La Fondue savoyarde

For my last night in Champagny-en-Vanoise (Friend G stayed over for a couple more nights), Sweet V treated us both to warmly typical Savoyarde hospitality.  First, we drove back up to Champagny-le-Haut (Upper Champagny), but instead of stopping there as we had earlier in the day, we continued following the road our errant cows had earlier travelled, once they had returned to it after their mildly exciting detour.  We continued up and up to the highest mountain refuge (Alpine mountain hut) in the area.

The refuge is principally used by mountaineers, climbers and hikers.  Sweet V will herself begin working at the small restaurant associated with the refuge in July.  Although it was still early in the season, the little restaurant was offering its delicious specialty - la fondue savoyarde.

La fondue savoyarde is similar to its Swiss cousin, except that it contains a blend of three cheeses.  Usually at least two of them are French.  In the most traditional savoyarde recipes, kirsch - a standard of the Swiss version - is either not used at all or another liqueur is substituted.  Another feature of French fondues is that the bread usually arrives already cubed.  In Switzerland, at least in the most traditional version, one receives thick slices of bread and tears them into smaller portions oneself.

We arrived, literally in a deluge, so were not able to spend time taking photos outside.  Here is the refuge from the inside looking out, with raindrops splattering on the window.  It was a night when la fondue savoyarde would be greatly appreciated.

To complement the fondue, a salad and a selection of the local charcuterie was served, along with an excellent white wine of the region.

As with all French meals, nothing was rushed.  We had time to visit and savor the moments and the atmosphere.  It was literally perfect.  I truly hope that Sweet V enjoyed the evening even half as much as we both did.

Champagny-en-Vanoise and its region are wonderful places to visit.  I am so grateful to have had such a lovely experience during my brief visit there.