Head for the hills this October for the irresistible Toquicimes celebration of mountain gastronomy in the beautiful town of Megève.
Famed for its excellent skiing and array of other winter sports, Megève is also a gastronome’s delight, with 135 restaurants, 51 farms and many artisan producers.
The honorary sponsor of this year’s event is world-famous pastry chef-chocolatier Pierre Hermé, who is no stranger to Megève which he visits regularly for rest and relaxation.
From October 20 to 23, the most gourmet village in the Alps will welcome to elite of French gastronomy, from Michelin-starred chefs to farmers, producers and local artisans. Visitors can expect competitions, exhibitions, tastings, conferences and masterclasses.
Toquicimes made a name for itself with its competitions through which cooks, pastry chefs and other specialists promote their occupations. Some of the most popular contests are:
• The best fondue in Megève
• The best pâté croûte
• The young chefs’ challenge
New for 2022 is a competition open to all pastry chefs in France to make a tart of dark chocolate and Chartreuse where the two flavours complement each other without competing. Then there’s the public content to see whose family recipe produces the best bugnes, small beignet twists, which will be chaired by three-star chef René Meilleur.
And, of course, there’s the unmissable Les Halles, some 2,000m2 of delicacies and delights, including the local farmers’ market, a culinary bookstore, entertainment and a restaurant.
Last year, Toquicimes was attended by 22,000 visitors – it’s easy to see why. Find out more at toquicimes.com where you can check out the full programme for 2022.