The restaurant at the Hotel des Horlogers was a discovery, a surprising one! An hour's drive from Lausanne, along iconic scenic roads, leads to Le Brassus, a hamlet in the municipality of Le Chenit in the canton of Vaud. We are in the Vallée de Joux, a hidden gem on Switzerland's Grand Tour, a valley nestled in the Vaud Jura massif, dominated by the majestic Dent de Vaulion mountain, the emblem of the region. This valley's fame is primarily due to the concentration of the finest and most traditional Swiss watchmaking factories.
On this site, a hotel, the Hotel des Horlogers, was built with a visionary, avant-garde design, using local materials that blend beautifully with the surrounding landscape. The floor-to-ceiling windows of the rooms offer sweeping views of the prairies and, above all, the fascinating, vast Risoud forest, known for its unique resonant fir wood, prized for transmitting and amplifying sound, making it ideal for building stringed musical instruments.
In this idyllic setting that exudes an atmosphere of peace and harmony, the Hotel des Horlogers offers moments of gastronomic relaxation offered by two “locations”: the gourmet restaurant La Table des Horlogers (17 Gault & Millau points) and the Brasserie Le Gogant (where Gogant in the local dialect refers to a solitary silver fir that over the years reaches dimensions unparalleled by the other trees in the forest and provides shelter to humans and animals).
The cuisine has been designed by the prestigious chef Emmanuel Renaut, "Meilleur Ouvrier de France 2004," who boasts three Michelin stars at his restaurant and Relais & Châteaux "Flocons de Sel" in Megève. The on-site execution is by resident chef Alessandro Cannata, who, with a keen eye for detail and elegant gesture, creates a precise and profoundly sincere score, in harmony with the richness of the Vallée de Joux's produce. Fish comes from local fishermen, while meats, fruit, and vegetables are sourced from surrounding farms.
Thus, while Brasserie Le Gogant offers accessible and fast cuisine, La Table des Horlogers offers a refined and, I would even say, exclusive gastronomic experience, also in the sense of immersing yourself in nature to enjoy a unique menu. Chef Alessandro Cannata perfectly interprets Chef Renaut's approach, adding his own personal touch derived from his Italian heritage. A perfect blend of the tradition of fine cuisine, Mediterranean flair, and the natural, local products of a region rich in excellence.
First and foremost, the bread—or rather, the loaves and the small "boulangerie"—is homemade, while the menus, in addition to seasonality, can change based on the daily availability of raw materials, particularly lake fish, aromatic herbs, mushrooms, and so on. The evolution is therefore careful and constant, and the emotion of nature with its first fruits is felt in every dish and is perceived every time your gaze lingers on the Risoud forest.
It's impossible to accurately describe the unique and all-encompassing experience of dining at La Table des Horlogers, with its distinctive atmosphere and personalized service. So, I can only list a few dishes from a menu that will leave even your stomach stunned and thankful: Gnocchi with tomato sauce, candied tomato puree, basil, and Gruyère emulsion; Poached Jura trout, beurre blanc sauce, trout roe, and yarrow wafer; Beef trilogy: in tataki, ravioli, and fillet with green beans, potato souflé, and a red wine and meat sauce reduction; Frozen mochi: rice noodles, pear ice cream, vanilla, and fir gel.
The wine list is worth a read, as it features labels from the finest Swiss winemaking, especially from Vaud and Valais, without neglecting the most renowned areas of German- and Italian-speaking Switzerland. French and Italian wines are also available. I'll end with the emotion I felt at the beginning of dinner, sipping a sublime glass of Champagne, Laurent Perrier's Grand Siècle No. 26, a prestigious cuvée based on blending rather than vintage, which has brought this wine to the pinnacle of finesse and complexity.
Hotel des Horlogers
Route de France 8
1348 Le Brassus
Switzerland
Tel. + 41 (0) 21 845 08 45
https://www.hoteldeshorlogers.com
Hôtel des Horlogers: A luxury hotel serving watchmaking houses
