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Savoyard food specialities – Fondue, Raclette and Tartiflette

If you’re undertaking hearty outdoor activities in the Alps, whether it be walking in summer or ski-ing in winter, you’ll be tempted by these Savoyard specialities that involve plenty of cheese and charcuterie.

There’s the classic fondue made with melted Gruyère or Emmental cheese with a splash of white wine and chunks of country bread to soak it up. Lovely when you first eat it but you can imagine how it will be solidifying in your stomach by the end of the meal.

Cheese fondue at le Basilic, Les Houches
Cheese fondue at le Basilic, Les Houches

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Then there’s the Raclette, where a halved round of cheese is melted over the grill and scraped onto your plate to eat with small waxy potatoes, gherkins and a green salad. The one that’s my favourite is the Tartiflette that’s made with sliced cooked potatoes topped with creamy Reblochon cheese and small lardons or chunks of bacon scattered over the top.

Tartiflette at Refuges Flegere
Tartiflette at Refuges Flegere

It all amounts to cheese heaven, but beware your expanding waistline, if you’re eating this kind of full fat fare every day without the day’s trek up the mountain to burn off the calories. I’ll tell you confidentially that (just between you and me) I came back heavier from my 3 day mini tour de Mont Blanc despite walking for at least 5 hours in the mountains each day.

Tarte aux Myrtilles at Refuge du Lac Blanc
Tarte aux Myrtilles at Refuge du Lac Blanc

When you’ve worked your way through all the cheese, with just a green salad to lighten the load, you can finish off with a delightful Tarte au Mytille or blueberry tart, like the one we ate at Lac Blanc. I can tell you it definitely tastes best eaten on a sunny terrace of a Mountain Refuge with amazing views of a glacial lakes and mountain peaks as a backdrop.

You can compare prices and book for hotels in Chamonix here

Other Mountain memories

Savoyard food specialities to enjoy from the French Alps
Video diary – walking the Tour de Mont Blanc path above Chamonix

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com

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Thursday 5th of May 2011

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Corinne @ Gourmantic

Tuesday 19th of October 2010

The tart looks healthy in comparison! As much as I enjoyed travelling through Switzerland, I found the rich food a bit much after a while. I never thought I'd crave a salad!

Mark H

Thursday 14th of October 2010

Aaahhh, the great beauty of hiking in Europe - fine food to finish the day. And blueberry tart too....mmmmmm

Darren Cronian

Saturday 9th of October 2010

The food looks delicious, other than the Tarte aux Myrtilles, which doesn't look very appealing, what did it taste like? :)

Sherry Ott

Thursday 7th of October 2010

Ha - next time go trekking in Nepal and I guarantee you will lose weight!! There was no yummy cheese in Nepal! The photos look delicious!!