Posted: October 17, 2018

Author: Béné Loeffel

Relais des Chasseurs - Chiboz: The most renowned “Wild Game” restaurant in Switzerland

Last night, I had the honor of dining at restaurant Relais des Chasseurs in Chiboz (Valais Switzerland). We have heard so much about this restaurant since moving to the Valais: "the best place to eat the local wild game", "book in advance or risk waiting for hours".

After a typical Valaisan drive, filled with countless switchbacks up the mountain to reach Chiboz, we had arrived ready to experience it first hand. First of all, the team welcomes you warmly, and guides you to one of the little corners of the restaurant, a comfortable and private alcove for the lengthy meal that is about to ensue.

After an aperitif of local wine, you receive the special wild game menu, and your taste buds start to shudder. The starters all sound fabulous starting with their delicious escargots bathed in copious amounts of garlic butter, or some fresh mushrooms feuilleté foraged in the Chiboz forest. Afterwards you can select one or two services of wild game: Médaillons de chevreuil (deer), Médaillons de chamois, Civet, Entrecôte de cerf (venison), Côtelette de sanglier (wild boar). All this with the seasonal wild game garnish, pears, cranberry sauce, brussel sprouts, and chestnuts. The only thing missing was spätzli, for me an absolute must with wild game.

The expert sommelier will advise on the best local wine to accompany your meal, after which  the feast will commence! The food is beautifully presented, but the taste is even better, flavors are mingling between sweetness of cooked fruits and the rich “gamey” flavor of the wild meat, much of which is hunted by the owner. The second round arrives (yes, they typically serve 2 main courses to each guests) and you start to feel like hunters during medieval times, feasting in the time of plenty.

After dinner opt for the “delicacies desserts” of the wild game menu, a range of little sweet desserts served for the table, and a digestif from the region.