The Chalet Savoie Faire experience with Nikki Shields Quinn
I have been following Nikki of Chalet Savoie Faire on Instagram for years. I believe that I first located her after watching a 2017 episode of ‘Taste Le Tour’, where French/Australian chef, Gabriel Gaté, visited her amazing property.
Gabriel’s gourmet picnic at Chalet Savoie Faire
Nikki and her partner Hugh own Chalet Savoie Faire in the village of Fontaine Nâves in the Savoie area of France. I asked Nikki if I could interview her for ‘French Views’ and she enthusiastically accepted. Let’s find out more about her interesting story.
Carole: Bonjour Nikki, thank you for taking the time to talk to me. How did an Aussie girl come to be living in such a picturesque part of France?
Nikki: Hi Carole, thanks for finding the Aussie girl hiding in the French Alps. From a very young age I thought about traveling to France, l mean why not with a name like Nicole Louise. I always loved hospitality, antiques, character homes, French language, food, skiing and wine, so before finishing my hospitality degree l jumped on a plane and started traveling around Europe. It wasn’t long before I made myself at home in Savoie, a chalet host in the French Alps cooking for a UK Tour Operator - the months turned into years and “voila” I’m still here 33 years on.
How lucky is Nikki to have this spectacular view?
Carole: Can you please describe the view from your window right now?
Nikki: I’m sitting comfortably at my desk writing this and I am often distracted with the beauty beyond the floor to ceiling windows that over look the valley and mountains.
I can see the Church steeple and hear the bells that ring for lunch, the Col de la Madeleine (that the Tour du France uses often), layer upon layer of mountain ranges, a pine forest, farmers in the fields, lush vegetable gardens and an old slate roof across the road. The sky is big and l know now that the sunset will pop with orange and rose reflections tonight.
Everyday my view offers something special, the 4 seasons are so very unique and special you just can’t take it for granted.
Big skies with sunsets of orange and rose
Carole: At your property, ‘Chalet Savoie Faire’, you offer a range of experiences. Can you tell us what these are? Are most of your guests English speaking?
Nikki: Wow, where to start, that’s a great question.
I’m always trying to change it up depending on the season, to make sure the guests get the most out of their stay at any particular time, keeping it fun and interesting. I also need to keep my own passions alive, so this becomes a win win situation for all, because my passions lay firmly around what l offer below.
The amazing well-equipped kitchen ready for cooking classes
Cooking classes, from half a day to 6 days - healthy, local, organic food. These days are so much fun in a relaxed atmosphere for all ages to learn and create new dishes together. An exchange of laughter and life stories, always finishing around the dining room table sharing 8 courses guests cooked with local wine.
Excursions to the weekly food markets, antique shops, local areas like Annecy, Albertville and Chambery. Clothing shops, local restaurants, farmers selling regional cheeses directly from their farms - it’s about listening to the guests and what they want to do. I am happy to create their perfect holiday.
Wine tasting days with our local suppliers of Savoie
Yoga day retreats to 6 day retreats. We have Yoga instructors come with their own clients and build a course together. Full board
Weddings, special celebrations, surprise parties, 3 day events to 1 week affairs
Cycling and training for the strong at heart - road or mountain bikes
Sketching retreats - Artists coming together with a teacher
Snow shoe and cross country skiing excursions
95% of our guests are English speaking, this makes it easy and fun for everyone.
Carole: Could you speak French before you arrived in France? How are your French language skills now?
Nikki: Oh no, I couldn’t speak a word of French when l arrived here. I was married to a Frenchman for 7 years so that helped kick start the learning process. I can read and speak fluently but don’t get me to write a letter in French. Apparently I’m exotic when l speak French, even after all these years my Aussie accent stays true.
Carole: I am really interested in the cookery classes you run? Do you have a background in hospitality? Or how did this idea come about?
Nikki: Hospitality is my life, I have always loved caring for people and making them feel special. My background is vast and it started from a very young age in a variety of kitchens, restaurants and bars in Australia. These skills made it easy to find a job in Europe, cooking in chalets, hosting on super yachts and private villas to spending 20 years as hospitality manager in France to a UK company, running 30 chalets and 6 hotels.
