TWO AH AH AH….

In true Count Von Count style we’re eagerly ticking off the calendar boxes. Just 2 days to go till the Délice team can put their feet up and let their hair down (as it has obviously been in a metaphorical tight ballet face-lifting bun till now!)

Our closing party is tomorrow night, Friday 23^rd April from 4pm - 1am.

Happy hours from 4-6pm

Demi stella or glass of house wine 2€, cocktails 5€

1/3 off all remaining food (and yes that includes the cheesecake)

The weather forecast looks good so come and soak up some last rays of sunshine on our terrace and toast the end of a happy and successful season.

Huge thanks again to customers, friends and staff for all your support, both moral and financial, I couldn’t have done it without you.

If we don’t see you tomorrow, see you in June when we’ll  all be emerging out of our interseason cocoons refreshed, rested n glorious.

Katy x

And the countdown begins…

For fear of sounding like my mother (e.g. Oh my haven’t you grown, if the wind changes you’ll stay like that..) I will resist saying doesn’t time fly but simply note that we suddenly find ourselves with only 11 days left of our winter season at Le Délice. Sniff sniff.

It  has past in a happy blur of yummy food, bottles of fine wine, sunny lunches and beers on the terrace, mellow live music, laughing staff and bustling customers. My thanks to all of you for recommending us to new arrivals and popping in yourselves whenever you get a rare free moment. Owed to your help and the hard work of my brilliant team of staff this winter we’ve accomplished our best season yet. I’ve been bowled over by the support and compliments from clients and only hope after a well earned rest we can continue this success into the summer months of 2010.

Our final fling will be on Friday 23^rd April from 4pm - 1am. There’ll be live music from Rich and Morgan, happy hour from 4 - 6pm, our usual huge discounts on food and enough bubbles and shots to fill any sized pair of drinking boots!

We will be closed for the interseason from Sat 24^th April right through till the Wed 9^th June, (even writing that has crept a broad smile across my face) re-opening with a new summery menu, a flower adorned terrace and a revitalised team of ladies on Thursday 10^th June.

For all those who didn’t catch that the first time round, that’s ONLY 11 days to enjoy a rosé tinted lunch on our sunny terrace, the melt-in-your-mouthness of our rich lambshank, the sumptuous creaminess of our rhubarb and vanilla cheesecake…

Tick-tock  Tick-tock

It’s official we can smell the grass again. The sun’s melted all the snow in the village and the foliage is creeping through the dirty remains. It’s a huge relief as it has saved the Delice all ladies team from brandishing a pickaxe. Not that we wouldn’t have got round to it, eventually! To celebrate the arrival of spring and the plethora of sunburnt  noses round town we thought we’d dust off the terrace furniture and host a little ray bathed après at the bar tomorrow, Wednesday 24^th March. For your aural pleasure we’ve got Jonny Tarr and Rich playing some soul and motown covers from 4 till 6 and the thirsty amongst you can take full advantage of our daily happy hour on cocktails, beer and wine.

Thursday 25^th sees the return of guitarist Jon Dobson accompanying our regular sushi night, so if you’ve not managed to make one yet get recruiting fellow diners as there may be only a few left before the end of the season.

And how’s this for a coop, some customers yesterday pointed out after their (delicious!) dinner last night that they’d discovered us after a mention in the Telegraph’s pick of the top 5 restaurants in the Chamonix valley…

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/snowandski/3194632/Chamonix-ski-guide-bars-and-restaurants.html

What a lovely discovery! Nothing like a non bribe induced, unexpected plug to make me feel like a very proud restaurant owner. Huge thanks to my amazing team for running such a fantastically consistent ship this winter, you gals rock!

