Lamb clan

As if hundreds of kilometres of pristine pistes, dizzying cable cars spanning the Italian-Swiss border and a charming chocolate box town weren't enough to write home about, Zermatt is also a great place to eat. Which is lucky when you've travelled four hours on the Swiss rail network with not a restaurant car or refreshment trolley in sight.

Ravenously roaming around town after arriving late on a Friday night, Monsieur Gourmand and I tried our luck at the much written-about Schaferstube; as anticipated, it was fully booked with happy mountain-goers munching on raclette and freshly grilled lamb. But the proprietor Mr Julen was eager to please, whisking us to his eponymous eatery upstairs, run by his son (I think the Swiss monopolies commission must be turning a blind eye to this Julen clan, whose family name seems to be associated with virtually all the restaurants, bars and hotels in Zermatt).

We didn't hesitate in accepting the glass of prosecco offered by our waitress in traditional mountain wear (no men in lederhosen though) before ordering the restaurant's speciality of lamb. I had a perfectly pink, tender entrecote with a deliciously herby crust while Monsieur Gourmand had a mixed plate of cutlets and sausage, both of which were served with crunchy vegetables and potato gratin.

A slightly excessive bottle of pinot noir rounded off the feast, after which we slept very, very well.

Restaurant Julen, Riedstrasse 2, CH-3290 Zermatt
+41 (0)27 966 7600; www.julen.ch