La Ferme de Malice

After kilometers of sharp turns no wider than a Smart car, you’ll reach this charming farmhouse-inn high up in the Gard countryside. It’s a former mas farmhouse that Audrey and Arnaud Piana took over in 2016 and transformed into a working farm, with a permaculture garden, chickens, sheep and a donkey! The result? Magnificent organic products (ice creams made with sheep’s milk, fresh eggs, vegetables, etc.) that wind up on neighboring market stands or on the plates of around 15 lucky guests, three nights a week. For us, seated on the pretty terrace under the shade of the lime trees: a miniature salmorejo (Andalusian gazpacho) for the amuse-bouche; delicious Ardèche trout tartare with cucumber and pine nuts or an incredible lamb terrine with a freshly harvested salad from the garden (lettuce, cherry tomatoes, onions) and homemade Caesar dressing; slow-roasted veal filet mignon with buttery potato purée, crisp haricots verts and a very good Port reduction; and a delicate peach and nectarine carpaccio splashed with a little local olive oil and paired with ice cream made with lemons from the orchard. // Gwen Jacquère 

FEELING THIRSTY? A few artisan beers including a surprising Feu Follet smoked over beech wood (€5 for 330 ml) and around 20 local, natural bottles sold at very reasonable prices – Le Péquelet, a decent Gard red from the Domaine de Malaïgue served by the glass (€3), Sople e Joios, a light Ardèche Gamay from Le Mas de L’Escarida (€23 a bottle). 
PRICE: Menu €34.