Tag Archives: Dishes

La Tania: Skiing & Gastronomy

France-La-Tania-Ski-Resort-French-Alps-Skiing-Slopes-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Igloo & Snowmobile

France-La-Tania-Ski-Resort-French-Alps-Courchel-Aventure-Igloo-3A-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

It Is Minus 8 Degrees Outside

and as there is wind, it is freezing cold! If you need keep action between ski sessions, go to Courchevel Adventure! Among many activities you can participate in the construction of an Igloo. Or drive a snowmobile on the Courchevel heights, overlooking the small airfield …

Picture below : the view of the entrance, from inside the igloo where the temperature is better than outside.

France-La-Tania-Ski-Resort-French-Alps-Courchel-Aventure-Igloo-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KFrance-La-Tania-Ski-Resort-French-Alps-Courchel-Aventure-Igloo-5-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K
France-La-Tania-Ski-Resort-French-Alps-Courchel-Aventure-Snowmobile-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

I finally drove a snowmobile!

When I put on my helmet, I’m a little impressed, but soon I found my rhythm. I confirm: driving is a thousand times more exciting and fun! In addition, it’s very nice here because the snowmobile circuit is pretty “flat”. 

France-La-Tania-Ski-Resort-French-Alps-Courchel-Aventure-Snowmobile-3-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KFrance-La-Tania-Ski-Resort-French-Alps-Courchel-Aventure-Snowmobile-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Gourmet Lunch at Le Farçon

France-La-Tania-Ski-Resort-Gastronomic-Restaurant-Le-Farçon-Michelin-Starred-Chef-Julien-Machet-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Back To La Tania

to discover the inventive cuisine of Michelin-starred chef Julien Machet (one star for ten years), who started as a pastry chef (pictured below, my favorite dessert!). The restaurant Le Farçon is located both in the resort center and near the slopes.

The food is original and delicious! While tasting, first you can identify each aromas that mingle in the mouth. The plates are also beautiful to look at. A graphic modern presentation that reminds me of the “Japanese style” (photos above).

If the chef has no favourite ingredient : “the favourite ingredient is the right ingredient”, he likes using an unusual ingredient, the hay in sorbet, syrup, beer and even chocolate! “The hay has a strong smell. I wanted to taste it.” he prosaically adds. Being honest, my brain was unable to classify this ingredient in the “I like”, or “I don’t like”: too unique! Quite disturbing!  

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Julien Machet cooks with quality natural products from Savoie. He also enjoys travels: “It’s not good to be too chauvinistic” (below: a black and white portrait in the kitchen). Recently, he was inspired in Vietnam by a dish based on banana, coconut and tapioca that he added in his restaurant menu. 

He founded the Chef de Cœur four years ago. Each year, for this special event he cooks with other chefs and the profits are donated to the Banque alimentaire savoyarde (Food Bank of Savoy) to fight against hunger in the Savoie region. “My grandmother who came from Italy, has always shared the food. She had known hunger.” Do not miss the fifth edition next May with seven chefs. 

On the below third picture : the beautiful ceramics of Lorène Herrero, on the wooden walls of the restaurant Le Farçon. I don’t know why, they remind me Laponia (where I haven’t been yet). Check out the work of this gifted young artist! 

France-La-Tania-Ski-Resort-Gastronomic-Restaurant-Le-Farçon-Michelin-Starred-Chef-Julien-Machet-3A-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K  France-La-Tania-Ski-Resort-Gastronomic-Restaurant-Le-Farçon-Michelin-Starred-Chef-Julien-Machet-5-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KFrance-La-Tania-Ski-Resort-Gastronomic-Restaurant-Le-Farçon-Michelin-Starred-Chef-Julien-Machet-4-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K  France-La-Tania-Ski-Resort-French-Alps-Alpine-Chalets-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Let’s go skiing!

France-La-Tania-Ski-Resort-French-Alps-Skiing-Slopes-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

After The Festin,

I’m back to my ski training (need to burn millions of calories, lol)! Yesterday, it was cross country skiing, today skiing! I join Julian Malandrone, an ESF instructor for a ski lesson on the slopes of La Tania. If in Méribel, I was unable to grip a ski tow, in La Tania no problem. In fact it is pretty easy!

After assessing my level, we go skiing on almost empty slopes lined with fir trees! Magical! Go skiing excluding school holidays, especially if you are a beginner! You avoid the crowd and the stress. Occasionally, Julian shows me how skiing a bit in the fresh powder. Awesome! The sky clears revealing the mountains, there is no noise. See you at my next stop (coming up post) … 

France-La-Tania-Ski-Resort-French-Alps-Skiing-Slopes-3-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KFrance-La-Tania-Ski-Resort-French-Alps-Skiing-Slopes-5-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés.

Informations  

www.latania.comwww.les3vallees.com  

For cross country skiing or skiing lessons, you can contact the ESF La Tania : +33 (0)4 79 08 80 39 and Julian Malandrone : +33 (0)677789353.

