Gourmet Ski Guiding

Zermatt has more fine mountain restaurants than any other ski resort in the Alps, with standards of cuisine exceptional enough to be rated by the Michelin guide.

Because we know that a ski holiday need not be all about skiing, we thought that we would help those of you who, instead of (or in addition to) burning tracks down black runs, would quite enjoy the mountain scenery from a cosy restaurant terrace, with a glass of vintage wine to hand. However, the best of these slope-side spots require advance booking and good piste-map reading skills.

That’s why we propose Gourmet Guiding as an optional extra to make the most of your stay in Zermatt. For up to five days, your guide will take you to a different mountain chalet every day (you decide the number of days that you want). The choice of restaurant will be a function of your wishes and the day’s weather and snow conditions. Our guides will provide their expertise not only on the slopes, but also through the menus and wine lists – they know their Sassicaias from their Latours. They will book your table and get you there on time. They will also reserve the most popular cakes in advance to make sure that you won’t be disappointed. The best cremeschnitte sell out fast!

On each day we start late enough to allow for a lie-in. You’re on holiday after all! Then, typically, we would go to the top mountain of that day’s area and ski down to the nearest good terrace. After a constitutional stop, we ski a couple of scenic runs before heading to lunch. This most important part of the day is treated with appropriate reverence, allowing enough time to not only to enjoy ourselves, but also to contemplate the virtues of the long lunch. The opportunity to slow down in the modern world is a precious gift.

After lunch (there is a benefit to doing this on skis), we venture forth into the fresh air and ski down, after a run or two, to a quiet or musical slope-side après-ski bar, your wishes being our commands. On the last day, the programme culminates on the Italian side of the Matterhorn, with a ten course lunch near Valtournenche. Should you be too sleepy to make it back over the glaciers to Zermatt, we can arrange overnight accommodation on the spot!

Note that many of these slope-side restaurants are also accessible to non skiers, if you don’t mind a 30 minute walk. The whole programme is flexible and can be tailored to your desires, however exacting.

Gourmet Guiding costs from CHF 275 for 1-4 people per day, thereafter CHF 40 per additional person per day, not including restaurant charges. Please email us for a detailed quote.