Katy

Well it’s been a manic few weeks but we’ve made it through the halfterm madness relatively unscathed . For those of us without children it is an insight into the world of babywipes, endless patience and multitasking. I thought running a restaurant whilst maintaining a healthy social life had shaped me as a multitasking heroine but I was seriously put in shadow by one mother.  Her 3 children, bounding full of energy and curiosity, were pottering about exploring the nooks and crannies of Le D. She managed to feed all 3 of them, and herself, whilst chatting in depth to her friend, not for a second losing her train of thought with intermittent comments of…”no peter”…”careful Molly” …”what’s the magic word?”.  All the while maintaining a sing-song, calm tone of voice as Peter threatens to open the door and stroll out into the street, Molly is scrambling up a threateningly toppling bar stool and toddler is toddling near the top of the stairs. I never really understood all the French congratulations cards, declaring “chapeau!” but in this case “I take my hat off” to all you mums! The debris of children’s food droppings sprinkled on the floor has been swept away and all that is left to show for the madness is a wonderful selection of drawings from ages 3 up, which OF COURSE I’ll be putting up on my fridge! That, or I am considering a Take Hart style gallery ….(although the possible colour overload on a wall of Le Délice does give a colour-coordinating addict like me the heebie-jeebies, I don’t know how you parents cope!)

The new menu’s been going down an absolute treat. The Chinese BBQ pork ribs have created their own following , and we can’t seem to make the lambshanks quick enough. If any of you missed the new menu changes, you can peruse it’s delicious details here, just click on evening menu on the right hand side of this page.

Our sushi and live music nights, every Thursday, have been gathering momentum. Amazing sushi and Jon’s laidback playing and singing makes for a consistently intimate and friendly atmosphere.  Unfortunately he’s not able to play this evening but will be back next Thursday playing his acoustic mellow covers.

Don’t forget we’re open all day, everyday, serving lunch and snacks from 11am till 6pm (homemade burgers, 9.90 plat du jour, tapas, sandwiches and soups) and our a la carte international fusion menu from 6 till 10pm.

Please call us to reserve your table if you fancy dropping in for dinner (tel: 04 50 91 52 06) as we’ve been bonkers busy and I absolutely hate turning people away unfed and unwatered!

Hope you’re all enjoying the child free slopes and adult conversation

See you soon

Katy

Open daily 11am – 2am

Bar snacks, coffees and drinks available all day

Brasserie style lunch menu 12 – 3pm

Soups – sandwiches - pastas – stews – burgers – plat du jour 9.90€

International fusion evening menu 6 – 10pm

Happy Hours 4 – 6pm

Demi Stella or glass of wine 2€ cocktails 5€

Sushi and Live music every thursday from 6pm

Free wifi

While the deluge of snow brings most of Britain to a standstill (sorry but it still makes me laugh!) it has meant for another busy week here in the valley. Some of us have even managed to get up the hill to play in it and remind ourselves why we live here. I, personally, dream of being snowed in and unable to get to work but alas life in well prepared Cham evokes memories of snowy days at school when I was always practically the only classmate who’d made it in. Cursing the fact I didn’t have to get a bus, lived round the corner and owned a rather unattractive pair of wellies!

2010 has started well. There’s something wonderful about the clean slate a new year can bring. A solitary, slightly loose skinned, satsuma left in the fruit bowl reminds us we better start eating healthily again, and maybe think about putting into play some of those optimistic (shot induced) resolutions!

We are still clutching at the ebbing festive feeling and the hospitality industry belated Christmas/new year party (maybe I should consider a catchier title for next year!) is a GO. Anyone up for it please keep Monday 18th Jan free. I am closing the bar for the night so it will be a BYO food and booze do. For the food I’m hoping everyone will bring something Christmassy, maybe something you had every intention of eating on the 25th but never got round to (excluding aforementioned Satsuma!). Please let me know if you would like to come and what you are going to bring so I can try and fill the gaps. It would be a wonderful change to eat a balanced meal since all us hospitality types have consumed since the beginning of December is advent calendar chocolate, toast, cereal and anything else we can eat in 5 minutes on the hoof!

Our first sushi and live music night was a huge success. Miranda got to show off a little of her Asian cooking skills and wowed us with her beautifully prepared, sumptuous tasting sushi. Jon’s playing fitted the mood perfectly and it was all sooo good we’re doing it again this Thursday, and the one after…

Now we have a little time to gather our thoughts we’ll be making a few changes to the menu to keep even you seasoned locals on your toes!

