Posts Tagged ‘val disere’

New Michelin Star Restaurant Le Laisinant in Val d’Isere

Friday, June 17th, 2011

Val d’Isere has received another Michelin star to add to its reputation for fine dining.

Restaurant Le Laisinant has been awarded with the prestigious Michelin star becoming one of France’s best restauraunts. The chef, Antony Tempesta who was trained by Marc Veyrat, favours local produce and suppliers to create his exceptional dishes and even uses mountain flowers in his flavours. Signature dishes include mushroom cappuccino and black truffle flakes, wild duck with blueberry chutney and beetroot trilogy and banana brochettes with candied morels and smoked milk ice cream.
The restaurant is enjoying a refurbishment in recognition of this special award however there are no plans to increase the prices. It can be found at the Hotel La Becca which sits by the slopes of the Le Laisinant hamlet and is accessed by the blue run ‘L’ which runs down from Solaise. It’s popular with the locals and ski guides and has been a bit of a secret until now. As well as an evening menu they also serve lunches on a beautiful sun terrace with oustanding views.
Given its blossoming popularity, reserving your table in advance would be a good idea to sample the culinary adventure of this little gem!
Le Chardon Mountain Lodges would be delighted to arrange a reservation for you.

French Ski Chalets Val d’Isere – Bring on the Olympics 2018

Saturday, May 14th, 2011

With the three Winter Olympics 2018 contenders – Annecy, Munich and Pyeongchang in Korea – all presenting strong bids, it’s not yet a done deal. Munich has presented the strongest case for a carbon-neutral event with its emphasis on environmental sustainability, yet Annecy has the strongest technical merit according to some analysts. Meanwhile, Pyeonghang is once again resubmitting its bid – possibly third time lucky?

If Annecy is the winner when the final decision is reached on 6 July, the resulting media spotlight will be an excellent boost for the entire Savoie region. Already famous for its internationally renowned skiing in Val d’Isere, Chamonix and Les Trois Vallees, the increased publicity will highlight the ambience and culture which so many skiers have come to know and love. Indeed, for many French ski chalets, including Le Chardon, a large proportion of  bookings are repeat customers, who feel that their experience simply cannot be bettered.

We look forward to the announcement in July – vive La France!

Off-Piste Skiing – Minimise the Risk

Tuesday, April 5th, 2011

It’s fair to say that most off-piste ski trips pass by without any incident, but when something does go wrong it’s naturally big news. As you may know, avalanches have sadly claimed several lives this season in Val d’Isere. This raises the question of whether it’s really worth risking your life for thrills and spills, and also whether it’s ever possible to accurately predict the level of danger.

Awareness of avalanche safety training is on the rise, and everyone should take sensible precautions. Basic advice such as never going alone, using a highly experienced off-piste instructor, and taking avalanche safety equipment is common sense. Studying the snow reports, avalanche bulletins and forecasts, particularly temperature fluctuations, are also crucial. Some companies and ski schools specialise in off-piste skiing and avalanche safety training and these are helpful to enhance your knowledge and confidence.

Ultimately each group makes their own decisions with, hopefully, all the information at hand and under the guidance of an expert. There are some wonderful off-piste routes on Espace Killy and you can have some incredible and exhilarating times.

If you’d like to find out more when planning your French ski chalet holiday, this recent Telegraph article outlines essential ski safety tips for an off-piste adventure. Henry’s Avalanche Talk is also a reputable source for gaining more experience and skills off-piste.