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Postcards from France: Bistrot du Paradis

Eating at My Favorite Restaurant in the World

Francois de Melogue
4 min readMar 9, 2023

When the Good Lord begins to doubt the world, he remembers that he created Provence. — Frederic Mistral

We all have our own versions of Heaven. Some imagine a peaceful place where they will live out eternity with God; others imagine a world where they get everything they ever lusted for in life. I imagine heaven to be sitting down at a table at Bistrot du Paradou on lamb day.

Bistrot du Paradou, photo by Francois de Melogue

The food at Paradou is hearty, homemade, Provençal rustic, perfectly prepared, comforting…and superb. Plus, it’s different from just about anywhere else…in the concept, service and vibe. — Julie Mautner, publisher of ProvencePost.com

Bistrot du Paradou is not really a restaurant, it's more of an institution with an ever-growing cult of devotees. Maybe institution isn’t quite right either — perhaps a sanctorium of Provence is better. You know, given enough pastis, I may even add that BdP is more a way of life, or rather of how life should be. Maybe they should rename it, Bistrot du Paradis!

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Francois de Melogue
Francois de Melogue

Written by Francois de Melogue

My earliest attempt at cookery began with the filleting of my sister's goldfish at age 2 and cooking my pet rabbits by age 7. Life has been downhill ever since.

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