Hope to see you soon

New year’s eve menu 80€

thursday – jeudi 31 Dec 2009 a 19hoo

apero

glass of champagne and amuse bouche

coupe de champagne et amuse bouche

starter - entree

Asparagus, sun dried tomatoes, goats cheese and tapenade in pastry parcel served with rocket, pesto & balsamic glaze

Feuillété d’asperges, tomates sechées, fromage du chevre et tapenade, avec roquette, pistou et réduction de vinaigre balsamique

Fish course - poisson

Saffron & fennel fleur de sel pan fried fillet of sea bass with spinach and tomato jus

Bar au saffron, fennouil et fleur de sel avec épinards et jus de tomate

Main course – plat principal

Herb crusted rack of lamb with roasted garlic mashed potatoes, vegetable wraps & rosemary and red wine jus

Vegetarian option: Vegetable goulash with roasted garlic mashed potatoes, julienne vegetable wraps & rosemary and red wine jus

Carré d’agneau aux herbes croustillantes, purée de pommes de terre a l’ail roti, légumes et jus au romarin et vin rouge

Pour végetariens: ragout de légumes avec les mêmes accompagnements

Dessert

Light berry pavlova with caramel spears

Gateau meringué aux fruits rouge avec morceau de caramel

Cheese plate – assiette de fromage

Tomme Crayeuse and St agur with fig chutney & apple slices

Tomme Crayeuse et St Agur avec confiture de figues et tranche de pommes

Followed by fireworks at midnight and dancing till we drop!

Suivi par feux d’artifice á minuit et balle jusqu’au tard

THEME: Moulin Rouge

Sorry for the tardiness of this update. I have been a little carried away with Christmas merriment and work. I must remember  to add the disciplines of punctuality, a stronger willpower and ability to delegate to my New Year’s resolutions!

I hope you all had a merry Christmas. For those not in the hospitality industry I hope it was filled with booze and food fuelled overindulgence resulting in long afternoons ensconced on the sofa watching classics on telly. For those, like myself, who curse our choice of career at this time of year, I hope it was busy and prosperous and that you at least got to squeeze in a roast dinner, even if it only constituted of a stolen roastie dipped in the vat of gravy behind your chefs back! 

Le Délice was a happy buzz of people.  My thanks to all that turned up for the caroling. From the grownups attempting harmonies of the traditional to the echoes of jingle bells..Batman smells…from the young.  The kitchen produced an amazing dinner and there were happy contented belly rubs all round. The cracker debris of plastic toys, lone streamers and slightly obvious jokes  I was met with on Boxing day seemed to summarise perfectly  the successful festivities!

We’re all currently trying to recharge our batteries ready for round 2. My advice is keep up the Satsuma intake, prevent the body going into shock by maintaining blood alcohol levels with hot toddies and Irish coffees, relax and enjoy all those box sets Santa popped in your stockings.

Round 2 for us commences on Thursday 31st at 7pm. We’re hosting a Moulin Rouge themed New Year’s Eve party. There’s a delicious 5 course dinner with champagne reception for 80 euros, which we still have spaces for, followed by fireworks at midnight and dancing till 4am. Entry is free from 11.30pm so don those dancing shoes or drinking boots and come play. Don’t worry the Absinthe consumption is optional!

carte de noel - Christmas menu

Vendredi 25 Decembre

servie 18h – 22h   Served 6 – 10pm  

En plus de notre carte du soir nous allons offrir les plats suivants:

In addition to our normal menu we will be offering the following specials:

A lacarte ou Menu a 30€

coupe de champagne – glass of champagne 4€

Entree – Starter 7.50€ (5€)

Tour de truite fumé, crevette, celerie et fennouil roti

Smoked trout, prawn, roasted celeriac and fennel tower

Plat - Main course 18.50€ (12.50€)

Coquelet farci de noix et herbes, carottes et panais rotis au miel, pommes de terre rotis et haricot verts entourrés de bacon. Servie avec sauces traditionnelles d’Angleterre.

