RESTAURANT LA CAVE, LA CAUNETTE - A REVIEW

There are myriads of restaurants with diverse and interesting menus to choose from here in the south of France. Every would-be celebrity chef on the road to fame and a Michelin star has a kitchen pumping out his or her specialty. How to choose wisely? Lunch specials are the way to go. You get great value for your Euro and a definite feel for the skills of the folks behind the swinging doors. One spot we've recently visited for such a taste test is the Restaurant La Cave in La Caunette.


On the road to the beautiful tourist destination that is the town of Minerve, La Caunette is itself perched precariously on a hillside. Reached by way of a tall and narrow bridge, near the entrance to the village there's a small church with an oddly new-feeling cemetery behind it overlooking the gorge. The town of about 350 souls boasts several wine producers offering tastings. And across from the mairie (town hall), in a building that one would suppose had been a winery (cave) in a previous life, sits the Restaurant La Cave.


We first tried lunching at La Cave on a Wednesday. A group was waiting to be served on the small terrace as we approached. We tried the door but it was locked. The front of the double-sided chalkboard with the menu said Ouvert (Open), but the backside advised that the restaurant was closed for dinner on Tuesday and all day Wednesday. We so informed the French folks who were waiting and went on over to Minerve and La Table des Troubadours (See previous post for my review. You don't want to be bothered? It's passable. Just passable.)


On our return to La Caunette, with a different companion, we chose to dine inside. Surprisingly modern furnishings contrasted with the obviously ancient but well re-pointed stone interior. And I can do without the oddly shaped plates. But why quibble? It all seems to fit together somehow. And it's all about the food.


For a reasonable fixed price (15,50 Euros apiece) we had a starter, a main, a dessert, wine, and coffee. No ups. The tab came to 46,50 Euros for three. Amazing. That never happens.


For starters we chose from either a piping hot, fall-inspired root veggie soup or vegetables of the season (tomato, cucumber, eggplant, and onion) sliced thin, oiled, and topped with a few anchovy filets. The choices for the main were a steamy bowl of cassoulet or three plump sardines escabeche-style. All were properly spiced, freshly prepared, and well-presented. For dessert? Creme brulee or chocolate/saffron fondant or a banana torte. Just fine. The service was well-paced and attentive without being intrusive.


We shall return and try a dinner on a special night. Recommended.

Read more of my reviews HERE.

LA TABLE DES TROUBADOURS, MINERVE - RESTAURANT REVIEW

Simply stated, La Table des Troubadours in Minerve is just good enough if you can't arrange for a better meal while you are visiting one of the most beautiful villages in all of France. Just good enough...

Minerve clings to the wall of a broad, deep gorge carved by the River Cesse. As we heard one American remark as we walked down into the village from the parking area above, "It's impressive what a little water can do over a long period of time." And Minerve is truly impressive, although it's always been difficult for me to understand why a group of people would choose to live in such an inaccessible place. I appreciate the concept of a defensible position. But in fact, it seems that these 'impregnable' positions always end up falling to their enemies as Minerve did during the Albigensian Crusade. So why bother?

Enough history. It's about the food.

The lunch menu of the day consisted of a starter, a main dish, and a dessert or cheese plate for 19 Euros. Wine and coffee extra and the house wine was by the bottle, not en pichet (in a pitcher, meaning bulk wine), so not cheap.  63,50 Euros for three people. That's a high-end tab for the typical daily special in the region. But Minerve is a special place and the view from some of the tables at La Table des Troubadours is special as well, looking out as they do over the gorge. The food, however, is not special at all. My duck confit, leg and thigh, was passable, as was Cathey's fish in cream sauce. Passable. The rest? Passable. No sense in going into each jot and tittle. Passable.

If you must eat while visiting Minerve, this is the cheaper of two alternatives as far as I can tell, though not cheap in terms of value for dollar. The supposed haut cuisine provider in Minerve is Relais Chantovent. Supposedly higher quality. We may or may not visit one day. The better bet is to drive into the village of La Caunette either before or after your visit to Minerve and dine at Restaurant La Cave. Check out my review that will follow in a day or two.

Read more of my reviews HERE.