La Cave Small store, well-stocked with boutique wines, brandies and liqueurs from all over France

Anthony Perrais came to Bulgaria 10 years ago as a tourist, liked it a lot and decided to stay and open a wine shop. His wife is Bulgarian.

What he likes the most about Bulgaria is the nature and climate. “I come from northern France, close to the ocean, and it rains all the time there,” Anthony smiles. His favorite Bulgarian dishes are gyuvech and kavarma.

(scroll down and read more)

What he misses the most from his homeland is the seafood, quality meat and French cuisine as a whole.

His favorite traditional French dish from his childhood is potafo (pot-au-feu) – winter dish with stewed beef, carrots, apples, cabbage, leek, celery, turnip. “Quite the homemade and family French dish!”

The store was opened in 2005. La Cave in French means “wine cellar”, hence the name of the store. This is the name wine stores in France have in general. The shop itself is small, elongated and darkened. Low temperature is maintained in order to keep the wines in their best shape and it actually resembles a wine cellar.

They offer exclusively French wines, imported directly from France. Most recommended are Burgundy wines which are the best on the market. Also available are armagnac, cognac, etc., but the special thing about the store is that it offers many boutique wines and not those found in supermarkets.

Most of their customers are Bulgarians.

Interview and photos: An Fam
Translation from Bulgarian: Boyan Boychev
Illustration: Vessela Dantcheva for Compote Collective
November 30, 2013