I had promised you a post with the yummy addresses of Val d’Isère, so here we are! Vacations in the mountains are inevitably linked to good food, and what follows proves my point!
MAISON CHEVALLOT (Avenue Olympique)
Before we left for Val D’Isère, I did a little “must-eat” research, and I found this bakery/pastry shop: La Maison Chevallot.
I don’t honestly think you can leave Val d’Isère without having tasted at least one (if not more) of Mr. Patrick Chevallot’s creations. And he’s a Meilleur Ouvrier de France (a prestigious french award, for professionnal craftsmenship), if you please! The bakery doubles as a teahouse, and it’s really a great place to relax after a day of skiing!
Inside, everything will make your mouth water – be it “le pisteur” (a sort of “pain aux raisins”, but they replaced the raisins with pink pralines : yes, my pastry descriptions are very professionnal I know) the lemon tart, the Mont-blanc or the éclairs!
At some point I did end up having to pick one, so I chose the Hors-Piste (which translates into “Backcountry”). An apt name, since it is a combination of a number of exotic ingredients: coconut, mango, passionfruit, and lime jelly.
We all know that the risk when you go backcountry skiing is that you’ll be caught in an avalanche: here it would be a happiness avalanche. (Oh, isn’t it beautiful)
My SO tried the blueberry cheesecake, which comes served in a camembert box (without the smell). Delicious as well. We washed it all down with homemade hot chocolate. It’s absolute comfort. We’re actually pondering returning to Val d’Isère just for the pastries.
L’AIGLE DES NEIGES (Place de l’Église)
We stayed at the “Aigle des Neiges” hotel, which was an elegant mix of cosiness and modernity, as you can tell by the pictures. The hotel had 3 restaurants: Pier, Paul and Jack. To each it’s own atmosphere.
I especially enjoyed breakfast at Pier. It had a very extensive buffet, with as many savory and sweet dishes as one could want, delicious crèpes and waffles…a special note for the bircher muesli, which, if simple, was absolutely delicious (no picture of it though, as it is as non-photogenic as it is good).
One evening, we were so cosy, enjoying a drink at the “Jack’s” bar by the side of a crackling fireplace, that we almost forgot about our reservation for our raclette dinner! Can you imagine?!
L’AVANCHER (Avenue du Prariond)
But you know me, I can’t really forget a dinner reservation, so, with some tardiness, we went for raclette at the Avancher.
The place is absolutely charming, with soft little cushions and a “wooden cabin” atmosphere to it (and it’s not just an atmosphere, since the restaurant is located in an acutal cabin dating back to 1949). I was intent on trying a real mountain raclette, and I wasn’t disappointed!
The raclette is served in a plate (aaah this melting cheese!); which is kind of atypical, but also very funny, for the waiter regularly asks us if we want more. You already know what my answer was.
My SO had the tartiflette, which, paradoxically enough, was very light: a divine mix of potates and perfectly melted reblochon. Divine I tell you.
LA FERMETTE DE CLAUDINE (Val Village)
And for the finale, an address for yummy souvenirs to bring back from your trip: for all you “local” adepts, this is the place for you – all the products for sale come straight from the Adroit farm and its dairy cows. A huge choice of cheese, but also of cold cuts. Yum!
You can also bring back a bottle of Génépi, the famous mountain liquor.
BONUS address: “LA BARAQUE (Immeuble Iseran 2000, avenue de l’Olympique)”, where I had a delicious beef tartare with melted cheese and cripsy ham.
If you have other great places, don’t hesitate to share, our tastebuds will thank you! As for mine, they are dreaming of heading back! It was sooooooooo good! (English translation by Bleu Marine)
