Aaah, the delightful village of Eygalières, its stone buildings, stunning views of the Alpilles mountains, Sunday flea markets where you can indulge in an antique for the price of a healthy kidney on the black market… and of course its beautiful bistro! In what used to be the restaurant Luigi, Édouard Giribone, the former chef at the heavenly Edù in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, and Louis Villard, who hails from the world of Italian restaurants, have opened their cheeky Quàsi (tiled floors, celestial globe light fixtures, an upstairs area with trattoria-like banquettes and white tablecloths) much to the delight of locals and tourists alike. The other day at lunch, served on the sunny terrace, the duo sent out some well-crafted plates alongside a few pizzas with thin and crispy crusts: glistening Culatta de Parme ham to nibble on while we sipped an apéritif; a handful of mouthwateringly golden panisse fritters; delicious half-and-half gruyère-anchovy pizza, like they serve in Marseille; sliced monkfish doused in a lemony sauce escabèche; marinated peppers topped with salted anchovies; before an authentic chocolate lava cake. And like any reputable village bistro owners, the duo also serve viennoiseries and tartines with butter and jam at breakfast, plus cheese plates during the day. It’s quàsi perfect! // Gwen Jacquère
FEELING THIRSTY? : Roughly 20 different labels, available in all three colors: an unpretentious local rosé from the Domaine de Valdition (€4.50 a glass), Pura Vida, a Gard Syrah from Antoine Armanet (€42 a bottle), Matris 2018, a fantastic Chenin from the Domaine de l’Écu (€78 a bottle), Vieilles Vignes 2014, a rich red from the legendary Domaine Gauby (€110)…
PRICE: : Breakfast €3-8, small plates €8-15, pizzas €16.
