The Evolving Diversity of Luxury Catered Chalets
Gone are the days of a cooked breakfast, cake after skiing, and a 3-course evening meal with wine. Times are changing regarding catering in the luxury ski industry… and these days luxury catered chalets offer so much more to enjoy. The bar is being raised on gourmet ski food in catered ski chalets, and chalet owners and operators are competing to be top. Ready to whet your appetite for a luxury catered ski chalet holiday? Read on…
World Foods
These days, you are spoilt for choice when it comes to deciding where to dine and what flavours to experience. You can have dishes from all corners of the world and experienced chefs within our luxury chalets have recognised this. Chalet Joux Plane in Morzine, for example, has a specialised 6-course Japanese inspired Kaiseki tasting menu. It’s a Japanese restaurant experience all served within the comfort of your catered ski chalet in Morzine.
Flexible Catering?
Previously, when it came to catering options on your ski holiday, you had a choice of catered or self-catered and that was about it. Whilst these options still exist, so do many others. Our collection of luxury chalets across Europe are now offered on a fully staffed basis, offering you complete flexibility on what food you want to eat. A chalet chef is included and will cook you exactly what you want. If you want to eat caviar and prime fillet steak then you can. Equally, if you fancy a well-cooked lasagne one night, your wishes will be granted. All you need to do is keep close communication with the chalet concierge service and your gourmet desires will be arranged for you, and you just pay for the food and drink that you consume at the end of your stay. A number of luxury chalets in Verbier are run like this including the amazing Chalet Makini.
5* Haute Cuisine With a Twist…
With the trend of experimental dining, some luxury catered chalets are paving the way in unusual culinary experiences. In Chalet Eden Rock in St Anton, they have a Big Green Egg. This revolutionary BBQ can be used throughout the year and is great for smoking foods or leaving meats to slowly cook throughout the day so that they are lovely and tender come the evening.
Another quirky and unusual experience is the interactive dessert in Chalet Marco Polo in Val d’Isere, the “messy table”. Once you’ve finished your main courses the team clear the table, lay out a new tablecloth and cover it in chocolate “bombs”, a variety of coulis, ice creams, fruits and nuts. You can dig in and make as much mess as you like!
The Dine Around Extravaganza
Most ski chalets are sold on a fully catered or half board basis, this includes breakfast, afternoon tea and an evening meal. Chalet Ormello is slightly different though. Full board in this luxury catered chalet in Courchevel 1850 means not just slope-side food in your chalet, but on-piste dining as well in some of the best mountain restaurants. If you choose to spend all day skiing, you get the opportunity to either dine in your mountain chalet or you can try one of seven amazing mountain restaurants in Courchevel and Meribel:
• Le Chalet de Pierres (for lunch): An authentic restaurant located right on the slopes
• La Folie Douce/La Fruitière in Méribel (for lunch): A high altitude, open-air clubbing bar
• Le Nama à l’Hôtel Le Mélézin (for lunch or dinner): Japanese restaurant
• La Table des Airelles (for dinner): Traditional French cuisine, classic and sophisticated
• PieroTT restaurant (for dinner): The original Pierre Gagnaire’s concept of Italian cuisine
• Le Coin Savoyard aux Airelles (for dinner): Regional specialities
Après Ski in Your Own Catered Chalet
The drinks that you experience on your ski holiday are just as important as the food. In most luxury chalets you aren’t just confined to wine with your evening meals. Shemshak Lodge in Courchevel 1850 is a chalet with a truly open bar, including unlimited Perrier Jouet Champagne and branded spirits. Your hosts are also trained mixologists and will be happy to mix up your favourite cocktails. You can even upgrade your wines by purchasing some from the à la carte ski menu.
Gin is very on trend at the moment, so in some luxury chalets, they have specialist gin bars where you can try a range of different flavoured gins and tonics. In Chalet No 14 in Verbier, you can try a range of cocktails from their partners at the Cotswold Distillery.
One thing is for sure, the haute cuisine on ski holidays will continue to evolve and improve. New trends will come and go but the catering on a ski holiday will continue to remain as much a part of the luxury holiday experience as the time spent gliding down the pistes. Luxury catered chalets continue to attract some of the world’s best chefs and staff producing culinary masterpieces that would not be out of place in some of the finest restaurants around the globe.
When you are thinking about your next luxury ski holiday, be sure to get in touch. We know that the service and catering provided is just as important as the facilities of the property. Let us guide you to the best properties to match your requirements. Our Ski Specialists experience these amazing properties for themselves in order to provide you with a personal perspective. You can talk to one of them by calling us on +44 (0)1202 203653 or by sending us an email.
