Eating
To ensure your complete relaxation here, a personal chef will be on hand to cater to your entire party’s needs. Locally sourced, seasonal ingredients are used wherever possible to create menus that are always imaginative and never disappoint. The chef uses a wonderful local butcher, artisan bakery and several local cheese suppliers to ensure only the best ingredients make it to your table. They are keen supporters of local farmers and cooperatives, too, and there is a thriving food scene in the area.
Each morning, a range of cereals, fruit, porridge, yoghurt and freshly baked artisan breads and pastries are ready and waiting for you when you emerge from your luxury bedroom. On five mornings, a hot special is available – anything from American pancakes with bacon and maple syrup, to eggs benedict – you can discuss options with your chef beforehand.
When you return from the slopes, afternoon tea is ready and waiting in the dining area, with lashings of tea, coffee and hot chocolate, and piles of freshly baked cakes, breads, jams and pastries. Don’t overindulge too much though as dinner here is always a treat.
Canapés and aperitifs at the fireside kickstart the evening, before dinner is served on five evenings. The focus here is on wonderful food and great flavours and your chef will be pleased to tailor menus to your party’s particular likes and dislikes. Dinner is always rounded off with a French cheeseboard and coffee and petit fours. Carefully chosen premium wines accompany each course.
The chalet is within easy reach of many a great restaurant, too. The centre of St Martin de Belleville is home to popular lunchtime eateries such as Le Montagnard and La Ferme de la Choumette. There are also great mountain lunch spots – Les Cretes is a favourite of ours. It’s well worth making the trip to the nearby village of St Marcel to eat at the three-Michelin-starred La Bouitte, which serves fabulous food in a modern farmhouse setting.