09.03
2011 Gastronomy

When it comes to mountain cuisine, we all know the classics: gratin, tartiflette, fondue…but mountain cuisine is not limited to these dishes, delicious as they may be. There are many other specialties to discover!

When it comes to mountain cuisine, we all know the classics: gratin, tartiflette, fondue…but mountain cuisine is not limited to these dishes, delicious as they may be. There are many other specialties to discover!

Cuisine is an expression of local culture, and regional products and dishes are as numerous as the French ski resorts themselves.  Each massif has its own culinary specialties, prepared with local products which have produced legendary recipes; delightful to savour in the numerous restaurants of our resorts.
The “grands chefs“ add a modern twist to these traditional culinary treasures of the French mountains, ceaselessly reinventing the much-loved classics.

Grouped together within the Association des chefs étoilés de Savoie et Haute-Savoie, an organisation of international renown, they have built their reputations using the products of the mountains : aromatic herbs, cheeses, dairy products, charcuterie, freshwater fish…
Noteworthy tables include: La Bouitte, at Saint Martin de Belleville, Le Chabichou and Le Bateau Ivre at Courchevel, Le Farçon at La Tania and L'Oxalys at Val Thorens. In these prestigious restaurants, talented chefs propose quality traditional recipes: L'Adray Télébar and Le Cœur de cristal, at Méribel ; Le Caribou, at Corrençon en Vercors, La ferme Choumette, at Saint-Martin de Belleville, with its view of the stables, Le Diable au Cœur with its unobstructed view, at Deux-Alpes ; Le chalet du Cairn at Les Ménuires; Le Chalet de la Marine at Val Thorens; La Bergerie at Chamonix, with its exceptional view; Le Bercail at La Clusaz...This (non-exhaustive!) list illustrates the richness of the gastronomic heritage of our mountains.

So, a mountain holiday also means the opportunity to discover new culinary pleasures, in the restaurants and auberges de montagne but also at the farms and artisanal workshops which propose visits and tastings.

Here is a small selection of traditional recipes to discover around the ski slopes:

In the Southern Alps: Ravioles, tourtons (traditional savoury pastries), and the regional liqueurs alcool de mélèzes (made from larch flowers) and Genepy.
In the Northern Alps: le gâteau de Savoie (Savoyard cake), le farcement (a traditional dish prepared with grated potatoes and bacon), la tarte au beaufort (traditional cheese tart prepared with beaufort cheese), le gratin dauphinois (Dauphinois potatoes), les farcis (stuffings), les crozets (traditional Savoyard pasta), and numerous cheeses, particularly the tommes de montagne.
In Auvergne: la Truffade (potato pancake), l’aligot (mashed potatoes with Tomme cheese).
In the Jura: les galettes de pomme de terre au comté (potato pancakes with comté cheese).
In the Vosges: les Toffoyes, la tarte aux brimbelles (berry tart).
In the Pyrénées: la Garbure (thick soup with ham and cabbage), l’Azinat.
And many other specialties…

The simple pleasures: a slice of fresh country bread, local cheeses and charcuteries accompanied by a glass of fine wine…perfect.

Les bonnes tables à étoiles 2011

Deux étoiles :

Savoie Mont Blanc stations de ski :
- Val-Thorens (73)  L'Oxalys   **
- Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (74)  Hameau Albert 1er **
- Courchevel 1850 (73)  Les Airelles   **
- Courchevel 1850 (73)  Le Chabichou **
- Courchevel 1850 (73)  Cheval Blanc   **
- Megève / Leutaz (74)  Flocons de Sel **
- Saint-Martin-de-Belleville (73)  La Bouitte **

Savoie Mont-Blanc, proche des stations :
- Le-Bourget-du-Lac (73)  Le Bateau Ivre **

Isère, proche des stations : 
- Uriage-les-Bains (38)  Grand Hôtel  **

Une étoile :

Savoie Mont-Blanc stations de ski :
- Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (74)  Le Bistrot *
- Cordon (74)  Les Roches Fleuries *
- Courchevel 1850 (73)  Le Bateau Ivre *
- Courchevel 1850 (73)  Le Kilimandjaro *
- Courchevel 1850 (73)  Le Strato New *
- Courchevel / Le Praz (73)  Azimut *
- Courchevel / La Tania (73)  Le Farçon *
- Val-d'Isère (73)  La Becca New *
- Val-d'Isère (73)  Les Barmes de l'Ours *

Savoie Mont-Blanc, proche des stations : 
- Annecy (74)  Le Belvédère *
- Annecy (74)  La Ciboulette *
- Annecy / Veyrier-du-Lac (74)  La Nouvelle Maison de Marc Veyrat N *
- Le Bourget-du-Lac (73)  Auberge Lamartine *
- Le Bourget-du-Lac (73)  La Grange à Sel New *
- Le Bourget-du-Lac / Les Catons (73)  Atmosphères *
- Douvaine (74)  Ô Flaveurs *
- Jongieux (73)  Auberge Les Morainières *
- Talloires (74)  L'Auberge du Père Bise  *
- Saint-Julien-en-Genevois / Bossey (74)  La Ferme de l'Hospital *
- Thonon-les-Bains (74)  Le Prieuré *

Isère station : 
- Les Deux-Alpes (38)  Chalet Mounier *
- Villard-de-Lans / Corrençon-en-Vercors (38)  Du Golf *

Vosges station : 
- Gérardmer / Bas-Rupts (88)  Les Bas-Rupts *
- Kaysersberg (68)  Chambar *

Jura :
- Villers-le-Lac (25)  Le France *

Photos : Patrice Schreyer, Philippe Royer, Franck Proust, Alain Baschenis

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