Monday 9th November

The Pizzeria in Eymet is famous, people come from miles around, and because of that the town is always busy.  Other Restaurants have opened on the back of their success; the Creperie, the Peruvian and La Bastide.  Many times we have wanted to go to the Pizzeria and it was full, with a bar full of hopefuls waiting, often for an hour, for a table – so we settled for the Creperie or one of the other places.  And they do have rather a lot of tables, not only inside but outside under the arches and round the corner and right down past the Cave and the Charcuterie.  And the weather has been so fine that even in November these tables are often full.  In many ways the Pizzeria is the jewel in the crown of Eymet; not only do they make the very best thin stone-baked pizzas with delicious and plentiful toppings but they have quite an extensive menu of meat and fish dishes.  I am sure we are not the only ones who take our visitors here on their first night – and we are never disappointed.  The staff are mostly the same every year and you get to know them, especially the old Patron, who goes round shaking everyone’s hand and occasionally giving free drinks to his favourites.

But…..as Maxine would say, the Pizzeria closes for the winter; mid November to mid March.  We had never been here when it closed before.  It was Saturday night and though my wife was back for three days in England I joined a rather large crowd of 14 for a farewell to the Pizzeria dinner.  It was scheduled for 8.30, but we didn’t sit down until 9.30.  Already warmed up with glasses of wine we took our seats.  I had the calves liver, deliciously cooked in a sweet grape sauce with thick wodges of polenta.  Carafes of wine kept appearing on the table and I was actually too full up to finish my customary tarte-tatin.  The staff were all dressed up in zany costumes – one was a Pierrot, one was Harpo Marx, one of the girls appeared to be wrapped in (not much) gold foil and the pizza guy himself was a dead ringer for Freddie Mercury, white vest, moustache and all.  Great great fun.  But….I was shattered.  Friday night had been another late one with Elvis in the Gambetta, and up at seven and running the Café, including a quick dash back for a house-showing, so I was glad to get to bed and miss the inevitable fireworks, which I heard just past midnight as I was drifting off to sleep.

We will miss the Pizzeria, but….it will open again next year,