Val Thorens now has a Michelin-star restaurant, l'Oxalys (479 00 12 00) that is right on the slopes is anchored by their chef Jean Sulpice.

Lovers of fine French food should head for the Fitz Roy Hotel (479 00 04 78). The atmosphere is romantic, the surroundings plush, and the price steep.

The restaurant in the Hotel des 3e Vallees, Restaurant des Trois Vallees (479 00 01 86), serves excellent French cuisine. A full meal from the fixed menu can be enjoyed from €30.

Next on the restaurant list in descending order are Le Bellevillois (479 00 04 33), Auberge du Sherpa (479 00 00 70; photo right), and La Grange de Pierette in the Portillo Hotel.

Le Vieux Chalet (479 00 07 93) has wonderful typical upscale Savoyard specialties from omelettes to raclette and fondue. The rustic atmosphere worth the price of admission.

For more local blue-collar Savoyard specialties, try the Galoubet (479 00 00 48). La Fondue (479 00 04 33) has cheese fondue and raclette. La Luna (479 00 05 75) has its fans as well. El Gringo waiters decked in cowboy gear serve the highest altitude Tex-Mex dinners in Europe with killer margaritas.

Le Choucas (479 00 04 98) serves specialties from the south of France as well as typical Savoyard meals. Tartiflette will cost €17 and delicious Breast of Duck is served for €17.50.

Les 3 Pachas (479 00 05 84) has very affordable lunch meals (€12) and is packed even on slow days at the resort.

Blanchot (479 00 55 78) is a wine bar with good dinners.

La Paillote (479 00 01 02) is rustic family place with very affordable meals and pizzas. Plat du Jour is normally about €12 and basic wine sets you back €13.

The best pizza—and for that matter the best deal—in town is at Le Scapin (479 00 05 94).

Val Thorens has an exceptional Savoyard gourmet shop, la Belle en Cuisse (479 00 04 30) that sells dried mountain meats and sausages as well as regional jams, honey and pates. The owner has an almost mystical connection with the local foods and will suggest different combinations that will delight any palate. For anyone staying in an apartment, the ingrediants for fondue costs €29 for four; raclette ingrediants per person cost €10; and the fixings for tartiflette cost about €8 per person.