With their 40 Michelin-starred restaurants, the Alps have become the ‘Everest’ of French cuisine. Here is schuss a little overview of the establishments to add to your list this winter… but it’s by no means exhaustive.
Le Montgomerie, Courchevel 1850
In the heart of the K2 Palace, a five-star, 32-room Savoyard jewel facing the majestic panorama of Courchevel, restaurant Le Montgomerie owes its name to the mountaineer who discovered the K2 in 1856, the second highest peak in the Himalayas after Everest. The cosy, 15-seat cocoon is reserved for chef Gatien Demczyna’s Italian-inspired creations, for which he was awarded two Michelin stars in 2017. There’s a variation of extraordinary combinations including artichoke ravioli, marrow, crayfish and leg of lamb to awaken all your senses.
Flocons de Sel, Megève
Under the direction of chef Emmanuel Renaut, Flocons de Sel plunges you into the charming atmosphere of an old Alpine chalet with its wild asparagus tarts, parsnip and beetroot gnocchi, and tender fillets of chamois with blueberry mousse. Renaut is a former Alpine huntsman and long-time former partner to Marc Veyrat at l’Auberge d’Eridan, who reinterprets great classics by incorporating unexpected and tantalising flavours. This artistry has earned him a staggering three Michelin stars.
Le Roc Alto, Saint-Véran
Perched at 2,040m above sea level in Saint-Véran in the Southern Alps – the highest village in Europe, in the Queyras Natural Park – the restaurant of the Alta Peyra overlooks a breathtaking landscape. In the kitchen, young chef Alexandre Lechêne, trained by Alain Ducasse, delivers a perfect cuisine influenced by the Mediterranean, punctuated by wild herbs and fresh produce from the Hautes-Alpes. All in a beautiful design decor with bright colors – and a Michelin star.
Le 1947, Courchevel
The only restaurant to be added to the three-star club in 2017, Le 1947 offers just five tables nestled in a splendid, ultra-contemporary decor designed by Sybille de Margerie. At the helm, chef Yannick Alléno takes a personal and very playful approach to French gastronomy, blending cult products of the mountain with contemporary techniques and astonishing sauces. Among his specialities are irresistible scallops in floral steam or snow truffles from Reblochon. A unique dining experience.
Les Explorateurs, Val Thorens
A new star-studded restaurant, Les Explorateurs combines the multiple talents of two passionate chefs: Josselin Jeanblanc and his mentor Romuald Fassenet, the best workman in France, who also holds his own star. At the heart of five-star Hotel Pashmina, the duo creates haute-cuisine that transports diners from land and sea to the mountains, reflected by a decor inspired by great mountain expeditions.
La Maison des Bois, Manigod
Recently awarded its second Michelin star, the eponymous Relais & Châteaux restaurant La Maison des Bois, close to La Clusaz, consists of an imposing log cabin, organic hen houses and vegetable gardens in a breathtaking situation facing Mont Blanc. There are new creations on offer to tickle your tastebuds here, thanks to mountain chef Marc Veyrat’s boundary-pushing cooking which blends the flowers, herbs, flavours and textures of the mountains.
Restaurant Albert 1er, Chamonix
This rustic inn, opened by Joseph Carrier in 1900 at the foot of Mont Blanc, has been transformed into a luxurious Relais & Châteaux in old wood at the Michelin-starred restaurant. Pierre Maillet, chef and husband of Carrier’s granddaughter, serves pure, clean cuisine inspired by Piedmont and the Mediterranean, perfectly matching Alpine luxury in all its mountain roughness.
The Farçon, La Tania
At the foot of the slopes in La Tania, in the Three Valleys, is a restaurant that truly grabs foodies’ attention: Le Farçon. This family-owned restaurant is run by the boss’ son, Julien Machet, a young Savoyard who’s been awarded a Michelin star, inspired by his grandmother’s recipes to work with local products from the market. Expect warm oysters and mountain hay sorbet in this heavenly snowy setting.
La Bouitte, Saint-Martin-de-Belleville
On the road to Les Menuires and Val Thorens, a self-taught father and his son, René and Maxime Meilleur, serve up a delicious, multi-sensory dining experience. There’s a beautiful family history here at this three-Michelin-starred restaurant, set 1,500m above sea level. Expect a warm welcome and an opulent setting of wood and stone.
The P'tit Polyte, Les Deux Alpes
The four-star, family-run Chalet Mounier, housed in a beautifully converted former farmhouse, gave its gourmet restaurant the childhood nickname of grandfather Hyppolyte. In the kitchen, Mathew Hegarty, a young Australian lover of France and the mountains, was been awarded a Michelin star in 2015 for his very personal mastery of wild river fish. An ultra refined and original cuisine complemented by an impressive wine cellar, boasting 15,000 bottles.
By Eliane Cognet
Journalist
