Top Mountain Report 2011 - The Vallée Blanche

The Vallée Blanche... a 17km route that starts at 3812 meters on the Aiguille du Midi...




An amazing scenery of the Mont Blanc range...


































with zoom...

Les Jardins du Mont-Blanc, Chamonix

Le Bistrot, Chamonix

Top Mountain Report 2011 part I

Winter and skiing!

This year starting and for that mater ending in Chamonix...


Christina having fun on skis...


on the top people are having fun...


flying around...


or I had fun in outdoor swimming on -10°C...


or eating...


look forward for March at part III.

Le Restaurant Albert 1er, Chamonix

Hameau Albert 1er hotel is located in green gardens, with chalets, farmhouse and of course, gastronomic restaurant the Restaurant Albert 1er Michelin twin-starred and run by chef de cuisine Pierre Carrier and Pierre Maillet.

Famous for its highly inventive cuisine and seasonal white truffles, have a 3 cozy if not bit rustic decorated dining room and piano bar. Signature dishes includes wild mushrooms garnished with ravioli stuffed with foie gras, bison steak, pan-fried scallops with risotto and lobster sauce, foie gras with truffles…

What we had tasted simply delicious:


Melting Brittany lobster aside with a homemade fresh pasta generously covered with black tartufo shavings, and fantastically balanced foamy lobster sauce....


silky roasted John Dory, puréed leeks, smokey onion, shellfishes and herb juice...

Washed down with:


2004 Les Plantiers du Haut-Brion, Bordeaux, Pessac-Léognan
Smooth, silky and rich. Fantastic balance. The fact that this is only an entry level white Bordeaux... well it makes this wine simply amazing. (91 pts)

For desert we had picks from the trolley; a choice of fresh and aged French and Italian cheeses washed down with:


1998 Château Haut Marbuzet, Saint-Estèphe
Structured, silky, affectionate... (92 pts)

Absolutely unique experience!

Rating: 9.1 (out of 10.0)

Le Hameau Albert 1er
119 Impasse du Montenvers
74400 Chamonix Mont Blanc, France

Le Bistrot, Chamonix

Well in my opinion it can’t be better than living in the hotel Le Morgan in Chamonix. Why? Simply because the hotel’s restaurant is run by a young chef, Mickey Bourdillat who got his first Michelin. The only better hotel is probably Albert 1er, and you'll read soon why :-)

Very inventive, creative and... different dishes; with a lot of taste, flavors, support and freshness. The exclusive use of local ingredients for sure gives this restaurant an edge and I'm looking forward for more.


entrance of Le Bistrot...


Savoy bread...


appetizer...


scallops and young spring vegetables - carpaccio style, crunchy vegetables and vegetable emulsion...


lobster and the crab - celery, lobster and crab, shall emulsion...


roasted scampi on a risotto of pasta shells, ham and meat juice...


roasted wild sea perch on the skin, fennel compote, tomatoes and citrus fruits, olive juice...


roasted sweetbread with green asparagus...


cheese board...


chef pastry number one...


chef pastry number two...


coffee at the bar...


at the "fire place"...

Surprisingly good, Le Bistrot is without any doubt a fantastic French restaurants, with a friendly stuff and excellent wine list by the glass. Above menu was served together with a wine menu (5 different wines).

Recommended.

Rating: 8.8 (out of 10.0)

Le Bistrot
151 Avenue de l'Aiguille du Midi
74400 Chamonix Mont Blanc, France