Tag Archives: Fooding

Switzerland: Weekend in Crans-Montana

Relaxation and Skiing in Crans-Montana

Hi everyone! Back on the front page, this article of Crans-Montana to help you to organize your trip in this beautiful destination. Enjoy your reading!

In the afternoon, we arrive in Montana in the Valais canton. Then we take a ride into a caterpillar to reach the Chetzeron hotel. Stunning landscape with snow, the magic of the Swiss Alps! Located at an altitude of 2112 m on the slopes of the Crans-Montana ski area: the Chetzeron offers a sleek design quite Japandi, in a former gondola station (photos “The hotel” below and photo of the swimming pool in “Day 1” below). From the warm welcome to the excellent dinner with regional products, to the comfort of the room with panoramic views of the moutain peaks and the valley, as well as the really cool team: everything is great! I could be able to spend my stay without leaving the hotel!

Day 1: snowshoeing, early departure from the hotel under a bright sun. Sporty snowshoe descent! Especially when you find yourself on ski slopes (oops!)… Crans-Montana has 140 km of marked ski slopes, including 14 blue, 39 red, 8 black and 40 km marked and secure paths for ski touring routes. Well yes, we got lost on snowshoes. After walking along a few ski slopes, we finally found the restaurant where we reserved for lunch. In the early afternoon, we go up in the cable car to the Plaine Morte glacier at 3000 meters above sea level. Stunning setting, brisk air and blinding (photos “Day 1: Snowshoes & Glacier” below).

Day 2: skiing in overcast weather. Refresher course with an instructor from the ESS (Swiss Ski School). Months and months without skiing, an eternal beginner/intermediate level. Then we take real descents and I am euphoric (photos “Skiing & Fooding” below). Lunch at the restaurant Cry d’Er Club d’Altitude. Tired, I spend the rest of the afternoon in the swimming pool of the Hotel Royal in Crans. More traditional than the Chezteron, this hotel has a gastronomic restaurant, Le Cadre Royal. Rooms are comfortable and the service is pleasant and professional. I really enjoy my stay. For our last evening, we have a dinner at the Mosaic: simple and tasty cuisine (photos “Skiing & Fooding” below).

The Chetzeron Hotel

Day 1 : Snowshoes & Glacier

Day 2: Skiing & Fooding

The Hotel Royal

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés

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Crans-Montana, My Switzerland,

Related articles : Hotel Reviews & Destinations

Many thanks to Crans Montana and My Switzerland for this beautiful invitation. As always, these are my opinions.

French Alps, Les Arcs: Ski, Lounge & Fooding

The Village Igloo Les Arcs

When I Arrived 

at the hotel Taj-I Mah the day before, I tasted the dark siver macaroons of the Michelin Starred Chef Eric Samson (first photo of the article). This morning, I head with Lo, my gorgeous “snow BFF”, to the Village Igloo Les Arcs. 

Ten minutes walk from the hotel with an amazing blue sky! What a pleasure to walk on the footpaths of the freshly groomed empty ski slopes! I really enjoy the beginning of the ski season! No crowd, so calm!

Fairy Ice Cavern

    

Upon Entering,

I was just expecting the traditional ice bar plus few tables. What a surprise to discover an ice cavern of 150 m² too! You follow more or less narrow corridors adorned with sculptures inspired by Nordic legends.

We had the chance to meet the team of sculptors at work. You can extend the magic by spending one night in one of the two rooms (no sanitary facilities on site). You feel out of time …

    

Between Two Skiing Sessions

Lunch at l’Atelier d’Eric

During this relaxing weekend, I took my two lunch with beautiful views of the slopes at l’Atelier d’Eric (located in the hotel Taj-I Mah): each time, excellent! If you follow me on this blog, you know how much I enjoy the inventive simple light cuisine of the Chef Eric Samson. In your plate, you can recognize each flavor.

Photos below: left, first day, first lunch with tuna and Japanese mushrooms. To the right, second day: tuna and Walnut St. Jacques with a tian of vegetables. And for the two lunchs, the same Valrhona chocolate and pear dessert, I love it! 

