Today finds me at old faithful. La Gare is a familiar place with familiar faces now. It has been my go to since I first moved to Bonnieux & read of its charms in the novels of Peter Mayle. La Gare is owned and operated by the now late Pierre Cardin’s trust. Cardin bought the vast majority of the the village of Lacoste many years ago. Lacoste hangs on a cliff above La Gare and keeps a dutiful watch.

As the name La Gare suggests, the building it’s self was once Bonnieux and Lacoste’s railway station. That railway is long gone and it has been repurposed as a wonderful flat grade cycle path that goes for many many miles in either direction.

Today’s formule included a trip to the cold buffet which includes a plethora of roast vegetables in olive oil. Add to that a selection of charcuterie and pate. You could then choose your entree from either the braised veal in a mushroom sauce or a local fish fillet with legumes.

I chose the veal but stopped uncharacteristically short of including a dessert. I will now reveal that I punched myself repeatedly in the face on the way home for making that ridiculous mistake.

I concluded today’s lunch with a lovely espresso and a litre of Orezza mineral water.

For those of you that have visited Paris you will have most likely travelled by train or metro through Gare du Nord or Gare de Lyon. Gare de Bonnieux is much different. No trains, much better food and bathrooms you can enter without breathing apparatus.

Here’s to Provence!

Live well.

Mark

All images taken by IPhone XR.