So from the accumulated experience the next steps came naturally, to find a large old property to renovate with style, to build a large kitchen to teach people who wanted to learn and relax at the same time.
I had always written and run the training courses for the staff, chefs and front of house, so my idea was to do it on a much smaller scale, making it less stressful for me running my own show. Naturally the first courses that came out of Chalet Savoie Faire was marketing to gap year students who wanted to train in becoming a chalet host. After a few years we progressed to what we have own offer now.
Carole: How do you decide on what food to cook in your classes? What are the specialities of the Savoyard?
Nikki: Food for me runs purely around the seasons, I try and buy locally and mainly from the farmers markets that are held twice a week in Moutiers. We are very lucky in France to have an abundance of incredible, high quality foods that keep me inspired year round.
https://www.france-voyage.com/cities-towns/moutiers-29532.htm
So my menu is always based on what l find at the market, the fresher the better is my motto.
Savoie has a stunning array of cheeses, Reblochon, Beaufort, Tomme de Savoie, Chevrotin, Tamie just to name a few and we of course bring these into the kitchen to cook with and learn about.
Delicious products of the Savoie
Winter in the mountains is a lot heavier than the rest of the year, fondue, tartiflette, potatoes, crozets, cream, beef and diots (a local sausage with herbs or cabbage) become a basic for the locals. As an Aussie I have my own way to recreate the classic dishes that even the French love.
Spring and Summer is all about salads, sauces, sweet and savoury tarts and Fera a local fish from the lakes.
Autumn brings us the last crops from the village gardens, we start to make soups, stuff ravioli with mashed pumpkin, goats cheese and herbs, make a selection of cakes and enjoy the cooler nights in front of the fire eating wild mushroom polenta.
There is never a dull day in the kitchen creating a tasty, colourful menu plan.
Carole: Your Instagram posts are so inviting. They are full of delicious food but it is the presentation with such care and detail that I love. It looks like you have an interest in collecting antiques and beautiful crockery. Can you tell us more about that passion and how you go about finding interesting items?
Nikki: Anything old and pre-loved manages to find it’s way to my heart! I’m an avid collector of antique lighting, paintings, frames, furniture, silver, crystal, linen and crockery - the sad thing is my house is now full, the good news is l am now a buyer for the Australian market, ‘Dusty Luxe’, based in Sydney with partners Anna and Jackie Kennard who have saved my house feeling cluttered and my vintage car still has a place to sleep. Once guests, now saviours!
Entertaining in a unique way is an important part of your experience at Chalet Savoie Faire, I love to make the table different for every meal, colour themes, mis matched plates, glass wear and flowers (or forest weeds made beautiful). If I’m not setting a table I must be coming down with something .
Carole: You seem to be someone who loves being surrounded by people and entertaining. How have you coped during the pandemic?
Nikki: I love, love, love entertaining and for the last 20 months l have pretty much lost every booking and that will continue until we can safely re-open borders.
I had to reinvent myself, so I started Zoom cooking classes around the different time zones, UK, USA and Oz. It wasn’t easy as my kitchen was still empty and the food was of opposing seasons but we somehow make it work and it made me open to connect with people in a different way.
Hugh would come in from cycling and see the table set for 8 - 12 - 20 people and look at me as if l was going slowly crazy - pretend guests of course, I was only keeping the creative path open so as not to get stale. I would still light the candles, put the wine into a crystal carafe, serve a 3 course meal (made over the Zoom lesson) and the two of us would sit at the table side by side enjoying life.
Happy cooking class participants
Carole: Do you have a favourite season to celebrate at your property? What would be your favourite food to cook and eat at that time of the year?
Nikki: It’s so hard to choose because each season has so much on offer but if push came to shove l would pick Autumn. It’s still warm enough to eat outdoors at lunch but then wrap up in a fur throw at sunset. The colours on the mountain change and it’s quite magical.
