Epicerie du Midi Cafe Review
Freshly made light lunches & delicatessen treats
It’s often a frustration of mine that if I want to get a (tasty) lunch in Chamonix, that’s something other than a sweaty baguette from a bakery, I have to have a sit down affair… so it was a relief to finally have something that models itself a bit more on the Pret a Manger / ‘Eat’ style… not a new concept as the Épicerie du Midi itself suggests - but certainly pretty new for Chamonix….
This deli / grocery store / cafe is set in a great location - nestled in the heart of the hotel lobby at the Héliopic - you can sit outside in the sun and watch the Aiugille Du Midi cable car come and go. It’s clean and modern inside, with shiny red, black and white décor and a few retro touches, such as the “Kensington, London” clock and wicker baskets with chequered napkins for putting your shopping in. Inside you can relax over a newspaper- today there are three in different languages including the Times of London! There are also plug sockets for your lap top, free WiFi and they even have a loyalty card scheme.
Like ‘Pret’ or ‘Eat’ the cafeteria offers take away or eat in breakfast, lunch or ‘après’ snacks, freshly made (in the kitchens of the Héliopic) with seasonal ingredients and they change the menu daily. On offer are a range of baguettes, panini’s, wraps, soup, quiches and even a Crouque monsieur for around 4-4.50 euros or various salads and pasta pots.
I opted for a pesto and goats cheese quiche, green salad and cappuccino for around 10 euros- so really I should have got on of their ‘menus’- much better value; a sandwich and desert such a cookie, fromage blanc or dessert of the day is just 4.90, the Epicure du Midi menu includes a salad, quiche or sandwich, a drink and dessert for 7.90, or the Formule Mont Blanc - a pasta or salad, drink and dessert for 8.50. They also do breakfast formulas from 7am – great if you’re waiting for first bin…
My quiche was very tasty and not over powered by goats cheese! It was also warm -not blasted with microwaved heat, thank goodness. The salad came with a pleasant vinaigrette on the side and the coffee was as I like it, not too bitter. So, although I’m not vegetarian- this was also a good option if you don’t eat meat. All this was placed on a tray for me, paid for at the till, and I sat down and started to eat in under five minutes of walking in– no queues –no waiting. I could also have taken the food away as they came in cute little cardboard containers that could be folded up- perfect if you wanted a snack to take up the Midi.
Inside there is also a mini shop selling last minute items you may need for a trip up the mountain -fruit, sweets, chocolates, ice cream and even sun creams, thermos, and batteries. There is also a deli counter where you can buy savoir-faire such as red wines, fois gras and jams etc which would make perfect gifts.
The Épicerie du Midi has a relaxed, friendly feel with no pressure to hurry your purchase and is a great place to chill out before or after a voyage up the mountain.
