WHAT'S FOR LUNCH?

While we had several sumptuous meals at star-rated Michelin restaurants on this trip, lunches are mostly simple, but nonetheless elegant and highly gratifying at local eateries. At Annecy I had an unforgettable tray of charcuterie and at Megeve, there is this up-market ... 'almost snobbish' ... fromagerie that also serves lunch. This Belgian endive salad with crumbled blue cheese is one of the best I ever had. The fresh crispness of the vegetable, tossed with the salty-sweetness of this rather unique local cheese, has created a lingering taste that keeps coming back, even as I write about it now, at home.

PHILIPPE ROCHAT 2-STAR MICHELIN

• Crissier is located in the suburb of Lausanne, in what can be best described as an unassuming residential neighborhood, on a knoll. It is a 10-minute ride from the Lausanne train station, after a short run on a highway. One must wonder why this location? Apparently Chef Rochat bought the restaurant some years ago and bulit his reputation from here since. Officially it is Restaurant De L'Hotel De Ville 1023 Crisssier, I guess everyone in the town would know where it is.


• Crackers with duck liver & fig vinegar


• Fine veloute of Granny Smith apples & imperial Osietra caviar


• Cardoons from Crissier with Triscatin black truffles


• Nomandy scallop in its shell on Rose champagne


• Steamed sole from Croisic with Menton lemon


• Langoustine from Shetland Islands in reduction of rye & curry Madras


• Cutlet of milk fed lamb from the Pyrenees


• Pig's trotter from Jura with Madeira glaze


• Selection of fresh & matured cheeses


• Marbre of coffee Arabica & Guanaja chocolate


• Puff pastry with caramalized pineapples & Charrette rum


• Macaroons, fruit jelly & finest chocolates

HI-END SWISS TRAINS

I have always loved travelling on trains, but this particular ride from Geneva to Lausanne, on the Swiss rail system was one for the history books. We were on our way for dinner at Phillipe Rochat in Crissier, a suburb of Lausanne and decided on First Class to complement the 3-Michelin Stars at Rochat. Take a look! We were the only passengers on that carriage, in a setting that felt more like a cruise yacht. It was not exactly a bargain though, where the Swiss Franc runs supreme. A round trip ticket, 30-minutes of luxurious serenity each way, was HK$1640 or US$220 .... amazing, now we know what 'living the Swiss lifestyle' means.

A TRIPLET CARRIER

Being recently minted grandparents of twins, Dora and I are particularly sensitive to anything that has the slightest resemblance to anything to do with babies. Here is one, a triplet carrier, in the middle of a ski resort. I guess they mean it when they say 'we start them young'. This shot of the precious trio on main street Chamonix is just priceless.

FRIENDSHIP

This is one of my favorite pictures from the trip, taken on the bridge that links the train station to the town of Charmonix. 4 elderly gentlemen from Japan, well ... silver strands under their ski caps and they spoke Japanese ... who are obviously friends. I watched them on the train, comparing notes on their tourist maps using bifocals, sharing pictures of Mont Blanc, and enjoying each other's jokes and laughters. They must also visit ramen shops, robatayaki joints and local watering holes at home together. Their closeness is unmistaken, it exudes fraternity and warmth. Life does not get any better for these folks, they are truly blessed, with friendship that can be tested by travelling together. Omedetou!

THE GLACIER

This is the legendary Glacier! If you enlarge the pictute and look closely, those little black dots are in fact teams of skiers, led by local guides in yellow flourescent jackets. These guides are sought after, and have to be booked 24 hours in advance. On the way up a cool looking group of young British skiers, complete with colorful fancy gears and Bollie shades were in front of us at the turnstile. I overheard the following funny exchange. 'Where is your guide?' 'No, we do not have one, we do not need a guide.' 'You cannot go up without a guide, and it is too late in the day now.' 'Why? We are very good skiers!' 'Sorry, no one is very good on this Glacier. Get a guide and come back tomorrow. Next, please?'

THERE SHE IS .....

I took many pictures of the Old Lady but this is the one I like best. All 4000 metres of her, standing tall .... From the terminus of the telecarbine skiers can walk down a precarious, icy path, and start a 2-hour ski along the glacier which is receding at alarming speed (9cm per annum if I remember correctly) due to global warming. We actually walked under the glacier, the thickest part is over 120 metres. It was truly amazing!

MONT BLANC

We finally had our close encounter with 'Her Majesty' the grand old lady, Mont Blanc, on a side trip we made to Charmonix from Megeve. We were extremely lucky to actually had an entire week of good weather, including blue skies that matched what I thought was the bluest of skies when I was at Le Cordon Bleu in Sydney. Yes, it was cold, but when we were in the sun, and despite the altitude, one felt warm ... closer to the heat source, I guess. The cable car or 'telecarbine' took us to Aiguille du Midi, the highest point for mundane tourists like us. Standing at this vantage point what absolutely amazed me was a couple of eagles hovering effortlessly at that height, another example how the wonders of nature win over the smallness of human beings. Mont Blanc is another 1000 metres further up, even though it does not look that at all. Now we know why adjectives like; majestic, grand, regal etc are used to describe mountains and ranges. We were in awe, totally mesmerized by her expansiveness and commanding presence. I kept loooking at her, and at every angle I see a differnet perspective. The McCarthys invited us to experience the Alpine Spirit, and this day we spent in Charmonix alone was testimony. It was unforgettable!

SHAME ON ME!

This was taken at the top of the Megeve ski slopes, while Dora was doing her Shaolin moves. Sheepishly I took a cigar and walked in the opposite direction of the crowd, hoping to enjoy 'an altitude smoke'. I lit it, it was a beautiful draw and the fabulous Cohiba aroma was heaven. Then I looked over the horizon, and this majestic mountain view unfolded. Almost at the same moment there was this jolt of guilt. Why am I doing this when everything around me was so pristine? There was no one around me, no frowning, no dirty looks, no covering the nose or waving the air away ... Then I surprised myself, I took one last draw and I put it out. It seemed to be 'the right thing to do'. If you think this is repentance, please don't! The cigar smoking continued the rest of the trip. I just thought this unique moment of my conscience winning over my indulgence is worth recording, that is all.