Chalet Meals

Esprit Chalet Hotels

Being entirely run by Esprit, our Chalet Hotels offer a relaxed atmosphere with the friendly and welcoming convenience of our entirely English-speaking staff.

All suites and bedrooms have private en suite facilities, there will be a large dining-room, public areas such as a proper bar and lounge and two of our range have ‘wellness’ facilities too.

For parental peace of mind, we offer our free Baby-Listening and Child-Patrol Service every evening, so that parents can enjoy their dinner whilst we keep a listening watch out for the children.

Breakfast

A good breakfast is essential on an active holiday, so we provide a choice of cereals or porridge, fruit juices, plentiful tea and coffee, croissants (in France) and bread, cold meats, cheeses and preserves, and boiled eggs. This is normally presented buffet-style for you to help yourself. Additionally a daily hot dish, such as sausages and bacon or pancakes is offered and cooked to order.

Light Packed Lunch

All our guests are offered a complimentary light packed lunch five days per week (i.e. daily except changeover day and the staff’s day off) comprising a filled roll, bag of crisps, chocolate bar, piece of fruit and a carton of juice.

Children's High Tea

The majority of our guests feel that children under 13 years can inhibit the dinner-party atmosphere at evening meals, especially if they are over-tired, so our youngsters are served High Tea at about 5.30pm. We do not then allow anyone under 13 at the adult-only evening meals. High Tea provides children under 13 with a healthy menu, but tailored more towards children’s tastes than our main adult-only dinner.

Culinary Choice' Adult-only Dinners

Our Chalet Hotels make dinner a highlight of the day, with our 5-course ‘Culinary Choice’ menus. Dinner starts with canapés and an apéritif, normally served in the bar/lounge area, followed by an appetiser, main course, dessert and a cheese selection to finish.

We offer two or three choices for every course, including a vegetarian option for each, and guests will be asked to make their selection each morning at breakfast-time, so that our chef’s team can prepare everything fresh for you that evening.

Youngsters of 13 and over are welcome to join adult dinner, whilst younger children are served an earlier High Tea, and can then adjourn to the fun of Cocoa Club or off to bed, depending on age and energy levels!

‘‘Food was excellent - especially the canapés ...presentation was outstanding and food service excellent.’’ - Fry Family Alpe d’Huez, July 2011

Culinary Choice Sample Menu

Tempt your taste buds with these dishes!

Canapés - Cheese & Herb Choux Bites, Mini Smoked Salmon Bagels

Choice of Starters - Country Pork Terrine with Fruit Chutney Or Seasonal Salad Selection

Choice of Main Courses - Fillet of Salmon in Saffron & Tomato Broth Or Seared Duck Breast with Honey, Orange & Caramelized Fennel

Vegetarian Option - Falafel with Sweet Potato & Roasted Red Pepper Salad

Choice of Desserts - Mango Bavarois with Coconut Ice Cream Or White Chocolate Parfait with Summer Berry Mousse

- Selection of Regional Cheeses

- Fresh Coffee or Tea and Chocolates

- Selection of Red, Rosé and White Wines each evening

Teen Rangers' Meals

Our Teen Rangers have their own dedicated dining room table and meals at 7pm on three nights a week and also eat out one night under the supervision of our staff. The arrival meal and Family Barbecue are enjoyed in the company of fellow guests.

Weekly Family Barbecue or Alfresco Evening

Once a week, normally on Fridays (weather permitting), there are no separate meals for children, as everyone dines together at our Family Barbecue or Alfresco Evening, following the Alpies Closing Ceremony. Cocoa Club ensures that impatient youngsters who want to ‘eat & go’ are well cared for, while parents enjoy a more leisurely dinner!

Special Diets

Vegetarian options are always available on our ‘culinary choice’ menu. Other special diets can be catered for at a cost of £35 per person per week if you advise us in advance.

No-Smoking Policy

We feel it is inappropriate and unpleasant to expose children to smoking and so we have a complete no-smoking policy for all our Chalet Hotels.

Staff Day Off

Breakfast will be served as normal, and that evening (usually Tuesday) you and your family have the chance to eat out in one of the local cafés or restaurants. Reception will still be staffed as normal for your convenience.

A Drink at the Bar

Every Chalet Hotel has its own welcoming bar, reserved exclusively for resident Esprit guests. The ideal spot for a well-chilled beer when you return from hiking in the hills, and the focal point for evening apéritifs and canapés, or a little something with your after-dinner coffee – whatever your choice, our friendly bar staff will be glad to serve you!

Our Chalet Hotel wines

We are very proud of our wine selection for Esprit Chalet Hotels, which combines crisp and fruity whites with medium to full bodied reds, plus a light fresh rosé for a variety of palates.

We select our wines in conjunction with our good friends Nicolas and Véronique - the third generation in the Perret family’s fine wine business based in the Savoie. Nicolas is a qualified wine expert, having trained at the prestigious Burgundy Wine University in Beaune.

Wine is an incredibly subjective and emotive subject, however the feedback we have received from our guests over recent seasons endorses our aims of providing wines to enhance your meal and to suit most tastes.