Les Poissonchats

Recently we went to the mountains to Haute Savoie to pick up some heavy old doors to replace the 19th century pine doors in the tower. They are really lovely pine doors yet given this is a very big tower we started looking around for doors that are more in the spirit of fortresses and knights and princesses to be saved (or rather shut up securely in mighty towers perhaps). Also luckily the 19th century doors have found a new and loving home already with a friend. It’s a four hours drive and we thought why not make a weekend of it, as we’ve never properly been to Haute Savoie so far and everybody says their food is so delicious, also antique-materials-sourcing-holidays seem to have become a habit of ours (given we are building the castle back without any government aids our budget is what we earn with the retreats and my husband’s income, hence I’m as happy as a bug whenever we make a find at a decent price, though realistically those savings induce us on a regular basis to spend a portion on lavish dinners and nice hotels (but helas, money has been invented for spending, so here we go)).

I’ve booked us into the most charming hotel at lake d’Annecy, and how lovely! The place is absolutely adorable though folks said it’s a little horror come summer when it’s overflowing, I suppose we picked the right weekend, for it seemed we had it all to ourselves. We had an exquisite dinner at the hotel the first night, there was asparagus and a tartare de féra, a fish from the lake that is only to be had in the region. Before dinner we were allowed to visit the vast wine cellar of what in the old days was an abbey and were very happy to have some wine talk with the sommelier, as we noted a couple of crus from Burgundy that we have in our cellar too. I furthermore found some distant relatives in Brasil through the receptionist but that’s maybe a story for another time.

We slept in the prior’s room which is decorated with paintings of Saints, my father in law refused to sleep in there as he was afraid they’d descend on him after midnight, so if you’re in for a kinky room with a history don’t forget to ask for number 31 when you book! Also nothing descended on me but the sweetness of a good night’s sleep and in the morning I did my favourite holiday thing which I only do when on a holiday, which is drinking Earl Grey tea in bed and eating chocolates.

The second night we opted for a true mountain dinner up at a cabin with a spectacular view over the lake. It was raclette and the best pain perdu I’ve ever had in my entire life. I also tried their génépi liqueur, that’s juniper, although I think I liked it more in the form of the G+T I had for apero. It was a delicious gin and, true to our love for local, distilled just around the corner.

Before heading home we drove up a lonesome picturesque route to arrive in a small mountain village where, hooray, it was market day, so we stocked up on all the delicious things, dried meats, honey, goats cheese, wine (they actually grow a corker of a white called chignin-bergeron), reblochon (another local cheese specialty), and the most delicious brioche, which is called after a Saint whose name I forgot. We had it for breakfast at home next day.

I should have taken a picture of the stout doors tied to the roof of our car but unfortunately I forgot. They’ll get in within the next six weeks (unless they’ll take the wall down with their weight) and I’ll definitely put some photographs up once the room is done. So here’s one of them waiting in the shed for the carpenter to pick up and build the frame).