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In Cordon, near Megève, this private residence overlooking Mont Blanc offers dinners in the garden around an open fire. An outdoor bar, fire pits, a wood-fired kitchen, a Savoyard barbecue, local produce, planchas, tasteful lighting and a table with a chef combine to create an al fresco dining experience that blends the garden, the mountains and the art of hospitality.
A celebration of unwinding and sharing around the living flame
Following on from our Table Éphémère, this garden dinner reinvents the art of wood-fired cooking under the Megève sky. Inspired by Chef Michel Louis Lentz’s philosophy, this indulgent interlude celebrates the ultimate luxury of authentic textures and sensory experiences. Here, the brazier does more than simply warm the cool Alpine nights: it becomes the centrepiece of an open-air Savoyard cooking ritual.
Rare, locally sourced cuts of meat, meticulously aged; fish from the mountain lakes; and botanical essences gathered from the foothills of the Aravis are prepared with the precision of a master craftsman. Seated comfortably before the magnificent panorama of Mont Blanc, our guests share a cosy and intimate atmosphere.
Before the meal, the garden: a sensory prelude
The experience doesn’t begin the moment you sit down; it starts outdoors. The garden becomes the first reception area, a space where your guests can settle into the rhythm of the dinner even before the first course is served.
The Dawn of Twilight: Around the outdoor bar, conversation winds down as the alpenglow bathes the Mont Blanc massif in crimson. The first flames from the brazier take over, casting the evening in a more intimate light.
The Firstfruits Counter: By the fire, a welcome table showcases the flavours of the Savoie region: mountain charcuterie, matured cured meats, tommes from local producers and raspberry liqueur served well chilled.
The Alchemy of Embers: As the embers take hold, the scents of wood and aromatic herbs herald an al fresco dining experience, facing Mont Blanc, near Megève.
A large country-style table, reimagined
Luxury is simplicity! It can be found in a wood-burning fireplace, a few carefully tended embers, meticulously selected ingredients and a chef who understands the rhythm of the flame. For a dinner in the garden, Michel Louis Lentz has devised an elegant reinterpretation of a large country-style table: beautiful seasonal dishes, subtle marinades, light smoking with herbs from the garden, and precise ageing and seasoning.
Some cuts are seared over a high flame, whilst others are cooked slowly over hot coals. An exceptional rib of beef can take centre stage, without making the experience feel monotonous. The fire sets the pace, the produce reveals its true nature, and the chef applies his touch. The meat is carved in front of you, delicately seasoned with our wild herb powders, then served at the table accompanied by sauces, in the spirit of French culinary tradition.
The Savoyard barbecue thus moves beyond the stereotype of a rustic meal. It becomes a form of cooking over an open fire that is refined, generous, local and full of life.
The chef, the ingredients, the embers
A meal cooked over an open fire begins long before the food is actually cooked. It begins with the selection of ingredients, an understanding of the different cuts of meat, and knowing how to tailor a marinade, a light smoking process, seasoning or resting time to each specific ingredient. The chef does not simply put together a series of grilled dishes; he creates a progression.
Meat and fish are prepared to bring out their individual characteristics. Local vegetables are handled with finesse. Fresh herbs from the garden add just the right touch. Sauces are crafted to complement rather than overpower. The crispy yet melt-in-the-mouth potato pie, seasonal salad and vegetables served throughout the meal keep the meal going without weighing it down. The cuisine remains straightforward. It does not seek to impress; it seeks harmony.
Gathered round the flames of the brazier
Near the outdoor bar, the fire pits create another focal point. Gather round for a glass of herbal tea, watch the fire crackle and the flames dance in the garden’s twilight, smell the first hints of grilled food, stand about, move around, chat, head back to the table or linger by the embers. This sense of closeness transforms the experience. The kitchen is no longer just something happening in the background. It becomes visible, alive, shared.
The chef works in front of the fire. The ingredients take on a rich colour. Sauces, condiments and side dishes bring out the best in the grilled dishes. The presentation retains the precision of a gourmet dining experience, even when dinner begins outdoors, standing round the embers.
FIRE BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER WITHOUT IMPOSING ANY FORMALITIES.
The garden bar
At the edge of the garden, the bar sets the scene for the early hours of the evening as well as its final moments. Classic cocktails, herb-infused mocktails and concoctions made with fresh herbs are prepared to order, alongside a selection of white and red wines from Savoie and fine champagnes. A moment to savour at sunset, before dinner or later on, when the dining area quietens down and the garden returns to its tranquillity.
Right next to the fire pits, it extends the open-fire cooking area with another form of socialising: less formal than a living room, more relaxed than a dining table, and more intimate than a traditional reception area.
In the garden light
WHEN NIGHT FALLS, THE GARDEN DOES NOT DISAPPEAR.
