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Restaurants

Restaurant review for La Bouitte in Saint Martin de Belleville

Posted on: February 16th, 2018 by SkiGB

A top notch hotel should boast a top notch restaurant, and when that restaurant is awarded a prestigious Michelin star you know you are staying somewhere special. So how about one that has just been awarded its third? The La Bouitte boutique hotel boasts a prime location in the beautiful enclave of Saint-Martin-de-Belleville in the Rhône-Alpes region of south-eastern France. Rather than being a hotel with an exceptional restaurant, this is an exceptional restaurant which has expanded to include a luxury hotel, and what an inspired decision that was.

A really family affair La Bouitte, which translated to ‘Little House’ in local Savoyard dialect, was created in 1976 with the purchase of a potato field. On here Rene and Marie-Louise Meilleur built their restaurant with the sole aim of creating a dining experience never before seen in the area. Their children joined them in the business in the 90’s, the restaurant expanded over the years to include guest rooms and the finally they realised their goal of building their dream chalet.

From the outside the building is a so visually appealing you cannot wait to get inside. Every inch has been designed by the family themselves and it is truly spectacular. The large, airy dining room with its use of wood and stone pillars gives way to a terrace where you can enjoy your fine dining experience al fresco style surrounded by the mountains.

The restaurant today is in the more than capable hands of René and his son Maxime, and the recently expanded dining room has been specifically designed to offer diners the best possible views of their stunning surroundings. Behind the scenes, the dynamic culinary duo are constantly creating new dishes based in their beloved Savoie cuisine with a touch of ingenuity thrown in for good measure. This results in the kind of dishes that look to good to eat, but when you do the taste manages to surpass the aesthetics.

As an introduction to La Bouitte René offers guests his surprise menu which makes the most of the local produce at the time and which gives you top quality fare with the element of surprise thrown in for good measure. The ‘initiation at LA Bouitte’ is available in either 3 or 4 courses and while ordering an unknown menu anywhere else may make you worry slightly, you certainly won’t do that here with those 3 stars as the most iron clad guarantee possible of the quality you will be served.

There is, of course, also a sublime menu to choose from, and no doubt you will peruse through this wondering what the Michelin people opted for! Superb starters, magnificent mains and delicious desserts make your time spent at La Bouitte a fine dining experience par excellence. We cannot ignore the wine list either, well, we say list that should be wine book. The choice of Champagnes alone will make astound you and if the choices of wines in this book were in an oenophile’s cellar he would be considered to be one of the world’s greatest connoisseurs on wine.

From start to finish your experience at La Bouitte is something to savour. Knowing you have a room booked for the night simply adds to the experience as you have all the time in the world to soak up the atmosphere. There aren’t many restaurants where you run out of superlatives to describe them, but La Bouitte is one of the favoured few.

 

 

Cave des Creux restaurant in Courchevel – Review

Posted on: February 16th, 2018 by SkiGB

There are certain things you expect when you arrive at a restaurant in a top end ski resort. Kerb appeal is the first thing, then a tangible warmth as you go through the door. Friendly staff who make your arrival a pleasure, being shown to your table quickly and the dining area surpassing all expectations are another 3 key items. Sadly, even those restaurants which have the highest rating can fall down on one, or more, of the above.

We must applaud Boris and Florian Glise

For those planning a visit to the Cave des Creux restaurant in Courchevel I am delighted to report that you have absolutely nothing to worry about. This restaurant was opened in 2013 by a couple of ski instructor brothers who heard many complaints from visitors about there being nowhere to eat actually on the mountain and the fact that they had to go right down into the village to satisfy their hunger. Once a shelter for those shepherds who roamed the mountains of the Trois Vallées with their sheep, this unique restaurants offers fine dining at altitude, and some of the most amazing views of the Courchevel Valley and Mont Blanc.

From the beginning of December through until the end of April the Cave des Creux is open daily and offers Alpine diners a refined yet simple brasserie menu to satisfy all palates. Every item on the menu is created from the finest local produce and all under the watchful eye of the head chef Daniel Thibault. Daniel hand picks the producers of every ingredient that enters his kitchen and throughout the season offers a fine selection of Savoyard specialities. The wine list is equally superb and will satisfy the needs of even the most discerning of oenophiles.

As delicious as the fare is it is well worth leaving some room for one of the many mouthwatering and home made desserts offered as a buffet. Each one looks more delicious than the last and the only complaints we heard from fellow diners was that there was too much choice! After your meal relaxing on the south facing terrace is an absolute must.

