A lovely trip out! Collobrières! A village which has practically remained the same for a century! Hidden amongst chestnut trees! Caught between mountainous foothills and the Dom forest! Paradise on earth for hikers and mountain bikers! You'll say that Mauricette doesn't belong to either religion. And you're right. Nevertheless spot on the same date she does her annual pilgrimage wearing her pre-summer clothes that look like they've been put together using the dining room curtains! It's enough to make the sparrows flee from her green hat! But the ducks and the stream that run under the Borello's restaurant is a different matter! Ah the "Restaurant des Maures"... The Borello brothers hold the torch! Lionel runs the bar with the regulars and on the other side Sébastien does his job well in the restaurant! This house's philosophy hasn't changed a lemon rind for ages: the welcome is open armed like a mountain gite, the cooking is all homemade, it is filling but not lacking subtlety for some dishes and the titles are not full of scientific words! Mauricette and I commune with the gala menu at 20 €! The unmoveable 20 € menu! With "hors d'oeuvre" composed of raw vegetables, a lovely slice of Parma style ham sliced in the kitchen and not taken from a packet, or bland, or as fine as cigarette paper.

And the homemade terrine, yes sir, the terrine is homemade. And no need to add salt and pepper! Impeccable! 14,5/20. To follow is the traditional "omelette aux champignons" (mushroom omelette), and not made with button mushrooms! Local mushrooms! Hold back on the bread: the meal isn't over yet! 14,5/20. I am brought a "civet de porcelet" (piglet stew) which is as soft as a lamb, tender and tasty, 14,5/20. And Mauricette's "cuisses de grenouille" (frog's legs)! I'm talking about her dish! Smooth garnishing, potato and courgette gratin! 14,5/20! Don't miss the Borello's classic amongst its classics; the "crème de marron (du village) Chantilly" (chestnut cream (from the village) whipped cream) and its homemade meringue. Oh yes my dears; if it's only once in your life, then it's here. 15/20! Another 15/20 for the chef's "tarte au citron meringué" (lemon meringue pie), it is remarkable. 12 € for the menu of the day! With a bit of luck, and if you book early there are hotel rooms available, simple rooms at simple cost. This is one of the BàO's favourite restaurants in one of the BàO's favourite villages. Timeless and regular, like the chestnut harvest at the end of October in Collobrières.