I adore wild mushrooms, so l spend hours in the forest foraging with Opi my Cairn terrier, Im training her to hunt them out for me and so far she is doing well.
The trompette du mort (the death trumpet) is my all time favourite, it has a deep delicious flavour and when they aren’t thrown into a creamy risotto, an omelette or a spinach, garlic pasta I dry them for winter use for stews or fondues.
Carole: If I were to stay at your property, what would you suggest for other activities or places to visit in your local region?
Nikki: Our guests come here for so many different reasons, if you are an active hiker there are hundreds of trails to take from the front door - with or without a local guide, who can inform about the flowers and wildlife. There are easy and hard hikes, even altitude refuges to have a bite to eat. Honestly, whether you are the hiker, stroller or jogger, it’s very special.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to walk in these alpine meadows?
Road cycling or mountain biking is very popular, challenge yourself to climbing some of the tours most iconic cols that are on the doorstep.
Relaxation and recharging with comfort, a book and good food is a regular occurrence for many of returning guests. Wrap around balconies, a private rose terrace, big cushioned chairs and apple leaf shade, a drop of wine or a pot tea will ensure rest and happiness.
Picnics in secret spots that l make you find by following the doves is popular. There you will find an open valley with incredible views and a fully made table bursting with treats.
A special secret picnic spot with a spectacular view
Rafting, canyoning and tennis is also possible on the valley floor.
13km away we have a thermal spa with 5 pools at different temperatures, massage rooms and relaxation decks.
A day out can easily take you to Chamonix and Lake Annecy or you could visit the medieval village of Conflans a stone throw away in Albertville.
https://www.frenchviews.com.au/my-journal/a-day-on-the-top-of-the-world-at-mont-blanc
http://www.conflans-tourisme.fr
A winter experience - Meribel, Courchevel, Val Thornes and Val Morel are only a 30 minute drive - ski the day and come back to find a blazing fire with afternoon tea waiting for you. Many of our guests like to ski a different resort each day.
High peaks of the French Alps
We have 70km of cross country tracks in winter months on our doorstep. If you don’t wish to ski, try snow shoeing through the forest floors, we have these ready for you at the house.
Our village has a beautiful Baroque Church, take a stroll across the road and listen to the history.
Baroque church in Nikki’s village
There is a climbing wall with 7 passages in our village, and an instructor can be arranged.
Carole: I see plenty of cycling photos on your Instagram too. Is your area best for road or mountain biking? Is it all hills/mountains or is there anywhere flatter nearby you can recommend (pour moi)?
Nikki: So much cycling in the area! it’s wonderful but also an eye opener for many Aussies who haven’t yet visited the Alps. Hugh is an ex-pro mountain biker so of course he knows all the tracks leaving from the house. He also loves road cycling and is happy to take guests out and show them the area.
There are of course the hard climbs but in the valley there are lovely tracks along the river and gentle routes to take (Im on a gentle climb myself). We can arrange bike hire if we are given plenty of notice, even e-bikes are a popular choice these days, meaning even the harder climbs become accessible for all.
Gabriel Gaté, centre, went for a cycle with Hugh and friend during 2017 filming of ‘Taste le Tour’
Carole: Have you spent much time travelling throughout France? Do you have a favourite region and what is special about it for you?
Nikki: Never a year goes by without the road trip to the Drôme Provençal region. It’s only 4 hours from us but in Spring the weather is warmer and l adore cycling through the lavender fields and olive groves.
I did work 6 summer seasons in Corsica, so l have a real soft spot for the island. Fabulous hiking, stunning unspoilt beaches and lots of Eucalyptus trees reminding me of home.
Carole: When the world opens again for Aussies, it would be wonderful to visit and experience life in the Savoie. Below the photo are links to Nikki’s websites, Facebook and Instagram accounts so that readers can easily connect with her.
Thank you so much for generously sharing your story and beautiful photos with us, Nikki.
Join me next time for chat with the owner and operator of Bikestyle Tours, Adam Gill.
Alpine landscape bathed in sunlight
