Bistrot du Praz Restaurant, Le Praz

It’s original owner was the eccentric, moustachioed Charlie Renaudie, probably the most welcoming restaurant patron anywhere in the Alps. Charlie retired in 2000 (but we still see him as he lives in Le Praz). His menu was equally eccentric and I never did get the hang of it but whatever turned up was always good if extortionately expensive.

After a couple of years of searching for a new identity, it has now emerged as a reasonably priced and excellent quality French restaurant. The whole building was recently refurbished and it’s a beautiful place inside. It’s got that lovely warm feeling that’s great to hole up in on a snowy day for a long, long lunch (& a taxi home!).

There are 14 different Foie Gras starters, with the hot one poached in Calvados being our favourite. All the other dishes are very French (not especially local) – for example, Tourte aux Grenouilles (Frog’s Leg Pie) or Cassoulet (a duck leg stew, with bacon) and a good selection of fish dishes and steaks.

The additional lunchtime menu is displayed on a blackboard outside as 8 or 9 ‘Spécialités du Skieur’, all in the €15 to €20 range. These change frequently but for example, Confit de Canard (Braised duck leg) and Souris d’Agneau (Braised lamb shank) are regulars.

To be quite honest, with the quality of the wine list, you could spend anything you want here but with the innovation of the lunchtime specials, the €50 lunch for two is now a possibility here – impossible 10 years ago! Dinner for two with starters and a reasonable bottle of wine will set you back around €100.

Open only during the winter season, from 11:30 to 22:00.