When in Provence ..... Veranda in Ménerbes

We ate what was probably the best meal of the vacation at Café Veranda, a small restaurant in the gorgeous town of Ménerbes. The restaurant has a narrow balcony with superb views in the direction of Mont Ventoux, but we opted to sit in their small courtyard under an olive tree. The food was seasonal, beautifully presented and reasonably priced.

A word about wine lists, if you're a South African trying to dine in France: almost no one in France produces single cultivar reds - they believe the results are unbalanced and 'harsh.' That means in ordering off the wine list you have to know both the region and the actual producer to be able to judge quality and price of what is always some red blend. The Luberon is not one of France's flagship regions, and so winelist prices for a normal 750ml bottle start at about 15 euro. Order one of the brand name Bordeaux and you can easily part with ten times that! However, one thing we wish that SA producers would consider is the availability on wine lists of 500ml bottles - absolutely perfect for an evening out which has to end in a reasonably sober drive home at the righthand side of the road!

A last side note: You saw the photo above of the milky drink? They say when in Rome, do as the Romans. So, when in Provence... Pastis is the most popular apéritif in the region. It is an anise-flavored liqueur, served with a jug of water so that you can dilute it according to your own preference. Our verdict? You have to try everything at least ONCE….. :-)

Cafe Veranda
rue Marcellin Poncet
Menerbes

Image credits: All photography by me