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Adults 13 years and over
Children - 13 years
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Alpe d'Huez
Bourg Saint Maurice
Châtel
Flaine
La Plagne
La Rosière
La Toussuire
Le Grand Bornand
Les Carroz
Les Houches
Les Menuires
Les Saisies
Montgenèvre
Peisey-Vallandry
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  1. Home
  2. Mountain gastronomy

Mountain gastronomy

What could be more exotic than an introduction to mountain gastronomy ?

Local specialities include traditional dishes, cheeses typical of the region, desserts, wine and liqueurs.

1 - Mountain food

There are many typical mountain dishes to try during your ski holiday this winter or summer in the Alps. Among the must-try dishes, we strongly recommend you to try those made with melted cheese, which will warm you up after a nice day of winter sports...
Among the must-try dishes, we strongly recommend you to try those made with melted cheese, which will warm you up after a nice day of winter sports...
 
Among the most famous (and best), there is of course the tartiflette, made with farmhouse reblochon, potatoes, onions and lardons (and cream depending on the recipe, but that's another debate!).
 
The Savoyard fondue is also one of the key dishes of your stays in the mountains! How can you resist this delicious recipe? It consists of three cheeses melted in a caquelon: Beaufort, Comté and Emmental are mixed with a clove of garlic and a little white wine and/or Kirsch liqueur. Placed in the centre of the table, it is eaten by dipping pieces of bread on the famous "fondue spikes"! Be careful not to lose a piece of bread in the dish, as tradition dictates that you receive a token!
 
As for raclette, it is also very convivial. This time it is a matter of melting delicious slices of cheese in individual pans, by placing them under the heaters of the raclette machine. Even if we are used to composing the raclette cheese platter (plain, smoked, bear's garlic...), you can add other types of cheese such as goat's cheese or reblochon... Raclette is accompanied by an assortment of charcuterie (local, needless to say!), potatoes, gherkins and a nice green salad.
Croziflette, less well known, is a tartiflette in which the potatoes are replaced by the famous crozets: small square pasta made of plain, buckwheat, wholemeal or chanterelles. A delight...
 
Reblochonade is the cousin of raclette. It consists of a reblochon cheese cut in 2 that is melted in a small pan under a grill. This dish is served with potatoes, gherkins and green salad. If you don't know it, we recommend you to try it! 
Péla Savoyarde is typical of the Aravis mountains. It is very similar to tartiflette except that it is cooked in a pan and the potatoes are browned instead of boiled.
Croute au fromage is a tasty dish made of slices of bread soaked in white wine and garlic, smoked bacon and cheese, all baked in the oven. 
 
Berthoud is a dish originating from the Chablais region, along the shores of the famous Lake Leman. Served in ramekins, it includes abondance cheese, garlic, Madeira and dry white wine from Savoie.
 
The matouille is similar to the berthoud, but is prepared with Savoy tomme. It is served with potatoes and cold meats.
The diots or the pormoniers of Savoie will delight sausage lovers. These two specialities are prepared with pork. Diots are cooked in white wine with onions and shallots. Pormonier is also called herb sausage, because the meat is mixed with spinach, chard and leek. Both sausages are served with boiled potatoes, crozets or polenta. Diots can also be served with potchon: a salad with goat's cheese, white wine, tomatoes and potato.
 
Farçon is a typical Savoyard dish dating from the Middle Ages. At the time, it was prepared with cabbage, but today it is often replaced by potatoes cooked with pork, dried fruit and prunes. This dish simmers for several hours in its barakin mould.
 
For those who would like to have a lighter dish, the Savoyard salad is composed of raclette cheese, potatoes, (light in the mountain style, we agree!), green salad, raw ham, croutons, pine nuts, tomatoes and mushrooms.
 
You will also find many revisited dishes such as the Savoyard burger, the raclette turnover, the Savoyard gratin, the mountain pan or the raclette sandwiches and tarts.

2- Mountain desserts

Gourmets will not be left out and will be able to satisfy their sweet cravings during their winter sports holidays or their family getaway in the summer:
Saint Genix is a tasty praline brioche wrapped in red and white paper representing the colours of the Savoyard flag.
 
The gâteau de Savoie is an ultra-light, moist cake that can be eaten plain or spread with jam, honey or spread. It was created in the 14th century and is very simple to prepare: just mix eggs, flour, sugar, vanilla sugar and yeast.
 
Gourmets or those who like a little chocolate with their coffee will love chocolate truffles: these little melting balls sprinkled with chocolate powder will delight your taste buds. They were created in Chambéry in Savoie in 1895.
 
Bugnes are a culinary speciality of the Duchy of Savoie, made from a fried doughnut dough in an elongated shape and sprinkled with sugar. They are eaten mainly in February.
 
Blueberry tart can be found in bakeries and restaurants in summer, after the blueberries have been picked in the French Alps.
 
Matafaim is a kind of thick pancake: this sweet cake is filled with apples. It can also be savoury with potatoes and cheese.
 
Savoy rissoles are similar to bugnes or beignets. They can be filled with apples or blueberries and have been around since the Middle Ages.
 
Bescoin is a speciality of the Arve Valley in Haute-Savoie and was traditionally presented by godparents to their godchildren at village festivals known as ‘vogues’. This pretty golden brioche is flavoured with aniseed and saffron.

3- Savoie wines

These are AOP wines produced mainly in Savoie and Haute-Savoie, although some come from Isère and Ain. This is a regional appellation.
Savoie white wines include Apremont, Chignin, Roussette, Abymes, Chautagne, Chignin-Bergeron, Crépy, Cruet, Jongieux, Marignan, Marin, Montmélian, Ripaille, Saint-Jeoire-Prieuré and Ayze. White wines are most often made from Jaquère, Mondeuse and Altesse grapes, but Chardonnay, Aligoté, Chasselas and Gringet can also be found.
 
Although fewer in number than the whites, there are several Savoie red wines, including Arbin, Chautagne, Chignin, Jongieux and Saint-Jean-de-la-Porte.
The grape varieties are Gamay, Mondeuse, Pinot Noir, Cabarnet Franc, Cabarnet Sauvignon and Persan.
 
Sparkling wines include Seyssel and Crémant de Savoie.
 
And there's nothing better to accompany an aperitif than rioutes, an oval biscuit with a hole in the middle that is dipped in a glass of red wine in Savoie. It is made from bread dough, aniseed, eggs and milk.

4- Mountain liqueurs

The star of the mountains, and the best known, is of course Genepi. It is prepared from a plant with digestive properties that grows in stone mounds between 2500 and 3200 metres above sea level.
 
A liqueur that is as well known as Génépi is Chartreuse, which is made by monks called the Chartreux fathers. It is an alcohol of 55 degrees. There is green Chartreuse and yellow Chartreuse.
 
Gentian liqueur was invented in the 18th century and is made from a better known alcohol: Suze.
Sapinette is a liqueur made from the buds of fir trees. It is drunk iced and served in a wooden bottle.
Hyssop is a delicious sweet liqueur with purple wild flowers. It is drunk to prevent bronchitis. 
Mead is a drink that has been made for years from mountain honey: the higher the hives from which the honey is taken, the better the drink.
Violet liqueur: this small, very feminine drink is known for its diuretic properties.
Mountain mint liqueur: very refreshing, you can add more or less mint, vervain or linden during the infusion.
 
We remind you of course that all these liqueurs should be consumed in moderation, even if they help to digest rich Savoyard and Haute Savoyard dishes.

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