treat of King Francis I, is now being rediscovered. Relaunched by local artisans, Cotignac took center stage at the 2025 Festival de Loire. While still available in its traditional form at La Chocolatière, it now also comes in more contemporary guises under the new “Cotignac d’Orléans” brand, created in partnership with Martin‑Pouret.

Where to try it? Tourist Office boutique, Orléans Val de Loire (traditional Cotignac by La Chocolatière): 23 Place du Martroi, 45000 Orléans.

Sébastien Papion: chocolates with a taste of the land

In Orléans, chocolatier Sébastien Papion, hailed by Le Monde as one of France’s finest, crafts his creations with precision, drawing on local ingredients like Sologne honey, Orléans vinegar, and Olivet pear. For the 20th anniversary of his chocolate house, he is launching an exclusive edition of his Papionella® in partnership with Duralex, the iconic local glassmaker. The same recipe, but served in the timeless “gigogne” tumbler, a nostalgic icon of French childhood.

Where to try them? Orléans: 38 rue du Faubourg Bannier, 32 rue Jeanne d’Arc and at Halles Châtelet. — Chécy: 25 rue Jean Bertin.

Olivet pear, life in a bottle

Since the Middle Ages, pears have been cultivated in the Loire Valley, sometimes grown directly inside bottles for maceration. The Poire d’Olivet keeps this tradition alive, with a fruit “trapped” inside each bottle, left to steep for three years in eau‑de‑vie. Crafted in the historic cooperative building at 613 Rue du Pressoir Tonneau in Olivet (the name says it all!), it is made exclusively from Williams pears of the Orléans region. The result? A truly authentic aqua vitae: ripe fruit aromas balanced by the powerful 50° spirit.

Where to taste it? Directly from producer Covifruit. Boutique in central Orléans: 9 place du Châtelet; or in Olivet: 613 Rue du Pressoir Tonneau. More info

Jargeau’s andouille, a Loiret classic

Though less renowned than its cousin, andouillette, this pork‑based charcuterie, slow‑cooked and tied by hand, is a signature speciality of Jargeau, a small town just 9 miles from Orléans. So integral to the region’s heritage that a brotherhood was established to promote it, and today it features on some of the best tables around.

Where to try it? Les Toqués: 71 chemin de Halage – 45800 Saint‑Jean‑de‑Braye. Open Tuesday to Saturday. More info

Villa Dunois: a table for epicurious

This discreet guest house and dining table offers an extraordinary experience for culinary adventurers. In this “dining cellar”, dishes literally emerge from the table in an intimate performance, conceived as a cabinet of culinary curiosities.

At the head is Albert: cook, sommelier and aesthete, who welcomes his guests with generosity and passion. He highlights local produce while recounting the history of his house and cuisine, published in his one‑of‑a‑kind book Table d’hôtes: cuisine de voyage, cuisine de partage.

Where to find it? Villa Dunois: 44 Rue du Maréchal Foch – 45000 Orléans. More info

A Loire escape, one sip at a time

Run by Escapades Ligériennes, these traditional wooden boat trips, aboard the toue cabanée, combine discovery of the Loire, Europe’s last wild river, with tastings of the best local products: sparkling wines, artisan terrines and more. A deliciously original way to whet your appetite!

Where to board? Port of Combleux village. Aperitif cruise €29 per person – booking required. More info

The Loire uncorks its finest vintages

The Orléans and Orléans‑Cléry appellations, officially recognized in 2006, highlight an ancient vineyard: vines already flourished around Orléans in Gallo‑Roman times, reaching their golden age in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Like many French wine regions, however, the Orléans vineyards suffered devastation from phylloxera in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and almost disappeared. Today, just a stone’s throw from the city, 88 hectares of vines remain: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Cabernet flourish along the banks of the Loire.

Where to taste them? Les Becs à Vin: 8 place du Châtelet, 45000 Orléans. More Orléans wine bars here

How to get there

Get the train from Paris to Orleans in just over an hour