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IT’S TIME TO EAT

“Life’s too short not to eat well.” How many times have you heard this? As a self-respecting Frenchman, culinary specialities are an integral part of our daily lives, but above all of our escapades. After warming up your calves on a hike or bike ride, Francis invites you to his table for a culinary voyage. Welcome to Le Contrepoint!

Published on 13 June 2023

    A smart cookie

    It all began in the bustling streets of Lyon, where Francis had the chance to train in the cradle of French gastronomy. However, the young chef aspired to more. With a bag on his back, he set off on an adventure to discover new flavours from Ireland to Spain. He tells us that Granada stole his heart and his taste buds. Today, you can discover this influence by sampling his delicious tapas à la carte.

    Before mooring up in the Vercors for good, our chef from Lyon makes a stopover in the Ardèche. He landed in the kitchens of Michelin-starred chef Daniel Ancel for 5 years. Francis developed his skills and honed his technique.

    Deep down inside, the mountains were calling him. He decided to settle in the unspoilt natural setting of the Vercors. It was here that Francis opened Le Contrepoint in 2020, at the foot of the slopes in Villard-Corrençon. This wonderful adventure has been going on for 3 years now.

    I eat, you eat!

    The freedom to be his own chef is what Francis likes best: to be creative and blend the flavours of his travels with those of the Vercors. A real treat for the taste buds…. Francis is committed to offering home-cooked, seasonal cuisine, even if this means reducing the number of dishes on the à la carte menu.

    Our Chef works with local producers, such as Au marché de Joël, the greengrocer opposite theVillard de Lans Tourist Office – with whom he shares a wonderful relationship.

    “I’m lucky enough to work with Joël, from the market opposite the tourist office, who helps me enormously in using local produce.”

    Francis confides that it’s difficult to be 100% local, but he does his utmost to ensure that produce from the Vercors and Isère regions is widely represented. The chef is fully committed to the preparation of numerous products, such as rillettes, foies gras, gingerbread, and many others.
    Last March, when the village was decked out in Breton colours for the Scallop Festival, Francis created a dish using this exceptional shellfish. He describes his gourmet recipe:

    “For scallops, I combine this delicate dish with truffles, which are also in season. I make risottos with scallops and truffles, a harmony of textures and flavours that appeals to the most demanding palates.”

      Over-the-ear headphones for  1 minute culinary journey with Francis

      Le Contrepoint is located in Côte 2000 at the foot of the slopes

        Adopted by the Vercorsland

        Francis and his family regularly go on holiday to the Vercors Plateau to take a break from their daily lives. Young Francis developed a strong attachment to the area. As he grew older, he wanted to settle not far from the city, close to nature and the essentials. For him, it was a chance to live away from the crowds of Lyon, to refocus and develop his sources of inspiration. Like (almost) everyone who lives in the Vercors, Francis is a keen hiker. The Col Vert and the Pas de l’Oeille are real must-sees for him.

        “I really like the Vercors […] It’s a hiking area, and I’ve hiked all the peaks one by one for several years”.

        With friends, he likes to go on adventures in the bowels of the mountain. It’s a veritable caving hotbed, with nearly 3,000 registered caving sites.
        A veritable playground for a dose of thrills and chills.

          Vertaco Council

          “The first thing would be to come and eat here. (laughs) And after that, it would be to go hiking to enjoy the magnificent panoramas:
          Col Vert via the east balcony or the Peronnard trail, a very beautiful path.”

          To find out more