"> The best-known dishes of the French Alps are based around the local cheeses, meats, potatoes and bread. Perfect for skiers, this hearty robust cuisine is high-energy and delicious. As you may notice from reading on, this type of food is not for the faint-hearted or those with a dairy allergy. Let’s say it is best combined with vigorous exercise and plenty of salad and vegetables if you don’t want to end up with a bulging waistline!

In the old days, autumn was a time when the men from the alpine villages travelled to larger towns for work in the winter months. Before they left, everyone was involved in preparations for the winter. Pigs were slaughtered, and hams and sausages prepared and hung. In the communal oven, bread was baked and then stored on wicker racks. Together with chestnuts, polenta, onions, potatoes, and apples, these were the staples of the winter diet. In spring, when the men returned, crops were planted and livestock herded up to the summer pastures. Summer was also the time to collect and dry wild herbs for year-round use.

One of the best-loved Savoyard dishes is tartiflette, a robust potato and cheese casserole. This dish is hearty enough to insulate against the biting winter winds – real comfort food.

Gratin Dauphinois is another recipe making use of the delicious local reblochon cheese. Other well-known cheeses of the Savoyard table are Tomme de Savoie, Chevrotin, and Beaufort. Raclette is another famous dish of the Savoyard, based on melted cheese, pork, ham or salami, and potatoes. There are many variations of this dish, including gherkins or pickled mushrooms, chicken, sausage or saucisson, and you can even try seafood raclette made with smoked fish and prawns.

Other specialties of the region are very much in evidence in local eateries —crozets (little cubes of buckwheat pasta), diots (sausages braised in white wine), polenta, and Potée (stew). Traditionally, desserts were based on local berries, apples and grapes, often served with thick risen pancakes.

Within the comfort of your luxurious catered chalet, your chef can prepare any dish you request, local or otherwise. Watching the sunset over the mountains from your balcony is quite simply incredible, and will set the mood for an evening of fine dining with our sumptuous five course meals.

Val d’Isere has risen in importance as an internationally acclaimed ski resort over the years, and you can expect a huge variety of international cuisines across its 70-plus restaurants, cafes and bars. Mexican, Italian, Japanese, Thai and many others are all represented here. However, the Savoyard stamp of identity can be clearly seen and experienced in all its carb-rich splendour in most restaurants. After all, who wants to experience a French skiing holiday without sampling the glorious local food?

During your ski holiday, you may wish to try out other activities. Our ski chalets are in an ideal location for non-skiing activities plus a host of shops, bars and restaurants.