Marc Veyrat is a legend in the world of gastronomy. He started foraging wild plants and cooking with them many years before it became fashionable and got popularized by Scandinavian chefs. At one point, he had 6 Michelin stars and was the first chef ever to receive 20/20 Gault-Millau rating. I remember my first time at La Maison de Marc Veyrat in Veyrier-du-Lac fondly. His cooking was like a breath of fresh air, so different from other fine dining restaurants in France. Due to health reasons, he gave away his Michelin stars in 2009 and pursued new ventures such as organic “fast-food” chain. His current fine dining restaurant, La Maison des Bois burned down in 2015 and only reopened last November.
He continues the tradition of using local ingredients and wild herbs. Some of the dishes, like the pan-fried foie gras, were technically perfect and very enjoyable, some- like, tartifle with smoked trout, disappointing, considering that the only available evening tasting menu “La Grande Fête dans les Étoiles” costs 395 euros (without wine). Personally, dining once at La Maison des Bois was enough for me (unless they have a new sous chef with fresh ideas), but have a look at the pictures and decide for yourself.
Pam fried oie gras with myrrh of Merdassier, dome of cold terrine, chutney of figs“Where is this fried egg?”Flowers and wild vegetables, collected around La Maison des BoisSmoked tartifle with lovage from the mountains and thyme infused wild troutFake caviar of Leman Lake, quivering jelly, coltsfoot creamTrout from Leman Lake with white butterGrilled scampi on the rock of the Fier River, wild meadowsweetsTartiflette from the 21st centuryBeefCheeseVirtual PlateVirtual PlateDesserts