Tag Archives: Nature Lovers

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!  

France-La-Tania-Ski-Resort-Gastronomic-Restaurant-Le-Farçon-Michelin-Starred-Chef-Julien-Machet-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

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.

Umbria, Italy: Castelluccio di Norcia Stunning Mountains

Umbria-Italy-Stunning-Mountain-Castelluccio-di-Norcia-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

The Road To Castelluccio di Norcia

Umbria-Italy-Stunning-Mountain-Castelluccio-di-Norcia-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Lost in The Middle of Nowhere

Surreal scene: first there is the huge plain in the middle of mountains covered with a velvet cloak … Stunning beauty, the soul rises! Then the road cuts the plain in two equal sides (photo 1) and leads to the famous village Castelluccio di Norcia (around fifty inhabitants all year).

We are in the Parco Nazionale Monti Sibillini, a natural reserve located in the regions of Umbria and Marche.

Getting out the car, I have the impression of entering in a film, a road movie of Wim Wenders. I think of the steppes to Central Asia where I’ve never been. I feel so far away, dazzled by the beauty of the landscape. Finally I feel the journey begins.

Umbria-Italy-Stunning-Mountain-Castelluccio-di-Norcia-3-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Donkey-trekking

Umbria-Italy-Stunning-Mountain-Castelluccio-di-Norcia-8-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

So Unique For Me!

I did not grow up surrounded by animals and initially had some misgivings … Honestly, I’ve never imagined myself riding on a donkey (lol)! I did a horse ride in a Baja California desert years ago! Basta!

Kids love! I start the ride in a light rain with easy going Geronimo, a donkey or mule (I still haven’t understood the difference between the two) on the photo 1 (above photo montage). Unlike Zorro much more nervous (on the black and white photo)! A saddle as a portent …

Thanks to Roberto Canali of La Mulattiera for guiding my donkey, so I was able to really appreciate these beautiful landscapes (with big laugh every acceleration of Geronimo!). Roberto, a Rome native, perfectly knows these mountains!

Traditionally for centuries in this poor region of central Italy, they have used mules (muli) for transportation and agriculture and donkeys (asini) for transportation. 

Umbria-Italy-Stunning-Mountain-Castelluccio-di-Norcia-5-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KUmbria-Italy-Stunning-Mountain-Castelluccio-di-Norcia-7-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Lunch at Il Fienile

Umbria-Italy-Stunning-Mountain-Castelluccio-di-Norcia-Lunch-Agroturismo-Antica-Cascina-Brandimarte-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

The Weekend in a Remote Village

After our donkey-trekking stopped by heavy rain, a late lunch on the heights of the village. I am pleased to relax a bit in the agriturismo restaurant Il Fienile managed by Tiziano and Giovanni Coccia brothers.

Mountain menu. I really liked the extra lean local fresh ricotta, made with sheep milk (yummy!) and lenticchie di Castelluccio IGP, the tasty lentils grown without chemical pesticides. The IGP is a protected appellation meaning “Protected Geographical Indication”.

For norcineria lovers: the prosciutto di Norcia, coppa, cojone di Mulo and Norcino. On the first photo of the photo montage above: the roveja, this local specialty is a kind of wild peas with the taste of chickpeas.

And if you want to extend the experience … In winter, the road to Castelluccio di Norcia is often impracticable. With a little luck and lots of snow, you might get stuck a few more days. The Antica Cascina Brandimarte has comfortable rooms with lovely views over the plateau and mountains.

Umbria-Italy-Stunning-Mountain-Castelluccio-di-Norcia-6-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés

Informations   

Regione Umbria and Alitalia

Related posts : DESTINATIONS & LIFESTYLE

Many thanks for this beautiful invitation to Regione Umbria et Alitalia. As always these opinions are my own.