Pour les végétariens – Feuilletté de champignons, noix et herbes avec les meme accompaignements, moins le bacon!

Nut, cranberry, parsley and sage stuffed roasted mini chicken, honey roasted carrot and parsnip spears, green beans wrapped with bacon, roast potatoes. Served with gravy, cranberry and bread sauce.

Vegetarian option - mushroom, nut, cranberry and herb filled filo parcel with the same accompaniments, minus the bacon!

dessert 7.50€ (5€)

Tarte aux fruits confits et amandes, servie tiede avec sauce au cognac et coulis a l’orange

Frangipane mince pie served warm with brandy sauce and orange coulis

Petits portions sont possible pour les enfants, prix en parenthèses

Kids portions are possible, prices in brackets

The frenzy of Christmas shopping is approaching. Considering I’ve had 11 months and 3 weeks to prepare for this I, once again, curse my disorganisation to have not bought ample exciting goodies when I was in places that had a selection more varied than Chamonix. I forget every year that Chamonix is indeed a terrible place to Christmas shop unless a bottle of Genepi, ski kit or whistling marmot was on your loved ones’ wish list.

It’s always at this time of year when everything seems to go wrong for us business owners. We’re gearing up to the busy Christmas and NY weeks and one disaster after another happens. From chatting to a few of you I can share..car crashes and break downs, frozen pipes, exploding drains (urgh, glad that one wasn’t me), broken coffee machine, broken computers, break ins…and the list goes on. All combined with the relative lack of snow we were becoming a little scrooge-ish.  But I , and hopefully all you other misfortunates, have been lured out of our Bah Humbug way of thinking by the fluttery white view from our windows this morning, a trail of mincepie crumbs and the smell of home made vin chaud.  I am now embracing Christmas with an annoying ding-dong-merrily-on-high style overenthusiasm. So for your festive pleasure this week…

WE ARE OPEN 11AM TILL 1AM EVERYDAY (except fri 25^th when we open from 6pm only)

Serving:

Non stop bar snacks - soups, sandwiches, tapas, wedges..

Brasserie style lunch (12 – 3pm) - fishcakes, 9.90€ plat du jour, burgers, lasagne..

Happy Hour (4 - 6pm) - demi stella or glass of wine - 2€, cocktails - 5€

International fusion Restaurant (6 -10pm)

In addition we have the following events and menus..

Saturday 19^th Dec

Impromptu 70s night hosted by Victoria Gloria and his team of resident piss heads at chalet 1802..bad wigs and flares optional although heartily encouraged!

Sunday 20^th Dec  

 Jon Dobson is playing a mellow acoustic guitar set from 5pm

Thursday 24^th Dec

Christmas caroling  4 – 7pm,  I’ll provide the song sheets, free vin chaud  and a super uber gas heater, all you have to do is don your warmest and woolliest winter gear and come sing round our Christmas tree.

And for those that like a hearty warm up session we have a late night bar license till 3am

Friday 25^th Dec

We open at 6pm and will be serving a traditional Christmas menu in addition to our usual menu. 3 courses and a glass of champagne for only 30€. Please reserve your table and Christmas dinner to avoid bang-less cracker style disappointment and to help our chefs with numbers (I like Christmas dinner but don’t fancy eating it every day till Jan!)

I will be posting our New Years menu soon. Dinner is from 7 till 11pm, 80 euros/person for 5 courses and champagne reception. We still have some tables left so please let me know if you are interested so I can keep you a table. We open the doors to the public at 11.45 and will party till 4am or whenever our combined drinking stamina holds out…

All that remains to be said is Merry Christmas and my present to you all is the return of the rhubarb, white chocolate and vanilla cheesecake! I know it’s cruel to have made you wait so long but sometimes you only realise the value of what you’ve got till it’s gone!

Katy