Globetrotting with a Gourmand: Mountain Dining
Photo Credit: Restaurant Petite Cuisine, La Folie Douce - Meribel
One of our favorite parts of ski season is the authentic dining experiences and fabulous post-activity options after the "last run" of the day. Below are three of our favorite restaurants atop a mountain, where one can stop for lunch, or linger longer till the night falls.
Aspen's wildest Ski-In/Ski-Out restaurant is a cozy, European-style cabin with a backdrop of the iconic Maroon Bells. Dining here is a bucket-list-worthy experience featuring a warm, welcoming environment and a menu with layered helpings of fondue and raclette, steak tartare, caviar, and delectable daily specials. Come for the food and stay for the après DJ and Champagne (for drinking or spraying)!
Located at the middle station of the Solire Express cable car on the slopes of Méribel (Three Valleys), this unique complex includes an open-air club (La Folie Douce Bar) and two restaurants (La Fruitière and La Petite Cuisine). La Fruitière offers incredible seasonal French cuisine. They provide a lovely selection of farmhouse cheeses to nibble on, or we suggest the Seabass Ceviche as a lovely way to start your culinary journey, followed by Aveyron's Milk-Fed Lamb Shoulder (candied and served with gratin dauphinois. Be sure to bring a friend, as this is a very generous portion! The desserts are top-notch, but be careful, as you don't want to be too full when the dancefloor opens up! If you are looking for a self-serve situation, La Petite Cuisine serves delicious fresh dishes to quickly replenish you after an active morning on the slopes.
Possibly the most casual Michelin-starred restaurant, Chez Vrony is a perfect place for a delicious meal if you find yourself halfway down Blue Run, Number 6, from the top of the Sunnega Express. Specializing in farm-to-table dining, the Swiss hotspot provides a cozy environment for guests to enjoy views of the Matterhorn Mountain while also delivering showstopper dishes. The menu includes sustainable cuisine with locally sourced ingredients sprinkled with foreign influences to level up the simplicity of the dishes. The Vrony Burger is the most popular dish on the menu. The perfectly cooked beef is served on a massive seeded bun, and you are encouraged to dip the burger into a crème of horseradish and cherry tomatoes. If you are confused about how to eat the burger, the flag on top will provide you with the guidance you need to consume so you may replenish your energy level after a long day of skiing.