The European Alps, the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies completely within Europe. This incredible range of impressive mountains stretch a staggering 1,200 kilometres across eight alpine countries including Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Slovenia and finally Switzerland.

All these fascinating countries have their own traditions and history and with this comes their cuisines. Being blessed to have all this on your doorstep (if you’re based in Europe) provides an eclectic mix of different types of food all suited to making your mountain experience that much more enjoyable. The Ultimate Luxury Chalets team take a look at four dishes you need to try before leaving the Alps, and we have even broken it down into the different countries….

Just saying, thank us next time you are out enjoying some of the following. Just writing this blog is making my tummy grumble, let’s begin with France….

France

We take a look at our next door neighbours France and a dish that has been a favourite in the country over many decades. Yes we are talking about Foie Gras, considered by many as France’s answer to caviar in terms of luxury. This dish is a speciality and is served in restaurants across the French Alps. Its taste is described as being rich, buttery and very delicate, unlike that of an ordinary duck or goose liver. This incredibly tasty dish can come in a multitude of forms including mousse, parfait, escalope and terrine, and can also accompany other dishes such as steak. On the menu we recommend you look for a dish called Tournedos Rossini; the original recipe required a 6-8cm thick steak, taken from the centre of a fillet, and served with Foie Gras on the top. Couple this mouthwatering dish with some Madeira sauce and some fresh truffled mashed potato!….. We think you are going to have to undo a button after eating this one!

Italy 

When talking about Italian cuisine, it’s hard to narrow down something that really stands out, as personally I think it’s the best food on the planet. However some of Italy’s greatest foods come from the Dolomites, including some of the very well known meats and cheeses such as proscuitto, speck and fontina cheese. Let’s not forget that Italy’s mountainous region has many cultural influences as it boarders not only France but Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia.

We could go on about Italy’s favoured dishes but we want to take you off piste into the unknown to try some of the Dolomites favourite traditional dishes. Montasio, a traditional cheese made by Benedectine monks in the mountains for hundreds of years, if you want a rough estimate on time, it was created circa the year 1200. This delightful cheese can change in flavour depending on how long it is aged for, for instance if the cheese is between 2 and 5 months it can be quite mild where as a more matured Montasio Vecchio which has aged for more than 12 months is much harder and full tasting! Perfect if you are looking to add a twist to your bolognaise whilst out in the Italian Alps.

 

Switzerland 

Ah Switzerland, the neutral country famous for its beautiful scenery and amazing chocolate. If you are out enjoying some of the fantastic skiing this amazing country has to offer then you will be provided with a whole variety of different options. This is similar to the Dolimites in the way that Switzerland is boarded by Italy, France, Germany and Austria. This has meant that the variety of food has become very diverse making it a great country to go to if you want to mix up your order for the week.

Fondue in Switzerland is a massive favourite and has be woven into the fabric of the country itself. The mountainous people of Switzerland have used this dish as a way of keeping themselves warm during the colder months over the course of time, and it is now a favourite and a must have for anybody from a local to a visitor. Personally I would choose a seedy type of bread with herbs to dip in the Fondue, however each to their own! The Fondue contains wine and garlic and bubbles invitingly over an open flame , perfect for those winter nights after you get off the slopes and are nice and warm in your chalet. If you are up the mountain and skiing in the famous Zermatt resort, then a must place to visit for the some of the finest cuisine is Chez Vrony. Transformed from a farmhouse into one of the top 10 mountain restaurants in the world.

Austria 

We are down to our final country and the beautiful neighbour to Switzerland. Austrian cuisine has some golden favourites, my personal favourite being Weiner Schnitzel with spaghetti and a tomato sauce, with Parmesan on the side. Don’t forget to put squeeze a lemon on top to add that extra bit of flavour! However, that’s a bit simple and we want to offer something different for you to consider.

This takes us to the delightful dish of Spaetzle, mainly served in the alpine huts of Austria and incredible are a walk or ski in the crisp mountain air. Spaetzle is a type of soft egg style noodle which is normally served alongside meat, a norm in the mountains. Dating back to the year 1725, it has been satisfying hungry tummies ever since. This is the perfect dish to order if you need something to warm you up and give you some energy to take on the afternoons skiing, as we all know the struggles of leaving a comfy chair and drinking a glass of wine or three!!

We hope these meals have broadened your menu horizons and made you feel hungry (only for now until you try them). Let us know which dishes you tried by sending a picture to our social media channels, on Facebook or tweet us an image to @UltimateChalets.

Make sure to give us an email or a call on +44 (0)1202 203653, for more information on accommodation for your next luxury ski trip and to provide you with some recommendations on the numerous amazing places to eat in the mountains.