SKI WEEKS & GOURMET TABLES AND CELLARS AROUND THE SLOPES

Italy is full of beautiful landscapes and mountain areas that have nothing to envy the coasts surrounding the Peninsula, both in summer and in winter. January and the colder months are definitely the best time to enjoy the snow, sports and to give space (with less remorse) to dining. Combining appetite and satisfaction with the quality of the offers and also linking the experience to a deeper knowledge of local traditions and culture of the places known for skiing or snowshoeing. Read our list of itineraries around the most famous winter ski slopes from North to South.

by Clara Barra

Auberge de la Maison

frazione Entreves via Passerin d'Entreves, 16a 0165 869811 – aubergemaison.

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L'Auberge de la Maison welcomes guests in a setting where the most traditional architecture is reflected in a very charming setting. The beloved restaurant tells the story of the area with dishes of substance, and fine wine list (also offered by the glass).

Cadran Solaire via Roma, 122 0165 844609 cadransolaire.it

The Leo Garin family runs one of the most refined restaurants in the town, complete with a terrace. here the protagonist is alpine cuisine – created by the talented chef jeanmarc neuville – paired with

Courmayeur (AO)

Auberge de la Maison

Cadran Solaire

Pierre Alexis 1877 substantial wines (even by the glass).

Pierre Alexis 1877 via G. Marconi, 50a 0165 846700

In the pedestrian area, here is a charming "living room" that combines mountain details with modern design elements. the kitchen offers revisited regional recipes (think, mountain ramen) or traditional italian dishes. valid wine list, lunch menu.

Pizzeria Du Tunnel via Circonvallazione, 80 0165841705 pizzeriadutunnel.it

All rooms, finished instone and wood, retain the typical mountain atmosphere. their pizza is prepared with great care and baked in a woodfired oven. the careful choice of ingredients guarantees a remarkable result. the menu offers more than thirty pies.

Pizzeria Fuoripista s.da delle Vittorie, 13 0165842118 losciatore.com

At the foot of the ski slopes, near the dolonne gondola lift, a restaurant designed in full mountain style: run by the grosso family, maria casella and her sons roberto and angelo.

La Thuile (AO)

Bistrò Alpino del Montana Lodge località Arly, 87 0165 883125 montagnalodge.it

An intelligent place that takes advantage of the space of a luxury hotel, where design plays a significant role. the restaurant offers meals across the board, thinking of both hotel guests as well as gourmands who come from outside. multifaceted menu, adequate cellar. Chocolat fraz. Entreves 0165884783 chocolat-collomb.it

For over 40 years, Stefano Collomb's restaurant has been a must for tourists and regulars. stefano is a master of chocolate (the now famous tometta, a 350 gram praline made with milk chocolate, gianduia and hazelnuts from piemonte, is his "calling card") but at chocolaT there is much more.

Pré Saint Didier (AO)

Croquembouche av. du Mont Blanc, 39 3385662263 pasticceriacroquembouche. it

It is a place appreciated for the varied and high quality offer, from sweet to savoury, driven by ingredients chosen with great care. all production is strictly artisanal, the aosta valley specialties are well represented and faithful to tradition, flanked by modern creations.

Saint Vincent (AO)

Morandin via E. Chanoux, 105 3476872091 mauromorandin.it

Mauro Morandin was raised in the footsteps of his father rolando, a pastry chef much appreciated in italy and abroad. maître patissier and chocolatier of great fame and ability, assisted by his wife barbara, he works according to tradition, proposing family recipes made with strictly artisanal methods and ancient machinery..

Auberge de la Maison (also in the opening photo). A refuge for the soul and for fine living: a mountain home, at 1,300 metres, with a view of Mont Blanc where you can breathe all the charm of Alpine tradition and hospitality. The cuisine of the Auberge Restaurant shows how much the Garin family aims to pamper their guests with the highest quality ingredients, and with an eye to the territory

PRODUCTS & TERRITORY. FONTINA, GENEPY E LARD D'ARNAD

FONTINA DOP. Protected Designation of Origin cheese with a milky scent, sweet taste and a soft, melting texture in the mouth. A much imitated cheese, but if you know it you can't confuse it with any other! Fontina is the Valle d'Aosta: it is strongly linked to the territory, to its pastures, to the cows that produce the milk (of three native breeds: Valdostana Pezzata Rossa, Valdostana Pezzata Nera and the Castana) which then becomes an exquisite cheese. 169 members are part of the Consortium and about 400,000 wheels of Fontina are branded every year.

GENEPY The symbol of Valle d'Aosta is also Genepy, a liqueur made from genepy seedlings (Artemisia glacialis), an alpine herb that grows on the mountains. It was Laurent Ottoz who started the production in 1902, returning from an experience in a glorious French distillery.

LARD D'ARNAD DOP . It is a tasty and fragrant cured meat aged with salt, spices and mountain scents that give it unrepeatable aromas and flavours. Product of excellence from the Arnad area in Valle d'Aosta, since 1996 the only PDO certified lard in Europe. Excellent to use in the kitchen, but also to be enjoyed slathered on slices of warm bread, as an aperitif and appetiser.