I think the Sunday lunch is the best lunch of the week. The weekend is well underway, the sleep-ins have helped, relaxation is foremost on the mind and the day is still well ahead of you.
I have a favourite place to lunch in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, the antiquing town about 30 minutes away from Saint Remy de Provence. This town, set on the Sorgue River, specializes in antiques and collectibles and on Sundays holds a flea market. We like to arrive early, browse the market in the morning and then have a long leisurely lunch at Le Jardin du Quai.
In summer the tables and chairs are arranged in the garden courtyard - it is so pretty and very shady - and such an oasis of comfort after the crowded market place. The best thing is the set menu - no decision making - which I love; I am always happy to eat the chef's choice and what I don't have to think about. Yesterday we were treated to a starter of pan fried girolles (a fine variety of French mushroom) followed by skewers of barbequed lamb and a salad of tabouli. The desert, that I wish I could say I resisted....was divine. I am no food writer so I am struggling a little here but all I can say is that delicious, creamy and citrusy come to mind. The most interesting thing about this little taste of heaven was the fresh tarragon that was sprinkled on top. This aromatic herb that hails from the daisy family, with an aniseed taste when uncooked, is quite fabulous when combined with something sweet.
After lunch more antiquing - this time in the warehouse style galleries nearby the restaurant. A great combination don't you think? A flea market, a good lunch and more shopping, xv.
Le Jardin du Quai
91, Avenue Julian Guigue
8400 L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
+33 4 90 20 14 98
This sounds like the perfect Sunday to me. Lunch sounds wonderful- and I hope you found some treasures. The setting is dreamy for a long, lingering lunch.
ReplyDeleteAh...thank for for the little holiday! Such charm, such tempting dishes! Those roses at the entrance! I too love Sunday lunch, but unfortunately I was the chef yesterday!!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds a perfect way to spend a Sunday! A lot nicer than my Sundays I have to admit! Sunday is never a restful day for me as it's my one day of work in the 'real world' xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful way to spend a Sunday. Lunch sounds so yummy and the the markets as well - perfect Sunday
ReplyDeleteAlison
We love the Sunday antique market in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and have been there a couple of times. You have to arrive early to find a good spot to park.
ReplyDeleteLamb for Sunday - so typical Provence. Would love to be there right now. Le Jardin du Quai looks like a charming restaurant, not touristy which we try to avoid. I'm making a note of it along with address so if we ever get back to St. Remy (we were going this year but put it off because of the economy and the dollar) we'll know the perfect restaurant to try in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue.
Sam
You words have done the trick. I'm now craving a creamy, citrusy tart sprinkled with tarragon. Lemon yoghurt will have to suffice!
ReplyDeleteVicki, sounds like the perfect Sunday!
ReplyDeletej'adore cet endroit!!
ReplyDeletemais je n'y était pas dimanche....
amitiés
manon
It looks and sounds utterly divine. You are so fortunate to live there.
ReplyDeletexxx
Oh how completely charming! I would love to sit in the beautiful garden and enjoy great food an conversation. Great post, you transported me to a lovely destination.
ReplyDeletesounds perfect!!!
ReplyDeletexoj
Sounds like the perfect day! Any restaurant that welcomes you with a gorgeous aray of flowers has the right attitude I think. What a beautiful setting for a leisurely lunch. Xo
ReplyDeleteSounds heavenly! Would that I were there.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a perfect day - again ! Can you believe it is August ? I remember your post about preparing for this time .....it's here. enjoy
ReplyDeleteOh what a perfect, perfect Sunday! Wish I were there!
ReplyDeleteI love a nice Sunday lunch out in the breeze.
ReplyDeleteOh, what a fabulous Sunday!!!
ReplyDeleteI love tarragon, I use it in my shortbread sometimes. I agree, it has that perfect taste with the sweetest.
Did you buy anything???
would love to see if you did.
xx
callie
this sounds like heaven.
ReplyDeleteand you are so right about
leisurely sunday lunches..
i love your special restuarant!
It all just sounds devine! :)
ReplyDeleteI think sunday lunch is a wonderful meal. We have been enjoying meals and tea times out on our piazza - when it isn't raining.
ReplyDeleteOhh - I couldn't agree more - Sunday Lunch is a very special time. Growing up it was at my mother's house, and you didn't miss it!!
ReplyDeleteThis place is absolutely beautiful and everything sounds delicious !! Hope it was a wonderful day for you.
V
I shall be saving this post in my "places to go" file for my france trip. A Sunday shall be spent at the flea market in what sounds like a wonderful little village~
ReplyDeletemerci!
xo
Mmm...I totally agree. Nothing beats a wonderful lunch at a great restaurant. A good meal, a glass of wine, great friends, on a lazy sunny day off.
ReplyDeleteSounds like heaven to me!!!!! Oh, how I miss living in Europe!!!!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like the perfect way to spend a Sunday! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletexo,
Christina
Vicki, heavenly that is!
ReplyDeleteI still have everything I bought from the L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue antiques market years ago. I want to be right there right now.
ReplyDeleteI would never think of tarragon with a sweet but it sounds like it works magnificently!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful spot -- it looks like a little oasis and having a fixed menu? Ideal..really surprising and delightful for the taste buds!
Bonjour! Vicki Archer,
ReplyDeleteYour description is very "vivid"...because I can picture in my "minds-eye" every detail that you have described in your post.
I can even smell the "fresh" garden air!
Merci, for sharing!
DeeDee ;-D
Now that sounds like a little piece of heaven!
ReplyDeletemmmmm...tarragon with sweetness, is something to try.
What a wonderful Sunday...
Oh, such sweet days of lingering - it's one thing I think Americans would do well to take a lesson from the French....appreciating the art of being OK to linger and rest and enjoy.
