During our three days in and around Beaune we had five happy dining experiences.

The simplest of these was in the village of Epinac, just off the main road from Autun back to Beaune; I chose it on a whim from our Michelin map of Burgundy (Maggie was driving).  Epinac has a patisserie, a pharmacy, a few basic service trades and a bar/cafe, Cafe Restaurant de la Place. (If you Google Epinac, you might find a different story but it seems that the village is on a path that is commonplace in the world’s older agricultural regions.)

Our arrival, at about 1pm took the number of customers to five. Soon after the male proprietor gave us the menu, a female chef appeared. She invited us to choose an aperitif then made sure we chose a pitcher of Chardonnay; it was an attractive but cheap wine. She, Aline actually, returned to the kitchen to prepare a plate of the traditional ham and parsley terrine and other forms of cured pork; it was truly delicious and of superior quality. We ate a second tasty, if more modest, dish. Then Aline’s husband, Jean brought short black coffees to complete a fine meal. We dearly hope that this competent and lovely couple will stay in business but I fear for their future.