Le Comptoir Gastronomique

Le Comptoir Gastronomique is the online shop of Maison Riviere, a charcuterie house from Castelnaudary in the Lauragais. The region claims cassoulet as its own. The story begins about half a century ago, when the elder Monsieur Riviere opened a butcher's and charcuterie on the market square. Fresh and honest produce was the mark of the name from the start. His son Michel built the Maison Riviere from that shop. In his workshops he composed the cassoulet recipe the house still uses and extended the range to other cooked dishes of the region. The spice mix for the broth in which the beans and vegetables simmer remains a family secret. Madame Riviere alone holds the composition of the spice box. The catalogue covers cassoulet in tins and jars, along with the white beans of Castelnaudary. Confits and gizzards follow, together with pates and rillettes. Soups and fresh pasta are listed as well, and a sweet grocery section closes the catalogue. The house also assembles gift hampers and monthly boxes and supplies groups and professionals. All products are made in the south of France. The meat comes from France except in exceptional circumstances such as avian flu. Delivery runs to France, Switzerland and Belgium, and the customer service line is answered from Castelnaudary.