Big Ben In Valtournenche

16/11/2025: How do you sum up a place like Old Grizzly? Simply amazing! Chosen primarily for its proximity to Aymavilles Castle (about 600 meters) and the excellent reviews, I stopped in thinking I'd eat good food, but without any particular expectations. The menu, however, was much more unique and delicious than I'd imagined; it was truly difficult to choose what to try, but in the end I opted for fried porcini mushrooms with aioli sauce (fried beautifully, and the sauce was a wonderful accompaniment) and mirtuccine with fondue and berries (wonderful, a perfect combination of the softness of the cheese and the acidity of the berries). A special mention goes to the dessert. I don't think I've ever taken so long to decide what to order; everything looked excellent, but in the end I chose the deconstructed tiramisu. It's one of my favorite desserts, but I never order it because I'm always disappointed, much less dare I hear "deconstructed" (usually a prelude to pastry tragedy). However, I was won over by the excellent quality of the previous dishes. It was exceptional, beautifully and elegantly presented, excellent coffee, spectacular ladyfingers, and a rich yet delicate cream, absolutely perfect. Another positive note: they serve an amuse-bouche before starting (unfortunately, I didn't get to try it, but it looked lovely) and a small pre-dessert (mandarin and vodka sorbet, delicious and perfect for cleansing the palate, especially after fairly fatty foods), a truly pleasant surprise. The staff are kind and attentive, the atmosphere is very unique, refined, and fun, and the price is absolutely right for the quality of the meal. It's just a shame I live too far away to return often!

08/11/2025: We returned this evening after several years, what can I say, excellent dinner, very courteous staff... we ate very well, everything from the starters to the dessert was excellent, and then we had a honey grappa made by the owner, what can I say, I went to heaven... I love this place