Firmly planted along the Trou de Bozouls, La Maison Bouteille never sways! Philippe Girbelle and his wife Rachel used to be the village baker and pastry chef. But since 2018, they set up shop in this beautiful stone building, transforming it into a part-traditional, part-modern thatched cottage, with convex mirrors, wood and steel tables, string light bulbs and a grillardine fireplace. On this hot summer evening in the middle of a heatwave, the chef kept his crowd cool with a delightfully well-practiced menu (€19): local trout terrine spiced with curry and paired with fried smelt (a type of small fish) and a wild garlic sauce; beautiful bonito fillets with divinely fatty skin and ratatouille-style vegetables; and a lovely strawberry and gooseberry clafoutis. // V.Z.
FEELING THIRSTY? There’s a clever wine list inspired by Sergio Calderon, the wine shop owner in Laguiole and Sebastien Bras’ sommelier, and Hervé Lorin, the wine shop owner in Centrès: a Luberon white from the Famille Perrin (€5 a glass), an Aveyron red from the Domaine de Majorac (€3.50), a Bourgogne-Aligoté from the Goisots (€33 a bottle)…
PRICE: Set menu €13-16, menus €19-22 (Sunday).
