At the Van Der Horst’s place, they swear by wine. Saskia is a winemaker at Les Arabesques in Montner, while Morgan, her brother, owns a bistro and wine shop, and draws his corkscrew faster than his own shadow. At their nice little dive (red tiling, vintage furniture) which seats up to 20 oenophiles, we pop open the very best while enjoying some simple, fresh grub. On the table the day we went for lunch: a gourmet mix of organic vegetables (hot and cold radishes, asparagus and beets) with arugula, peanuts, goat cheese from the Fromagerie des Terres Blanches in Trilla, with cooking juices, garlic and ginger; tasty Angus flank steak served with mashed potatoes, peas and cinnamon-spiced carrots; before chocolate ice cream with slices of apple and cherry, all sprinkled with corn flakes, for the rather nostalgically simple dessert.
FEELING THIRSTY? Organic orientated local wines: P’tit Piaf, a white from the Domaine de l’Ausseil (€4.50 a glass), Ocarina, a rosé from Les Arabesques (€20 a bottle), L’Estra Lunat, a red from Patrice Delthil (€32)… Otherwise, there’s Clef des Champs beer (also organic) from the Brasserie Sulauze (€4.50 for 330 ml) or Cap d’Ona lemonade (€3.50).
PRICE: Menu-carte €23, platters €8-14.
