Castelnaudary (Cassoulet capital) is a food day trips in Toulouse.
Castelnaudary 65 km southeast of Toulouse is the canonical Lauragais cassoulet town, with Confrerie du Cassoulet. Reservations recommended in season.
Tip: Visit during the last weekend in August for the cassoulet festival; train from Gare Matabiau is 1 hour each way.
Carcassonne 90 km southeast of Toulouse is medieval walled city with Carcassonne version of cassoulet (with partridge) and producer shops inside the cite.
Tip: Train from Gare Matabiau is 50 minutes; eat cassoulet at La Marquiere inside the cite for the canonical Carcassonne version.
Albi 76 km northeast of Toulouse is Toulouse-Lautrec museum town with a Saturday producer market under the red-brick cathedral and a strong charcuterie trade.
Tip: Saturday is the canonical day-trip for the market; train from Gare Matabiau is 1 hour 15 minutes each way.
Cahors 115 km north of Toulouse is the canonical Lot Malbec wine region, with vineyard tastings, producer lunches and a riverside town centre under medieva.
Tip: Train from Gare Matabiau is 1 hour 20 minutes; visit Chateau du Cedre or Chateau Lagrezette for vineyard lunches.
Auch 78 km west of Toulouse is Gascon capital with Armagnac tastings, the Gers producer market on Thursday and canonical Pyrenean foie gras supply town.
Tip: Thursday is the canonical market day; train from Gare Matabiau is 1 hour 30 minutes each way.
Gaillac 55 km northeast of Toulouse is canonical Tarn wine region, with Mauzac white, the indigenous Braucol red, and family-run vineyard producer lunches.
Tip: Visit Domaine Causse Marines or Domaine du Moulin for vineyard lunches; train from Toulouse is under an hour.
Lectoure 95 km west of Toulouse is Gers producer town with canonical Lectoure melon in summer, a Tuesday and Friday market and a strong charcuterie trade.
Tip: Visit June to September for the Lectoure melon harvest; combine with an Auch visit for a full day in the Gers.