Isle sur la Sorgue – my kind of place.
Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is a magical, heavenly place that will tantalise every single sense that you have. I guarantee it!
Famed for its deliciously large market that takes every Sunday, its a darling of a town right in the heart of Provence. It is Provence to me and I could quite happily move there. Many others have done – a hero of mine, the late Mr. Keith Floyd lived nearby – what better commendation could a place receive!?
Just 30 minutes from the papal city of Avignon (very easy to get to by plane, trains and automobiles), its part of the little cluster of towns and villages that make up the Luberon region – Gordes, Goult, Bonnieux, Lacoste…. I adore it and thank fully my work takes me there on a regular basis 
What prompted me to share all this with you? Well, I’d just noticed on my desk a business card from a gorgeous little bistro that sits right in the heart of the town. Run by a lovely couple – Paul and Nicole – who saw sense and left Paris to settle in Isle sur la Sorgue a few years ago. Bought the bistro and they now live and breathe.
Oh the steak! My mouth is watering right now at the thought of it – and just seeing their card on my desk has inspired all this. I jolly well hope I’m going there again soon too. But, back to the matter in hand – I’m supposed to be telling you about this heavenly find…Au Chineur. Sigh…
Au Chineur sits right on the River Sorgue. Infact, most places in Isle sur la Sorgue do sit on the river and there’s a kind of hint about that in the name of the town… 
The Sorgue runs through it, in it, under it and all around it. Some call it the “Venice of France”. I don’t personally agree with that – I don’t think its like Venice at all. If I wanted to be in Venice, I would!
Au Chineur is rough and tumble – its a bistro. The food is deliciously yummy. Its not the very best I have tasted. But, its much more than that…The French very decently have a wonderful word that sums up exactly how to describe Au Chineur…“Ambiance”. Its positively dripping in the stuff. Can’t walk more than one yard without tripping over it – ambiance is everywhere! For a start, the tables are made up from old sewing machines – you know the ones with the lovely cast iron bases. Then, there’s the rickety old bar, the bentwood chairs that creak and groan under my increasing weight, the busy but cheerful staff…even the loo – and lets face it, one can often judge a restaurant simply from its loo – is full of antiques and curios! Oh yes, my friends – it is a veritable feast for all the senses!
Am I allowed to confess it is the only place in Sorgue that I frequent? Thats shocking isn’t - as I am sure there are others that are perfectly lovely. I was there about a month ago for a friends birthday party and I sat back, rolled some vin rouge around my tongue and knew that all was well with the world…. paradise.
So, please do go! Say hello to Paul and Nicole! The plat du jour is always excellent value – usually under 15 euros – and they have an excellent wine list too! I have an amusing story about that…but thats for later
