Go Gourmet on the Slopes with Purple Ski’s Most Talented Private Chefs and Luxurious Chalets in Méribel and Val d’Isère

Taking the culinary helm at Purple Ski’s Chalet Harmony in Méribel is Chef Manuel Schmuck. Munich-born Chef Manuel has over 20 years of professional experience, having worked at some of the finest resorts and restaurants in the world. He has held positions at two award-winning restaurants, including Berlin’s Restaurant Marthas and Steirereck im Stadtpark in Vienna. His varied and creative cooking style has been informed by his passion for travel, and he collects recipes and culinary inspiration everywhere he goes – from Colombia and Estonia to Bali, the USA and Mexico!

One such travel-inspired dish that graces the menus at Chalet Harmony is the showstopping Chakapuli, Chef Manuel’s take on a traditional Georgian dish of lamb shank stew he tried in a small and cosy restaurant in Tbilisi which ‘completely blew [his] mind’. Chef Manuel’s interpretation of the dish appears as a main course in his tasting menu, accompanied with a potato and feta espuma with plenty of fresh tarragon and a sprinkle of sumac.

Chalet Harmony in Méribel is one of the newest properties in the Purple Ski portfolio. The brand-new build, which sleeps up to 15 in seven bedrooms, launched in December 2023.

Enjoying a privileged position in Méribel’s central Duo du Pont area, the opulent new four-story property presents a rare opportunity to combine luxury and complete privacy with proximity to the Alpine resort’s charming centre, with its bustling shops, bars and restaurants as well as the main ski lift area.

Chalet Harmony’s French owner fell in love with Méribel’s authentic village with its excellent skiing and wanted to create a chalet that was respectful of the traditional Alpine chalet style, whilst offering all the modern comforts and features one might need – from state-of-the-art technology to the impressive wine cellar.

Comprising an elegant master suite with its own floor and six further en-suite bedrooms including one with an additional children’s bunk area, the chalet is the ideal choice for families and groups of friends alike. The chalet’s entire first floor is devoted to post-ski relaxation and entertainment, boasting an impressive cinema room with tiered seating, perfect for the whole family to escape to after a tiring day on the slopes.

Next door is the beautifully appointed wellness area, where guests can warm up in the hot tub, ease sore limbs in the sauna or steam room, work out in the fitness room or simply relax by the large indoor swimming pool. Chalet Harmony’s views of the Méribel village and mountains from the hillside allow guests to truly relax and get away from it all.

Guests of Purple Ski’s Chalet Lapin Blanc in Méribel Chaudanne will be treated to high-altitude feasts all week long by Chef Daniel Ibbotson, a Brighton-born award-winning culinary talent. Beloved by guests for his creative take on British comfort food and his ability to cater to any and all dietary requirements, Chef Daniel has won accolades including Sussex Young Chef of the Year and was a finalist at the World Young Chef Awards. Prior to joining Purple Ski, Daniel spent several years as a Senior Sous Chef at the three-rosette Etch by Steven Edwards, having also spent time training with renowned chefs Nile Keeting at Whatley Manor and Paul Wellburn at The Swann Inn.

Having grown up on the coast, he has a passion for seafood and his signature dish is an elevated spin on the humble ‘fish and chips’. The dish incorporates a pan-fried cod fillet served with potato purée, beurre blanc tartare, crispy vermicelli noodles for crunch and a dusting of vinegar power to make the flavours sing. Served alongside chips with parsley emulsion, it is the ultimate warming yet indulgent dish with which to refuel after a day on the mountain.

Another client-favourite is his nostalgic version of ‘dippy egg and soldiers’, a spectacular breakfast featuring a slow cooked duck egg (one hour at 62 degrees for the perfect consistency!) alongside parsnip purée and pickled parsnips, crispy onions, smoked duck ham and a brioche finger fried in duck fat, all served on a bed of hay.

Nestled in the heart of Méribel and boasting enviable views of the mountain and valley, the ski-in, ski-out Chalet Lapin Blanc is one of the most luxurious and best located in the valley.

A mere stone’s throw from the resort’s main lift centre and ski school meeting points, the striking Lapin Blanc is beautifully furnished throughout with local wood and stone and peppered with British and French aesthetics. Key features include seven large ensuite rooms, an enormous sitting and dining room with central log fire, a mezzanine study area, cinema room with bar, sauna and an outdoor hot tub on a secluded private south-facing balcony.

At Purple Ski’s Chalet Machapuchare, Val d’Isère – recently named France’s best chalet for the second year in a row in the World Ski Awards – residents can experience the dishes of culinary rising star, Chef Hugo Attou. Specialising in modern fine dining, the French chef from Niort credits his grandmother for inspiring his passion for cooking at a young age. In spite of being just 26, Chef Hugo has built an impressive résumé comprising roles at some of the continent’s most exciting Michelin-starred kitchens, including Frog by Adam Handling in London and La Pomme d’Api in Brittany.

It was during his tenure at Frog by Adam Handling that Chef Hugo found the inspiration for his now signature dish at Chalet Machapuchare, Agnolotti served with truffle and black garlic. Similar in shape to a ravioli and popular throughout the Val d’Isère region, Chef Hugo’s version of the pasta dish combines squid ink and garlic with a chestnut mushroom filling, truffle, parmesan and soy sauce. It is glazed with butter to create a thick sauce and is finished with chives and shallot, seasonal truffle and parmesan.

Chalet Machapuchare is the brainchild of Yoann Marchand, Val d’Isère local, ski instructor and design enthusiast. The chalet enjoys a privileged position nestled in the exclusive and wonderfully private area of Le Crêt, commanding uninterrupted views of the entire valley, from the rocky cliffs above La Daille across the two main ski areas and the pretty village of Val d’Isère to the glaciers and snowcapped peaks beyond. Sleeping up to 15 guests in seven luxurious bedrooms, it offers the very best of serene Alpine living, just a three-minute chauffeur ride away from the buzzing local nightlife, pistes, restaurants and shops.

The sprawling property features a large, open plan living and dining area, panelled boot room and numerous balconies and terraces on which to soak in the splendid panoramic views. When it comes to relaxation and entertainment, guests are spoilt for choice with an indoor pool (incorporating a counter current for physical training), massage room, hammam, state-of-the-art gym, cinema and outdoor jacuzzi.

Chalet Machapuchare was constructed in 2018 and has been part of the Purple Ski portfolio since 2020. Born and raised in Val d’Isère, owner Yoann Marchand knows the slopes like the back of his hand and lived in the direct area before building the chalet, allowing him to fully appreciate the surroundings and make the best possible design decisions for the project. Meanwhile, Yoann’s wife, Charlotte Guilhamat, a trampolinist and personal trainer with a masterful creative eye, organised the whole interior design of the property with Yoann.