If you really love food, then you’ll want to spend at least a portion of your downtime tracking down and consuming the best available cuisine. When it comes to your holidays, this might mean booking a trip to France. But there’s more to French food than what’s available in Paris; if you want a distinctly different take on the nation’s favourite dishes, you’ll want to venture to the Alps during winter.

Discover Alpine Specialities

A few dishes available in the Alps have achieved true iconic status. A few of them have obvious Swiss and Italian influences, but they all have one thing in common: they’re rich and indulgent, and a perfect way to restore your energy reserves after a punishing day on the slopes. There’s the warming potato dish, the tartiflette, as well as the communal cheese-based classic, the fondue. This style of cuisine is all about coming together when the weather outside is frosty, which is exactly what’s required in this part of the world at this time of year.

Experience Local Dining Culture

It isn’t just the food itself that you’ll want to experience, but also the way that it’s traditionally consumed. You might be eating raclette sourced from a dairy farm just down the road, for example. Opt for a self-catered chalet, and you’ll be able to cook and eat together, which makes for a very different dining experience than the one you might enjoy in a big city.

Just make sure that you’re not asking one member of your group to handle all of the cookery duties. If you know that one person knows what they’re doing in the kitchen, everyone else can simply pitch in with cleaning afterwards.

Combine Food with Adventure

Of course, since the food you’re going to be eating is mostly going to be based around cheese and potatoes, you’ll get all the energy you need for the time you spend on the slopes the following day. A busy day of skiing can easily burn thousands of calories, and you’ll need to provide your body with the right raw materials if you’re going to prosper for a whole week.

The good news is that most of the major resorts provide plenty of places to source the right food. An Alpe d’Huez ski holiday will be largely defined by the amazing restaurants and excellent shopping facilities that line the resort. If you make a meal plan for the entire week, you can stay on top of your budget, too, without making compromises when it comes to the quality of food you enjoy.

Conclusion

The French Alps aren’t just a place to seek adventure and outdoor fulfilment. There’s also a rich gastronomic tradition to uncover, especially if you’re willing to be a little bit adventurous. True foodies might set out with a list of local delicacies that they want to sample. In many cases, you’ll be able to find exactly the food you’re looking for, without even taking your ski boots off.