Chalet Iamato

This operator is fanatical about food and are thrilled to have won The Times Chalet Chef 2010. Their team has a wealth of experience and some might say a rather unhealthy passion for food!

In their eyes a good skiing holiday isn’t complete without good food, which is why we strive to provide some of the best dining experiences the Alps has to offer by carefully hand-picking restaurant chefs and allowing them free rein when it comes to menus allowing them to show their natural talent.

At the same time we are extremely flexible in adapting to your needs. Your chef will call you in advance to go through finer details of likes, dislikes, special requests, allergies and children’s food.

As much as some might love fine-dining every night they are also aware that eating 4 courses every night (especially after a big lunch!) might not be everybody’s cup of tea. They will happily provide lighter, more simple, 2 or 3-course meals for you. Don’t worry, they won’t be offended just ask.

They provide the whole chalet service when it comes to food:

• A full breakfast spread with daily specials
• Afternoon tea
• Homemade children’s tea
• 5-course evening meal – canapés, starter, main, pudding and cheese

When you arrive in resort you will be greeted and looked after by your chalet Chef, Host and Resort Manager. You will be helped with your luggage; the kettle will be on with cake at the ready or bubbles chilling and canapés awaiting depending on what time you arrive; your ski passes will be ready and waiting so you can get up that mountain as quickly as possible; your ski hire will either come to you at the chalet or we can take you to collect your skis; and the chalet team will make sure you have everything you need.

If you arrive in the afternoon and want to ski then chalet staff will make sure you have everything in place to get you on the snow. Alternatively you can just sit back, relax and acquaint yourself with the chalet and the resort. As evening draws in your 4 course supper will be well underway, the fire will be roaring, the wine will be flowing and your holiday begins!

Chalet staff will make sure you settle into ski school by taking you to the meeting point and introducing you to your instructors on the first day. Please note that in Meribel the meeting point is further away, so we provide a minibus service which runs until 11am every day.

The team will be on-hand throughout your stay to ensure you want for nothing. Your holiday will be about great skiing, delicious food and proper relaxation – leave everything else to us!

Mornings

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, especially when skiing. Your chef and host will have breakfast ready and waiting for when you rise. You won’t leave the chalet hungry with a breakfast spread of pretty much anything you can think of. From cereals, porridge and homemade muesli, to pastries and fresh bread, eggs and bacon, a daily breakfast special or just pretty much anything you like.

The team will be on-hand to answer any questions you might have on where to ski that day and can recommend a restaurant and reserve you a table for lunch. As you leave for the slopes in the morning, take your pick from our basket of mini chocolate and health bars, piste maps and tissues waiting by the door.

Afternoon Tea & Activities

When you return, the chalet will be filled with the aroma of baking, the table will be laid with an ample spread for afternoon tea, fresh bread and jams, and daily baked cakes for you to enjoy whilst reading your choice of UK newspapers; an hour of peace to sit back and relax, have a snooze or a massage before dinner. For the more energetic, there is plenty of afternoon/early evening activity available – sledging on the nearby pistes, hot-tubbing, swimming, ice-skating, walking, perusing the shops and of course, après!

Children’s Tea

If there are children in the chalets, they offer a High Tea served at 6pm. For the less discerning kiddies’ palette, homemade spaghetti bolognaise, mini chicken pies, make your own pizzas and anything else they fancy can be arranged. Chefs will call a few days before you arrive to discuss this in detail.

Evening

As the night draws in, supper is preceded by drinks and canapés. This is followed by a four course meal prepared carefully by your chef. Your glass will be topped up with an unlimited flow of one of our delicious house wines. When pudding is over you will be left at the table to mull over the day’s skiing with a board of local cheeses and coffee. Either curl up on the sofa in front of a film from the DVD library, collapse into our comfy beds or hit the town for some live music and dancing.

Day Off

Your chalet staff do have a full day off in the middle of the week but don’t worry – your fridge will be stocked with all the breakfast essentials the night before and the table laid up before you go to bed. Your Resort Manager will deliver you pastries and fresh bread in the morning, and will be on-hand to help with anything. In the evening, chalet staff will have booked you into one of the great local restaurants to taste some of the local cuisine. Alternatively if you’d like an evening off gastronomic cuisine then there are a few fantastic pizza takeaways in both Meribel Village and Val d’Isère.