Sipping a coffee looking out over the view is akin to sitting on the Rive Gauche in Paris; you can’t really believe what’s in front of you and what you are experiencing. The outdoor fireplace ensures that even if you fancy a spot of alfresco dining you are protected from the chill in the air.

It’s positioning at 2112m on the main ski area means there are many people eating in ski suits who have stopped off for lunch before returning to the slopes and making their final run back down into the actual village itself.

Good quality, hearty fare is just what’s needed after a long day on the slopes and this restaurant delivers on every level. Its high altitude position doesn’t mean sky high prices either, and the general consensus amongst diners is that they have paid a lot more for a good meal actually in the village where there is a lot more competition. We must applaud Boris and Florian Glise for not only creating this restaurant in such a magical spot but for making it so enjoyable. A true mountain gem.

 

Restaurant review of L’Epicurean in Val Thorens

Posted on: February 12th, 2018 by SkiGB

There is real buzz around L’ Epicurien restaurant in Val Thorens at the moment; and little wonder. This gourmet eaterie nestling in the French Alps has been awarded a brand new and shiny Michelin Star for 2015, making this the hottest seat in the Trois Vallées. In area boasting a plethora of world class restaurants what it is about L’ Epicurien that sets it apart from a very impressive crowd? We thought it would be rude not to check it out for ourselves.

From the moment you step through the door you just know you are entering somewhere very special. There is an ambience about a top class eaterie that lesser establishments wish could be bottled and sold. You cannot put your finger on it, never mind describe it in mere words, suffice to say dining here is more an experience than merely satisfying your hunger.

L’Epicurean in Val Thorens

The interior is very contemporary with the interior colours replicating those of the landscape around it. Don’t make the mistake of thinking this makes it cold and clinical however, far from it. The exquisite design and lay out makes for an essence of intimacy and the perfect spot for that romantic gourmet meal in the mountains. This is not the place to come if you are looking for a happy hour to feed your kids!

The man behind the success of L’ Epicurien, and the reason for this prestigious award is Jérémy Gillon. An esteemed French chef in his own right, Msr Gillon has unleashed his passion on the ski set with his mission to completely reinvent French food as we know it. Using only seasonal and noble food products from traditional, local producers he has transformed this restaurant into a world beater.

Jérémy Gillon

You will want to set aside a healthy budget if you intend to eat at L’ Epicurien, that’s if you were savvy enough to book your table well in advance of course. There are several menus to choose from, each one more mouth watering than the last. Ranging in price from around 50€ – 90€ per head, this may seem expensive to some but when you compare the prices to some of the other Michelin starred restaurants around the world it is one of the most affordable.

Of course, you will be looking for a very special wine to accompany your meal and once again L’ Epicurien surpasses all expectations. The wine menu has soft, palatable reds rubbing shoulders with Krug Grande Cuvée Champagne and fun, sparkling roses. With a healthy choice of aperitifs, cocktails and non alcoholic beverages this is not one of those establishments where you will be disappointed by not being able to get a drink you are partial too.

L’Epicurean in Val Thorens

As you would expect, the staff are both attentive yet invisible. Polite, knowledgeable and efficient, they are the epitome of how front line employees should present themselves, and other restaurant owners could do with taking a gold leafed page out of L’ Epicurien’s book.

Jérémy Gillon and team

If you are planning a trip to Val Thorens and yearn to sample the delights of L’ Epicurien for yourself then booking in advance is a must. Few get to experience fine dining of this calibre and if you want to create that extra special moment in the Trois Vallées mountains then this is the place to come.

If this is something you would like to try for yourself here is a link to their website so you can book before coming out! CLICK HERE

 

Val Thorens restaurant gets its first Michelin Star

Posted on: February 3rd, 2015 by SkiGB

Yesterday the new list of Michelin Star restaurants got published and Val Thorens has something to celebrate!

The Epicurean has been award it’s first Michelin Star!

We would like to congratulate all involved!

It’s not easy getting a Michelin Star, if you would like to know all the winners for the 3 Valleys head over to our 3 Valleys Michelin Star post.

Meribel restaurant gets its first Michelin Star

Posted on: February 3rd, 2015 by SkiGB

Yesterday the new list of Michelin Star restaurants got published and Meribel has something to celebrate!

The Ekrin has been award it’s first Michelin Star!

We would like to congratulate all involved!

It’s not easy getting a Michelin Star, if you would like to know all the winners for the 3 Valleys head over to our 3 Valleys Michelin Star post.