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Dining Out and About (Provence): Omelettes, ohmigod!
By Ann | August 18, 2009
You know I never, ever, ever, ever indulge in any hyperbole, so please believe me when I say that I have found the lightest, fluffiest, most exquisite, delicious, and BEST omelettes in the world in Buoux, a small village in the Luberon region of Provence. Okay, maybe I’m being a little sarcastic. But honest to goodness, cross my heart, these omelettes are amazing.
Our friend, Anna, recommended L’Etape du Promeneur before we left on vacation, saying they served such delicious omelettes that even she — a self-proclaimed egg avoider — returned multiple times to gobble them with abandon. Hmm, big build up. Could L’Etape live up to its reputation?
Yes! Yes! Yes!
This is the kind of French restaurant found in storybooks — a basic place, owned by a husband-wife team (he runs the front, she the kitchen), with a tiny menu that verges on plain — omelettes, salads — yet with food made with such love and care and skill that its simplicity becomes absolutely stunningly exquisite.
For example, the salad — one green (right, 3.50€) and one with tomatoes (left, 4.50€), which were simple yet extraordinary: dressed with just the right drizzle of herb vinaigrette, so that the leaves were coated but not drenched, and then dusted with sesame seeds and flaked almonds, each bite a delicate revelation of herbs. I tasted parsley and tarragon, but there were others hidden in the finely chopped bouquet.
The frites came in a huge, golden, crunchy pile, heaped onto a plate, perfumed with herbs — sage, rosemary — and hot enough to sting our fingertips. Hint: one order (4€) is more than enough for two people.
But enough about the supporting cast. What about the star of our show? The omelettes were light, fluffy, tender, savory with the barest hint of garlic, and rich with butter. The mushroom (photo top, 6.50€) was filled with earthy fungi, and lavished with more oh-so-finely chopped herbs. But the true show-stopper of the meal was the omelette aux fines herbes (photo above, 6.50€), so simple — just eggs, herbs, a hint of garlic, butter — yet so squishy, herby, buttery and delicious that I vowed to never again to eat an omelette anywhere else.
For dessert there was a homemade cheesecake, drizzled with Provencal honey (4€). “Does your wife do all the cooking?” I asked the kindly waiter/host/cashier/postcard vendor/owner. “Yes, I have that luck!” he said.
Here’s the view from our shaded table, a long, lazy stretch of fields, dotted with bales of hay, that seems to scream summer afternoon. You can linger here for a while, but don’t arrive too late for lunch — after 2pm the kitchen serves only charcuterie and desserts. L’Etape is also offers dinner — though we didn’t try it — ordered 24 hours in advance; choices include chicken tarragon, roast pig, and rabbit with mustard, among others.
L’Etape du Promeneur
Buoux
tel: 04 90 04 60 21
Closed Tuesday evenings and Wednesdays
Topics: Dining Out and About |
8 Responses to “Dining Out and About (Provence): Omelettes, ohmigod!”
Comments
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August 18th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
I’ve missed reading your blog or even making new entries in my own, but I’m catching up, and I must say, I love a great omlette! Come to think of it, it’s been a long time since I’ve made one.
Your photo is very enticing. Hope you are having a great summer!
August 19th, 2009 at 5:41 am
And … to think … Larry and I just each had the world’s worst omelette on Fulham Road near Conran’s. Granted, it was an egg-white omelette, but it was dry, skimpy, hard, and unappetizing, a far cry from your voluptuous, plump, tender-looking roll of eggs. Mom was smart, she had poached eggs.
August 19th, 2009 at 11:31 am
Sounds heavenly… the omelette, the setting… I’ve really got to get myself down to the South of France one of these weekends!
August 21st, 2009 at 3:25 am
You had me with the raves for the omelette. But then onto the salad… the frites… the cheesecake with honey and… that view!! Mon dieu…
August 21st, 2009 at 6:05 am
The front man for L’Etape and I have something in common: “Does your wife do all the cooking?” I asked the kindly waiter/host/cashier/postcard vendor/owner. “Yes, I have that luck!” he said. I also have that luck!
August 21st, 2009 at 9:10 am
Kathy — I’ve missed you! But I know you’ve been busy with your new job. Hope you find a way to balance blog + family + work — the web is too empty without you!
Dad — Poor you! And egg white omelettes don’t have to be dry. Sounds like a careless cook.
Camille — I hope you do get down south… it’s loverly. If you do go, please let me know if you need any suggestions.
Sweet Freak — Thanks for stopping by! BTW, the cheesecake came with a choice of honey or sauce aux fruits rouges, which also looked delicious. And guess what? After I ordered the cake with honey, I found out my husband doesn’t like honey… something about it tasting like… the attic? (???)
Chris — Hmmm… the waiter/host/cashier/owner may actually have better luck, because I don’t think he has to do the dishes.
October 18th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
i went to this restaurant and it is sooooooo good! i went for dinner 2 nights. my parents had the actual meal and they thought it was AWESOME!!!!! i had fries and an omlette and they were both really good! if anyone is going to buoux, go here!
October 30th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Ah, the pictures here are so gorgeous that I have to ask you - Are there any great omelette places in Paris or nearby. Preferably omelettes with lots of stuffings, yeah..