And if you don’t know where dining, I recommend you the Diamond Noir, the gourmet restaurant of the Taj-I Mah, under the leadership of Chef Eric Samson.

The Apres-Ski at The Arc 1800

Tea time at The Lodge

We drive to the Arc 1800. Picture above: the classified buildings of the famous architect Charlotte Perriand. Then we take the cable car to Mille8, where the Lodge, a restaurant-café with modern decoration and Scandinavian influences, is located.

Here, no partying vibe like in la Folie Douce, but I immediately liked this place for the space, interior design, atmosphere and view. Thank you Lo! You feel as good inside as on the terrace. It was hard for us to leave, lol!

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés.

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Taj-I-Mah, Les Arcs

Related posts : DESTINATIONS, HOTEL REVIEWS & BEAUTY

Many thanks to the Taj-I Mah and the Tourist Office of Les Arcs for this beautiful invitation! As always are my opinions.

Les Arcs, France: ski, lounge et fooding

Le Village Igloo Les Arcs

Arrivée la veille

au Taj-I Mah, je découvre les très graphiques macarons du Chef étoilé Eric Samson (première photo de l’article). Ce matin, je retrouve ma BFF des neiges, Lo, pour prendre un thé au Village Igloo Les Arcs. 

A dix minutes à pieds de l’hôtel, nous marchons sous un superbe ciel bleu! Quel plaisir de se promener sur les chemins piétions des pistes vides, fraîchement damées : voilà pourquoi j’aime les débuts de saisons!

Féerique grotte de glace

    

En entrant dans l’igloo,

je m’attendais simplement au traditionnel ice bar agrémenté de quelles tables. Quelle surprise en découvrant aussi une grotte de glace de 150 m²! On suit des couloirs plus ou moins étroits, ornés de sculptures, inspirées de légendes nordiques.

Nous avons eu la chance de rencontrer l’équipe de sculpteurs en plein travail. Vous pouvez prolonger la magie en passant une nuit dans l’une des deux chambres (pas de sanitaires sur place). On se sent hors du temps…

    

Entre deux sessions de ski

Déjeuner à l’Atelier d’Eric

Durant de ce week-end détente, j’ai pris mes deux déjeuners avec vue sur les pistes à l’Atelier d’Eric (dans l’hôtel Taj-I Mah) : à chaque fois, excellent! Si vous me suivez sur ce blog, vous sauvez ô combien j’aime la cuisine simple, légère et inventive (où chaque saveur est reconnaissable) du Chef Eric Samson.

Photos ci-dessous : à gauche, premier jour, premier déjeuner composé de thon et champignons aux saveurs japonaises. A droite, deuxième jour : thon et noix de Saint-jacques avec un tian de légumes. Même dessert les deux jours, au chocolat Valrhona et à la poire, j’en suis fane!

Et si vous ne savez pas où dîner, je vous recommande le Diamant Noirle restaurant gastronomique du Taj-I Mah, sous la houlette du Chef Eric Samson.

L’après-ski aux Arcs 1800

Tea time au Lodge

Nous descendons aux Arcs 1800 en voiture. Photo ci-dessus : les immeubles classés de l’architecte Charlotte Perriand. Puis nous prenons le téléphérique jusqu’au Mille8, où se trouve le Lodge : restaurant-café à la décoration moderne et influences scandinaves.

Ici, pas d’effervescence façon la Folie Douce, mais j’ai tout de suite flashé sur le lieu, l’espace, la déco, l’ambiance, la vue. Merci Lo! On s’y sent aussi bien à l’intérieur qu’en terrasse, d’ailleurs nous avons eu un mal fou à repartir, lol!

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés.

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Taj-I-Mah, Les Arcs, Le Village Igloo Les Arcs, Le Lodge

Autres articles : DESTINATIONS, HOTEL REVIEWS & BEAUTE 

Un grand merci au Taj-I Mah et à l’Office du tourisme des Arcs, pour cette belle invitation! Comme toujours ce sont mes opinions.