ReplyDeleteYesterday, I went to Petite Provence (here in Portland) and ate croissant with my 8 yr old granddaughter (of course I had my coffee) and while there 4 lovely French women sat and chatted and lingered as if there were no other place more important to be.
I basked in that ability to do that...and took a few lessons for my own heart...being OK with the art of lingering over friendships and coffee and French pastries.
xoxo Lylah
La Maison et le Jardin
PS received my copy of you book...LOVE it! Thanks for pouring your heart into something that other women can so enjoy.
Hello, Vicki-
ReplyDeleteYou are right--trooping thought flea markets works up an appetite. No need for an apero to bring forth the desire for lunch.
Tarragon: so pleased you like it. It seems to have gone out of fashion totally in California. I never see it on any menus! It used to be considered so chic and the most sophisticated fresh herb. Now it is nowhere to be seen on any dishes in restaurants here. I must find out why. Mysterious. We used to enjoy tarragon in salads, or tarragon on delicate fish dishes. Cheers, www.thestylesaloniste.com
ohhh i'd LOVE to join you in that lunch!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Leisure lunches are my favorite!
ReplyDeleteDining and antiquing! What a perfect way to spend the day!
ReplyDeleteAntiquing and lunch in this lovely setting? Sigh. Heaven.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your thoughful comment at WM. I totally agree. The more, the merrier. :^)
Very lovely!
ReplyDeletex, Julie
Hi Vicki, sounds just like heaven, what a wonderful week end. (just take me with you next time...)
ReplyDeleteLinda x
This looks terribly inviting, long lunches would not be hard to fall into with such a lovely place. Hx
ReplyDeleteGenuinely charming. Did you say dessert? I'm flying over.
ReplyDeleteVicki dear .. .
ReplyDeleteYou certainly know how to pick the
Perfect Oasis!
Jjjjj
Vicki, yet another magic place to have literally right on your doorstep!
ReplyDeleteThe skewered barbecued lamb sounds divine.
I'll just dream on...
I LOVE le Jardin and recognized it instantly from the first photo. I always eat there when we shop in Isle. Have you ever gotten to eat in the little gazebo...very romantic!
ReplyDeleteI have some photos there I keep forgetting to post, I'll let you know when I get around to it!
Olga
This sounds delightful. Hope you found some wonderful old treasures.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad French Essence arrives in my mailbox. It's always a thrill. Hope you got my e-mail. I sent it in a different way then usual and can't be sure that it arrived. Anyhow - it's good to be back.
Catherine
The perfact day, and thanks to your pictures and words, I can almost think myself there, would prefer to be there , but not possible at this time. So I THANK YOU for sharing. Your post was a great start to my week.
ReplyDeletei love your description of surrendering to the sunday lunch. sounds blissful, and yes, the set menu is the way to go!
ReplyDeleteO.K., here was my Sunday in Northern California. Toddle down to the farmers market in our little neighborhood within a big city, always the oyster man first thing. R months be damned! Then G sits with Zoe the corgi while I sample and buy the beautiful peaches, plums and finally, tomatoes. Also got huge baked german pretzels. Wander over to the coffee shop and snag a front row seat to observe Sunday passing by with a latte. Zip home to collapse after such a tiring morning to sit on the deck and read the NY times for about three hours!
ReplyDeleteOh how lovely. Sunday lunch is one of my favourite past times.
ReplyDeleteDivine setting for a sublime lunch Vicki! I would have had to forego the main course though for a double helping of the girolles - one of my very favourite things. MOTH would have spoilt the ambience though, asking the Waiter in his pretty average French to turn the radio on so he could hear the progress scores of the Sunday arvo Footy! You just can't take him anywhere!
ReplyDeleteMillie ^_^
Sounds like the perfect place to leisure away the day.
ReplyDeleteSounds wonderful- both the shopping and the lunching!
ReplyDeleteThose are my favorite kind of weekend days!
Yuummmm, would have loved to have been with you. Sunday lunch is the best, feels like it doesn't have to end. love Carla x
ReplyDeleteOh, your blog is beautiful...but it makes me feel really home sick!I grew up going to L'Isle sur la Sorgue every Sunday for the Market...now I live in Australia;)
ReplyDeletesounds good.. It is a wonderful way to spend a Sunday...
ReplyDeletelove from Melbourne:)
your making me ridiculously hungry and i've already eaten!
ReplyDeletemy favorite restaurant too......i once waited there for an old "beau" who actually stood me up for hours...i still enjoyed my lunch.
ReplyDeleteAh, sounds like perfection! I couldn't agree more about Sunday lunches, they truly are special occasions (despite that it would be possible to celebrate on a weekly basis).
ReplyDeleteDelovely!!!
ReplyDeleteBack In Michigan there was actually a small bistro that was perfection francaise...and 2 Sundays a month I made my way there to meet up with friends for brunch.
The owner/chef lived in France for 8 years & returned home tyo dleight my palette many mnay times. He even made his jams.
Hopefully there were finds waiting for you to take home.
i'm thinking to come to St. Remy and around this summer, i'm gonna visit it!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like the most perfect day. I wish I was not so far away...
ReplyDeleteOh ... your pictures of Le Jardin convey so perfectly how it would feel to be there. Thank you for transporting me ! Great blog.
ReplyDeleteLisa
Oh wow! I remember this restaurant from our trip last year. I could have spent a whole week endlessly looking in that amazing little town. I bought a few magic pieces which I will always treasure (so hard to get things back to Australia!!!). You are so lucky xxx
ReplyDeleteWill you PLEEEEEEEZZZZZZ show photos of the brocantes and flea markets there with close ups of great stuff. Thanks.
ReplyDelete