“Surprisingly, as a young child I didn’t dream of being a chef or running a kitchen, I would say I stumbled upon it,” shares Andrea Franceschi, who is the executive chef at Ultima Gstaad and Ultima Courchevel Belvédère, part of the Ultima Collection, a luxury hospitality group with exclusive and secluded villas, chalets, spas, and a five-star hotel set across Switzerland, France, and Greece.
“Over the past 20 years, I have been lucky enough to master techniques in some of the most celebrated kitchens across Europe, and can honestly say I love what I do,” he adds. Those celebrated kitchens aren’t for the faint of heart, they belong to culinary legends such as chef of the century Joël Robuchon and a certain Gordon Ramsay.
Long hours, a high-pressure environment, and the need for near-perfect execution helped to mould both Franceschi’s gastronomic prowess and his ability to deliver a bar-raising experience for his guests. “My favourite thing about the Ultima properties is the opportunity I have to break the barrier between our kitchen and the guest,” he explains, sharing that he personally introduces the dishes to guests at their table to fully communicate the ingredients he’s chosen and how they connect with the other elements on the plate.
At Ultima Gstaad, Franceschi and his team offer high-end dining at their main restaurant, or guests can opt for a personalised in-suite service. For guests at Ultima Courchevel Belvédère, a bespoke gourmet service awaits, be that a loaded pre-ski breakfast delivered by your butler or a multi-course private dinner.
“We wow guests constantly by weaving in touches of personalisation to their meals, which we’ve learnt from them throughout their stay. It can be a special moment when they notice flavours from their homeland or their favourite ingredient which they mentioned only the night before,” he adds.
Luxury Lifestyle Magazine writer Ina Yulo Stuve speaks with Franceschi about how he develops menus for some of the most discerning palates and finds out what it was like to work under two behemoths of the restaurant world.
What made you decide to join the Ultima Collection?
I heard of Ultima Collection during my training and knew of its reputation in the luxury hotel field. I knew it was a place that celebrated creativity when it came to the dishes offered and that the quality needed to be exceptional, I was up for the challenge and have never looked back.
Tell me more about the Shisha Bar and how that concept came to be.
The Shisha Bar is a great concept within the Ultima Gstaad, offering guests a space to gather, meet, and relax. It celebrates a Middle Eastern style and here you can also try our refined cocktail list that captures the spirit of the Alps in creative and unpredictable ways. We like our guests to have it all: a place to enjoy in the evening and, of course, a place to rest in our spa and clinic.
Can you share any lessons you learned working under Gordon Ramsay and Joël Robuchon?
Joël Robuchon always said to me: ‘Fatigue is in your head.’ It was a great inspiration while I trained under him at La Table in Paris and it’s a lesson that I’ve kept with me today. Additionally, the most common phrase said in all of the kitchens I have worked in is: ‘Be the best’, which runs true at Ultima Collection too.
My training under both Gordon Ramsay and Joël Robuchon instilled in me a respect for the products I cook with, discipline, determination, and a desire to always work with people from different gastronomic backgrounds as it allows me to continuously elevate my work.
When it comes to menu development, how do you bring in the unique local culture of the properties to your food and beverage offering?
Designing menus around seasonal and local ingredients is key to Ultima Collection. I explore our properties’ local cultures for the freshest seasonal ingredients and will meet with local suppliers to ensure the shortest chain from farm to fork. Our menu infuses fresh, local produce with flavours from the sun-drenched Mediterranean, creating something truly unique for our guests.
Have you noticed any changes in dining preferences over the past few years?
There has been a definite change over time for guests wanting to have healthy yet delicious dishes, which align with their active lifestyles. As a society, we have also become more aware of dietary restrictions, so it is important that we have vegetarian choices, gluten-free, and dairy-free options on the menu. At Ultima Collection we are always listening to our guests’ preferences so we can deliver show-worthy meals based on individual tastes.
What are the must-have dishes on the menus of both properties right now and what was the inspiration behind them?
I don’t have a signature dish, but I do have a statement style. For me, providing a visual treat is just as essential to delivering deliciousness. I create delicate dishes with unexpected twists, from pairing raspberries with slow-cooked salmon all adorned in flowers and vibrant in colour, to aji Amarillo and seared octopus, to Simmental beef and turbot fish that melts in your mouth, seasonal produce is combined with locally-sourced fish and meat to surprise even those that I’ve served many times before.
Do you ever bring any of your Italian heritage into your menus?
I love Italian food and my Italian heritage, but I have also been travelling the world to develop new skills and pick up different gastronomic experiences. From perfecting the French art of presentation to adopting Japanese methods, I have a passion for learning about and embracing new cultures. But of course, if I can add a touch of my Italian flair to a dish then I will.
When not working, where can we find you drinking and dining?
I do find it interesting to stay and dine at other luxury establishments. It allows me to see how Ultima compares and ensure we are a cut above the rest. But when I am away from work, I don’t tend to cook as much and enjoy being out on the road racing my motorbikes. But I will never say no to pizza!
Factbox
Ultima Collection
Website: ultimacollection.com/en
Reservations: reservation@ultimacollection.com
Instagram: instagram.com/ultimacollection
