Un Xic de Tot

A mother, a daughter and a xic de tot, or a “little bit of everything” as they say in Catalan… And there really is a little bit of everything we like in this stretch of Roussillon backcountry: a big terrace perched in the heart of one of France’s sunniest villages, with uninterrupted, almost cinematic views of the Massif du Canigou. There, Sylvie (the former owner of El Lluert just two streets away) and Claire Bañuls (ex-Aux Lyonnais in Paris) delight guests from their kitchen done up with bottle green tiling. What should you expect? Shared plates that are attuned to the seasons, and girl-power-fueled service that warms up hearts and bellies alike: grilled Brussels sprouts with black garlic, paired with haddock and bacon; panko-breaded fried chicken with a flaming hot sriracha sauce; memorable ravioli filled with mushrooms and nori in miso broth, served with bread from the Le Barbu Pyrénéen bakery to wipe the bowl clean; sophisticated Mediterranean skate with sauce grenobloise and a herbaceous side salad; poetic pavlova with a citrus medley (blood orange, grapefruit, bergamot, citron) and rose… These two really have it all figured out! // Maria Mariaux

FEELING THIRSTY? A selection of drinks that explores the region, from the Kina Karo vermouth produced by Aurélien Carrelas (€4.50 a glass) to Ça Gazouille, a sparkling natural wine from the Domaine de l’Ausseil (€21 a bottle), not to mention La Boc beers on tap (€3 for a half-pint, €5.50 for a pint), the organic Tres Estelles pastis (€3 a glass) and the Safran Fou kefirs (saffron, fig, turmeric or ginger, €4.50 for 330 ml).
PRICE: : Shared plates €8-12, desserts €7.

Between the chefs’ desire to introduce their cuisine to youngsters and the available high chairs, this is definitely a kid-friendly spot! Big and little kids alike are welcome here, so that the taste of their times is as enjoyable as ours.