«Put your foot in it» and follow the guide!

The flavours you'll come across in Genevois Haut-Savoyard are as varied as the landscapes: Abondance, Reblochon and tomme cheeses, salted meats, honey, spirits, and berries. A small gastronomical journey:

 «Put your foot in it... in the Savoyard cuisine» (Mettez «Les pieds dans l' plat») - The Paysalp Ecomuseum offers a delightful exhibition dedicated to the culinary practices of old and new. Walk through archives, audiovisual presentations, and mouth-watering recipes, and take a real look - sometimes just a silly one - at our biggest weakness. 600 square meters of exhibits on the tastiest of themes: « you've got a deal pig,» « you can't see the forest for the cheeses,» « flavours and migrations» or « selected passages.» And to end this hearty journey, try the « serac», an after-cheese cheese that the Fruitière des Hauts-Fleury invites you to sample. This treat is a subtle and light miracle!

Paysalp, « Les pieds dans l'plat... de la cuisine savoyarde.» July and August 2007: everyday from 2-6pm, and off season (from 01/09 - 31/12), Tues, Wed, Thurs, Sat and the first Sun of the month from 1:30-5pm. Individual rate: €5 (adult), €3.50 (child). Discount « Summer Pass»  for exhibits that belong to the network of the Paysalp Ecomuseum sites, all year long for families and mini-groups (4 or more people). 

And after this satiating experience, visit these establishments with a guide:

Les Fruitières - This is where the « milk fruit » is harvested, as it curdles and matures for several weeks.

Fruitière des Hauts-Fleury - A shared initiative between Mieussy farmers and the Paysalp Ecomuseum to develop a dairy open to the public. A gallery overhangs the production unit and allows visitors to take part in the cheese processing, from the initial raw milk stages to the final maturing stages. A multimedia show explains the stakes at play in mountain agriculture, old and new. Enjoy over-time sampling in the store. Guided visit explaining cheese production, as well as sampling (July and August, Tuesday to Friday at 9:15am). €3 (adult), €2 (child under 15 years). Ph.+ 33 (0)450 431 714.

La Fruitière des Bornes - In addition to the organic bornette and tommette cheeses, the collection has expanded this year with the new « Bleuet du Salève,» a soft and delicate cows' milk cheese wrapped in its natural bluish rind. Guided visit of appox. 1 hour followed by a cheese sampling. €4.50 (adult), €3 (child under 15 years). Group by appointment. Chef-lieu - Arbusigny. Store open everyday from 5:30-7:30pm Ph. + 33 (0)450 945 079.

Other cheese magicians

La Ferme de Sery - One of the first establishments in France to use a turntable and floatation pad in the milking room. The quality of the milk is naturally improved, and the cows are respected and our taste buds satisfied.

Guided visit and sampling by reservation. €6 (adult), €4.50, 636 chemin de Sery, Regnier. Store open Wed and Sat from 10am-12pm and 3-6:30pm, Thurs and Fri from 5-7pm. Ph. + 33 (0)450 434 214

La Ferme du Château GAEC - Reblochon, tomme and Abondance cheeses, all made in a farm nestled in the green corner of the Beauregard castle.

Guided visit every Friday from 7pm by reservation. St-Jéoire. Shop open everyday except Sunday from 9am-12pm and 5-8pm. Ph. + 33 (0)450 359 007

La Ferme de chez Robé - Free-range goat cheeses and other specialities: petit robé, robéchon, tomme, faisselle.

Individual visit from 5 pm. Route Follieuse, Lucinges. Ph. + 33 (0)450 43 34 25

And more...

Flour - the Navilly mill. A fully restored mill with blade wheels and a grindstone that runs daily to grind organic wheat flour. Unique to Haute-Savoie!

Individual visit Mon-Fri from 2-6:30pm with the option to buy organic flour. Navilly - Pers-Jussy. Ph. + 33 (0)450 22 46 80

Honey - To learn about bees, their habits and daily work, you can watch them through a glass beehive at the Rucher des Briffes in Mieussy. During the summer, you can also watch how honey is extracted in the Miellerie de la Vallée Verte.

Miellerie de la Vallée Verte: Guided visit (group of 15 or more people by appointment) with the option to watch how honey is extracted during the summer.  Honey, pollen, gingerbread, candles. La Jonchère - Boëge Ph. + 33 (0)450 39 17 64/688 41 21 99. http://chez.com/abeillesvalleeverte

Rucher des Briffes: Individual or group visit, every afternoon during the summer from 2pm. Discovery farm with glass beehives. Mountain honey, gingerbread, bees wax. Par les Vagnys - Mieussy. Open year round. Ph. + 33 (0) 450 430 670

Fruit - By the season. Fruit and vegetables you can pick on your own, creamy yogurts, soft cheeses, and for Christmas (but it's a secret) fabulous poultry and black pudding.

Group visit (by reservation), about 1 hour, €3.50 per person. Vorzier - Reignier Open Tuesday - Friday from 9am-12pm and 3-7pm. Saturday from 9am-12pm and 2-6pm Ph. + 33 (0)450 365 414 This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Snails - Helixa.  A snail farm where you'll learn how these little delicate creatures are raised, how they reproduce and what they're predators are. Do not miss: « escargotine» (snail and garlic mousse) and « escapéro» on toast. It's divine!

Free guided visit by reservation, Monday- Friday from 5:30-7:30pm, Wednesday from 2:30-7:30pm, Saturday from 9am-12pm. Sébastien Briand, 120, chem de chez Pallud. Viuz-en-Sallaz Shows, sampling, sales: Ph. + 33 (0)450 366 381