Life in the Vaucluse

Restaurant in Apt

L’assiette Gourmand

785 Av.Victor Hugo 84400 Apt

0490 74 57 10

On the road into Apt is a slightly shabby looking hotel, facing the train station, which has a brasserie on the ground floor. We rather like it as it’s full of locals at lunchtime and serves pretty good food. There is only a set menu (at lunchtimes) currently (as of January 2013) at a very good value €15.50 for 3 courses.

Typically the menu includes a salad first course – I had a very generous smoked fish / seafood salad, then confit of duck with a wild mushroom sauce then chocolate mousse. Wine is pretty basic by the carafe, but all in all, a good local if you’re passing by.

The restaurant is open in the evenings but closed Saturday lunchtime – market day in Apt.

Christophe the fishmonger

We're thoroughly enjoying Christophe coming to village every Sunday and Tuesday mornings with his van full of fantastic fish. Yesterday I bought some delicious oysters and clams for lunch. He is very reasonably priced, the quality of the fish is excellent and he is very charming! Highly recommended, he can be found outside the Casino supermarket (only Sundays during low season).

Dropping some friends back to Marseille airport the other day we noticed a new route - Marseille / New York JFK direct! It will only operate from the end of May to October this year with flights twice a week on Wednesdays and Fridays. The service is operated by XL Airways.

This could be very good news! http://www.cntraveller.com/news/2012/december/eurostar-london-to-provence-direct-high-speed

Found these pictures from last winter... will we have another like this?

A day by the lake

We had a fab day at the beach - well a beach by a lake. About 1 hour from Roussillon is the Etang de la Bonde lake. A stunning setting and one can park the car alongside the lake by going into the camp site next to it (€2 parking I think it was). Make sure that it is the camp site right next to the lake as there is another just nearby which is not the right one... From memory the one we wnet to is Camping de la Bonde.

The swimming is lovely and there is a cafe serving not bad food (though self-service). We took a picnic and then got some beers / wine at the cafe.

To get there drive to Bonnieux and then onto Lourmarin towards Ansouis.. this is the full address.  

Étang de la Bonde

84240 Cabrières-d'Aigues, France

On camera!

I know that we have a pretty window with shutters - all very Provencal etc but this is getting silly. 

Perfectly timed visit this year for the lavender. Spectacular!

Shopping for vegetables!

This is the way to do the food shopping - buy just a few hours after they've been dug up!

Gare de Bonnieux

A good lunch was had recently at the Gare de Bonnieux. A little restaurant only open at lunchtimes off the N100 on the road to Bonnieux. There is no choice on the menu: The first course is always a buffet salad and on the day we went, the main course was slow cooked duck leg with pasta. With a choice of puddings (I had creme caramel) it was tremendous value at 13.50 Euros which included a little carafe of wine. Booking is essential.