"Vinsobres is a picture perfect Provencal village, perched on a hill top, surrounded by fields of lavender, olive trees and vineyards. It has an unusual history and its worth making the effort to walk up to the Protestant church, at the top of the hill, because the views in all directions are enchanting.In the middle of the village is the tourist office and the mayor's office. Roughly opposite, is Chez Alice, run by the delightful duo of Alice and her daughter Angel. This building has been in Alice's family for generations and was once the village blacksmiths. The decorative wrought iron doors of Chez Alice were hand made by Alice's grandfather and hint at the building's previous incarnation.Opposite is an outside seating area, with tables spaced far enough apart so as not to intrude upon one another, but close enough to chat, if you desire.Inside what used to be the blacksmiths, Alice has created a welcoming, relaxing ambiance that immediately puts you at your ease.Alice loves to delight her customers and often you'll be rubbing shoulders with the very friendly locals. Everything she serves has been carefully chosen and is the best example of that type of produce that she can find. Most ingredients are sourced locally and are organic. Pictured you'll see a typical Plat du Jour, which changes daily and at under €10 at time of writing is excellent value. Consisting of the best of locally grown foods, its Provence on a plate and a delight to the eyes and then the taste buds. Add a chilled glass of local rosé for a few euros and surrounded by other happy customers, life doesn't get much better. If you're feeling indulgent, a few scoops of ice cream and a coffee, round off an excellent meal and set you up for the rest of the day. Alice's portions are perfectly sized and will easily sustain you until evening.Alice has a knack for seating customers next to each other, who she feels might arrive as strangers, but likely will leave having enjoyed chatting with each other and the chatter and laughter between tables is constant. On sunny days, of which there are many in this part of the world, sitting outside in the shade of an enormous tree, watching village life go by, only adds to the experience. Negatives? Hand on heart, fellow traveller, there aren't any. Except that once you leave Vinsobres, you'll be forever wanting to return to Chez Alice. Chez Alice opens early in the morning, serving brunch and lunch, until mid-afternoon."
