Par Margaret Kemp
For a second season, Cheval Blanc , the luxury five-star hotel located in the Jardin Alpin of the jet-set ski resort of Courchevel 1850, asked Yannick Alleno, Michelin three-star chef at
Le Meurice, Paris, to transform their haute montagne chalet into an haute cuisine destination. Cheval Blanc, opened in 2006, is the creation of Bernard Arnault chairman of
LVMH Moët Hennessey Louis Vuitton.
Alleno says he's creating a menu of high-altitude signature dishes. "
The mountain landscape is my inspiration, I'm using regional products and contemporary techniques, I find the challenge very exciting". Alleno says he loves to ski, but needs more practise. To give him a chance to improve his ski-technique chef Denis Felisson will be in the Cheval Blanc's kitchens. Young talent Felisson already won the Trophy Jacquart, 2006 and his parcours includes the Louis XV, Monaco and The Moulin de Mougins.
Cheval Blanc, has two restaurants and lunch is served contemporary buffet-style, with Alleno designed tableware, at Le 1-9-4-7: starting with soup en amuse bouche, 9 mountain tapas as starters, say, Oeuf toqué à la chantilly de roquette: Le Tout petit farci of exquisite stuffed vegetables: Le Foie gras et ses condiments: Le Tartare: Les fromages de Savoie: Les salaisons: Au bout des Doigts: etc. Then a choice of main dishes and 7 desserts.
Alleno has gathered all these dishes and more and produced the handsome "
Le Carnet des Tapas des Montagnes - Cheval Blanc", published by Glenat. And if you miss lunch "
L'Heure du Gôuter" version Cheval Blanc awaits with a tantalizing array of madeleines, gaufre au nougat, de la crêpe à la pâte a tartiner ou la guimauve. And if you love an after dinner cigar, finish the day in "
Le Fumoir" an authentic Mongolian Yourte: chef-sommelier Sébastien will also guide you through the spectacular wines and liqueurs.
Cheval Blanc has 34 rooms and suites over five floors, all have terraces or balconies and mountain views with sublime décor by design guru Sybille de Margerie. The fourth and fifth floor "
L'Appartement" is a "
chalet within the chalet" reached by private lift. It has it's own spa, kitchen, living, dressing and dining room and is freqeuntly used by the Arnault family.
Givenchy's state-of-the-art "
Spa des Neiges" covers 600 sq. meters and uses chromotherapy lights throughout. The indoor infinity pool has huge windows with dazzling views onto the pistes. Treatments include "
Avant-ski" and "
Apres-ski" massage. Therapists are locals and experienced skiers, so understand just how to soothe away your aches and pains. And if your hair's a mess just book into "
Le Hair Room Services" by master-crimper John Nollet. For last minute Christmas shopping there are two designer boutiques, Louis Vuitton and Dior. Every day is Christmas at Cheval Blanc.
Art and modern sculpture such as Un Tryptique de Walter Niedermayer: De L'Ours de Xavier Veilhan on the terrace, les photos de Karl Lagerfeld and "
White Wild Lei" de Jean-Michel Othoniel are to be enjoyed and admired without moderation.
But what about the ski-ing ? Discover La Vallée de Chamonix, Brèche de la Portetta or Heliski - a dedicated team are there just for you, because you're worth it.
Cheval Blanc, Yannick Alleno
Jardin Alpin, 73120,
Courchevel, 1850
T: 04 79 00 50 51
Lunch 115€
Dinner: 195€
Rooms and suites from 1310€ per day include half board, breakfast lunch or dinner.
Open December-April
Voir le site du Cheval Blanc.