The lighting has been carefully designed to extend the evening without overwhelming it. The trees, the walkways, the bar, the seating areas and the spaces around the fire are gradually revealed. After the alpenglow, the flames take centre stage in this gentle darkness. They dance in the twilight, catching the light on the glasses, the plates, the faces and the chef’s hands.
The menu remains simple in style: carefully selected local produce, a few herbs from the garden, sauces, condiments, wood-fired cooking, reimagined Savoyard grilled dishes, and courses served as the evening unfolds. Nothing needs to be spectacular. The appeal lies in the harmony between the setting, the light, the embers, the guests and Mont Blanc.
For what occasions?
A GARDEN BARBECUE CAN BE TAILORED TO SUIT YOUR DESIRES, THE WHIMS OF THE WEATHER, THE NUMBER OF YOUR GUESTS AND THE RHYTHM OF THE SEASON.
The Private, Confidential Dinner
An intimate celebration, a postponed birthday or an exclusive family dinner.
The Prelude at the Garden Bar
The Gathering round the Fire
A relaxed evening out, a get-together with friends or a fantastic après-ski experience in the spring.
The Cocktail on the Move
The ideal setting for an exclusive event, an executive seminar or an ultra-chic wedding reception.
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THE ESSENCE OF SAVOYARD BARBECUE
This garden dinner goes beyond the clichés of outdoor entertainment or mere visual spectacle. It is a genuine Gastrohumanist® approach, where outdoor cooking demands the same discipline and the same commitment to service as a Michelin-starred restaurant.
De la sélection intransigeante des matières premières locales à la juste maturation des pièces, en passant par l'art des sauces, des condiments et des jus réduits, le travail du Chef signe chaque instant. L'exigence reste absolue, et l'architecture du chalet s'y adapte avec fluidité : si la météo l'impose, l'expérience se réinvente avec la même élégance sous la terrasse abritée ou autour du bar extérieur.
The Imprint of the Senses
A few glowing embers, the woody scent wafting through the crisp mountain air, figures lingering by the bar… Opposite the chalet, Mont Blanc gradually fades into the dark night, yet its magnetic presence remains.
The menu concludes on a note of great purity: seasonal red berries, alpine verbena ice cream, whipped cream made to order, grand cru dark chocolate and traditional bricelets, delicately reimagined.
As the evening draws on beneath the stars, the bar opens a final chapter. Speciality coffee, a ceremony of infusions made from wild herbs, herbal liqueurs, a signature génépi, rare spirits or a selection of carefully chosen gnôles from the Yaute region accompany the conversation. Cocktails can also be mixed to order. It is also the perfect time to savour a cigar, overlooking the slumbering garden, before returning to the chalet or extending the night with an entirely private dance party.
In the end, what remains is the indelible impression of a unique moment – the space of a single evening, spent dining at the very heart of the landscape.
The Epicurean ecosystem: extend the experience
Prelude and private logistics
Where does this exclusive dining experience take place?
Le Chalet & Spa Les Cerises boasts a hanging garden in Cordon, overlooking the magnificent panorama of Mont Blanc. This secluded retreat is situated within easy reach of Megève, Combloux and Sallanches, making it an ideal and easily accessible base in the Alps.
Does the experiment adapt to changes in the climate?
Flexibility is one of our luxuries. Whilst nature sets the pace, our facilities adapt seamlessly. Should the weather take a turn for the worse, dinner naturally moves to the sheltered terrace, the covered outdoor bar or the cosy comfort of the indoor dining room, ensuring that the magic of the moment remains intact.
What appliances are characteristic of a wood-fired cooking?
The art of the flame centres on exquisitely crafted installations. The garden is dotted with designer fire pits, high-end Vulx fire pit tables and professional planchas, allowing you to create a lively, interactive culinary experience over a wood fire.
Is this a reimagining of the traditional Savoyard barbecue?
The chef breathes new life into rustic cuisine to create a haute-cuisine Savoyard barbecue. The experience showcases the very essence of the local terroir: carefully selected prime cuts, seasonal produce picked at peak ripeness, glossy sauces and exquisitely crafted condiments, all enhanced by a presentation of the utmost elegance.
Will the garden bar be open for the whole evening?
Exactly. Designed to be the heart of outdoor socialising, the outdoor bar sets the pace for your evening just as you like it: from the first signature drinks as an aperitif, right through to hushed conversations late into the night by the dying embers.
Does this concept fit in with the ‘Table Éphémère’ concept?
It is a natural extension of this. This garden dinner is fully integrated into the ecosystem of the Table Éphémère at Chalet Les Cerises. It can be tailored to enhance an exclusive private dining experience, an exceptional cocktail reception, or an immersive gourmet weekend itinerary.
Plan your dinner in the garden
A season, a table outside, an aperitif at the bar, a log fire, a few guests or an entire evening can be all it takes to get the conversation going.
Every enquiry is read personally.