The story
Perched on a hillside in the wine village of Jongieux, Les Morainières is a stone cellier turned into a refined gastronomic destination. The name itself evokes the moraine – the glacial debris that gives the local vineyards their character. Since opening in 2005, chef Michaël Arnoult and his wife Ingrid have built a place where Modern Cuisine is rooted in the surrounding land.
Michaël Arnoult trained at the École Hôtelière de Montargis and worked in notable kitchens, including a stint as second chef to three-star chef Emmanuel Renaut at Les Flocons de Sel in Megève. Ingrid, who handles the dining room and the guesthouse, met him in England. Together, they opened Les Morainières with a clear vision: a cuisine that follows the seasons, respects its producers, and is inseparable from its setting. The chef cultivates his own kitchen garden, and the team works with local suppliers to create dishes that change daily. As Arnoult puts it, “Our cuisine only has value when it is made and tasted here, close to its roots.”
The dining room looks out over uninterrupted vineyards and valleys, a pastoral landscape that feels far from the bustle of nearby Aix-les-Bains and Chambéry. The building, originally a wine cellar built by a palace owner, has been restored with an understated, authentic feel. This dedication to place and craft earned the restaurant its first Michelin star in 2007 and a second star in 2012, a distinction it holds today. The food is a precise, elegant expression of Modern Cuisine, driven by what the land and the season provide.
Les Morainières is open for lunch and dinner Thursday through Sunday. For those who wish to linger, the Maison des Morainières, a guesthouse with six rooms in a restored farmhouse just minutes away, offers a seamless extension of the stay. Whether you come for the cooking, the wine, or the calm, the restaurant delivers a singular taste of Savoie.
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