Au Fil du Temps

On a pretty square in Pernes les Fontaines sits Au Fil du Temps. Unassuming, but enticing. Run by merely two people, a husband and wife team, chef and front of house respectively, they only take 25 covers. They have often been asked "why not more?", "why not do two sittings?", but they stick to their principles, never wishing to sacrifice quality for the sake of a few more bums on seats. The food is of course the stand out piece, but the interior is also well designed and spacious, quite unusual in France - good food AND good decor do not often go hand in hand... locals prioritise the first, tourists often fall prey to the latter, and more often than not they enjoy a sub-standard meal as a result. But not here. I opted for the 29€ three course menu of the day, although this also came with a consommé to start and petits fours to finish, so it was more like 5 courses, each as perfectly executed as the last. Claire was a wonderful host, chatting and explaining the menu in detail, without making us feel in the least bit embarrassed if we didn't understand bits. As a pudding girl, dessert was a highlight: a pine nut tart, which was very similar in texture to a frangipane (I plan to experiment with this at home very soon, once we've restocked our empty shelves!), with a blueberry sorbet and honey foam. There were more expensive menu options too: 39€ menu of the same number of courses as the 29€, but there were 3-4 choices per course, rather than a set menu; for those who really want to splash out, there was a 5 course 59€ tasting menu - I have no doubt it would be delicious, but I couldn't fault my 29€ option.

Just next door sits Le Haricot Magique, also well worth a visit - a sort of bookshop/cafe which also hosts a series of talks and events.

Starter - Petit Pois peas of different textures, soft poached egg, bacon powder

 Slow cooked lamb, herby polenta, caramelised onions

Pine nut tart, blueberry sorbet, honey foam