The French Side Dish You Didn’t Know You Needed + Adventures in the French Alpine Destination of Megeve
These potatoes are simpler, richer, and once you try them, you’ll see why they’re unforgettable.
Butcher Potatoes: The French Side Dish You Didn’t Know You Needed
When we lived in Burgundy for a short period of time (get The Beaune Black Book), a quick stop at the butcher shop turned into an obsession. We were picking up steaks for the holiday and spotted these golden, crispy potatoes wrapped in foil—what looked like Potatoes Dauphinoise but somehow different. We added one to our order and, after just one bite, we couldn’t stop thinking about them. Butcher potatoes, as they’re known, have since been a staple at many French butcher shops. They’re not Boulangerie Potatoes, and they’re not quite Dauphinoise. They’re simpler, richer, and once you try them, you’ll see why they’re unforgettable.
Les Fermes de Marie in Megève: Where Alpine Luxury Meets Family Warmth
Les Fermes de Marie isn’t just another five-star resort—it’s a place where you feel like you’ve been invited into the Sibuet family’s private mountain chalet. We’ve had the pleasure of personally knowing Marie, who, along with her brother, runs this pristine collection of hotels. We first fell in love with their properties at Villa Marie in Saint Tropez and Bastide de Marie in Provence, but Megève offers something entirely different: a true alpine escape.
L’Alpage des Fermes: A Mountain Chalet Lunch Like No Other
Imagine being whisked up a mountainside in a fleet of Land Rovers, the rugged path lined with rocks, a stream babbling alongside, and cows grazing freely in the alpine pastures. That’s how our day began at L’Alpage des Fermes, a private chalet lunch experience offered by the iconic Les Fermes de Marie. Tucked away high in the mountains, the chalet is owned by the family behind the hotel, and getting there is half the adventure. Access is only by foot for hikers or, in our case, a bumpy 4x4 ride that made the journey feel both intimate and remote.