I have heard many good comments about Marc Veyrat's restaurant in Annecy so I checked out his website. It is much easier to understand in French than in the translated English version. The price was from 270-360E($560cdn) without wine. I must be naive but I didn't know that you could eat a meal for that price. I am sure I would choke on it. Do many Fodorites eat at these kind of places? Is the food really that special. I am interested in your comments.

I've had some great meals, but I don't have a sophisticated enough palate to even begin to think someone could do enough for me to make it worth that kind of money. In many aspects of travel and hospitality, it is possible to spend just about as much as you want to. I'm sure it keeps the riff raff out of the place (among which you may count me.)

I think its possible to enjoy good food in almost any price range - and we have had some great (not just good) meals in europe for quite modest prices - perhaps $40-$50 each. This is much easier in cenral europe or a little off the beaten track - than in multi-star places.

That said - part of my job is entertaining clients - who expect to go to the absolute best restaurants - some of which IMHO are worth the money - and some of which aren't. But in all honesty some of the most expensive meals (in the thousands for a group of 4) have in fact been extradordinary - and really very different in ingredients, quality of preparation, sophistication, inventiveness etc - than meals in even very good restaurants.

That said, there's no way I'm paying $1,000 for dinner for two people with my own money.

Unless you're very, very, very, rich and have absolutely no style, spending anywhere near that kind of money on lunch, or dinner, is ludicrous. There are far too many good restaurants with menus under 100 euros for two to even consider wasting your time considering Marc Veyrat's restaurant. The same holds true for several other over-hipped restaurants, including Alain Ducasse. There are too many great chefs offering great meals to worry about trying to live up to the life style of the rich and famous who have more money than class.

I am new to this board. I understand everything except IMHO. Could someone please explain what this stands for. Thanks

LoveItaly,

IMHO is "in my honest opinion" or "in my humble opinion".

hsv, thanks for explaining IMHO. This has been driving me crazy trying to figure it out. But spending 270-360E (without wine!) I sure figured out. No thank you! Ita, I would choke too.

Marc Veyrat cooks in Megeve during the winter season, at Le Ferme de Mon Pere. It's an extraordinary restaurant; a farm, as you would expect, but there are horses just underneath the restaurant; some of the floors are glass. Other animals just outside too.
I have been there once, and it was the most amazing meal I've ever had. I would not have missed it; the food and ambiance are fabulous. We spend about 400 per person, so the prices you quote are accurate. And yes, the food really was special. And it is full every evening of the season, so there are plenty of people who are prepared to pay that.

>...I didn't know that you could eat a meal for that price.<

Yes, Ita, you can. It is a matter of taste.

ttt

For that kind of money, they had better do more for me than serve dinner. I will not say what, for fear of having this thread deleted.... ;-)

People spend money on all sorts of things, some of which I might consider a waste of money. This restaurant is full every night. If you cannot imagine that a dinner can cost that much, just go eat somewhere else. Mr. Veyrat won't mind, he's busy enough as it is.