Related posts : DESTINATIONSHOTEL REVIEWS & LIFESTYLE

Many thanks to the 3 Vallées and La Tania Tourist Office for this exciting invitation. Many thanks to the chef Julien Machet and his team, and Julian Malandrone and the ESF La Tania. As always these opinions are my own.

Croatia: Le Mandrac, The Gourmet Restaurant in Opatijia

Croatia-Opatija-Le Mandrac-8-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2013

After my long visit of Opatija

with Zé under a blazing sun, we follow Lungumare (a paved path along the sea with a beautiful view) to Le Mandrac, a gourmet restaurant. We are in a small cove with a backdrop worthy of the golden age of the Italian cinema. It feels like home… and also reminded me of the Marseille’s Calanques and a distant dinner at Chez Fonfon (a famous restaurant in Marseille).

I love the scenery, I’m blown away! The view from our table is just WOW (picture 1)! Impeccable service. The black bread looks like the one I tasted in South Tyrol (picture 4). Excellent starters (pictures 2 & 3), followed by a perfectly grilled fish with olive oil (pictures 6 & 7) and a chocolate cake, with in the middle some hot chocolate and garnished with a lemon sorbet … OMG and beleive me, I am not at all a dessert person (pictures 8 & 9). After the second starter, I wasn’t hungry!

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The chef Denis Zembo

Honestly, I think it must be a nightmare to have lunch with me. Each dish is carefully photographed before and sometimes even after, as below, LOL! Here everything is so flavorful and tasty that between the main course and dessert, I improvise a quick meeting with the talented chef and owner of Le Mandrac, Denis Zembo (picture above): 

How would you describe your cooking? – Mediterranean cuisine with a twist. Unpredictable and surprising. 

What kind of ingredients inspire you? – Only some Mediterranean herbs and garlic found in the mountains. I like to use different techniques, such as caramelize. The presentation is half of the dish too. 

– What traditional Croatian dish would you recommend to someone who comes for the first time in Croatia? – The risotto, all made pasta, scampi. My avant-garde interpretation of traditional fritaja (fritaya), with scrambled eggs and local ingredients: wild asparagus, truffles and mushrooms. 

Thank you Denis Zembo.

Croatia-Opatija-Le Mandrac-3-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2013Croatia-Opatija-Le Mandrac-4-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2013Croatia-Opatija-Le Mandrac-5-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2013Croatia-Opatija-Le Mandrac-6-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2013Croatia-Opatija-Le Mandrac-12-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2013

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés. 

Informations 

Le Mandrac : Obala F. Supila 10, Volosko, 51410 Opatija – Tel +385 51 701 357. Opatija Tourist Board www.visitcroatia.be  

Follow my whole trip in the CROATIA section. ENJOY! I was hosted by the Office National Croate du Tourisme and as usual all my opinions are mine.    

Related posts : DESTINATIONSLIFESTYLE & HOTEL REVIEWS 

Brussels, Belgium: Dinner at Chez Montaigne

Chez Montaigne-Brussels-Belgium-Restaurant-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Foodies, you’ll enjoy this restaurant!

I recently discovered with my dear mum, the excellent restaurant Chez Montaigne, Place Brugmann 27. 

My family and friends say I’m picky about food, but I don’t think so. I prefer the quality of products than some extravagant associations and sauces that kill the essence of the taste of each ingredient … 

I like to be a bit surprised, but not too much! In other words, it’s quite challenging for the chef (LOL)! We sit inside because it’s raining on the terrace (pictures 1 & 5). 

The decor is white and minimalist, a painting by Jean-Luc Moerman roughly recalls the French philosopher Montaigne. The light softens gradually as the evening progresses. We arrived early and will leave among the last (a good sign).

Chez Montaigne-Brussels-Belgium-Restaurant-1-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014Chez Montaigne-Brussels-Belgium-Restaurant-2-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Great first meals  

My mother chooses a salad of ​​beets sliced very thin with chew, a half fig and hazelnut. Really delicious (picture above)! 

As always, I don’t like to experiment and I choose a more conventional dish with thin avocado slices, parsley and lobster, perfectly seasoned (picture 2). Lovely presentation: many colors in the plate! And impeccable service both professional and friendly!

Chez Montaigne-Brussels-Belgium-Restaurant-3-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Then we order fish

served with lentils, asparagus and tomatoes. The cooking is perfect and  the dish is simple and tasty as I like. The large plates are not roborative.

After a long hesitation, we share a delicious homemade ice cream with vanilla (picture below).

Chez Montaigne-Brussels-Belgium-Restaurant-4-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014Chez Montaigne-Brussels-Belgium-Restaurant-6-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Photos : Mademoiselle Le K – copyright 2014, tous droits réservés.

Informations

Chez Montaigne, Place Brugmann 27, Phone +32 (0)2 345 65 23

Related posts:

 

 

DESTINATIONS & LIFESTYLE  

We were invited by the restaurant Chez Montaigne and these are my opinions. Thanks to the team of Chez Montaigne.