Shopping on the Rive Gauche in Sallanches

Rive Gauche or Left Bank generally refers to the Paris of artists, writers and philosophers, including Anais Nin, Gertrude Stein, Alice B. Toklas, Edith Wharton, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald, among many others. The phrase implies a sense of bohemianism, counter-culture and creativity.

But what about the Rive Gauche in Sallanches? Along the left bank of the Sallanches River in downtown Sallanches is the Quai St. Jacques, where some fun boutiques have recently opened. Here are three to get you started: Chocola- thé, for gourmet chocolates and pastries & fine English teas, Secrets Gourmet Caterer and Specialty Foods, and 118 Quai St. Jacques, a clothing boutique with great sales.

To start, Chocola-thé sells over 40 different varieties of English tea, along with handmade chocolates and homemade pastries and cookies. For example, homemade meringues, or hand-dipped Valhrona Chocolates, or during the holidays, marrons-glacés are a nice compliment to an afternoon tea. I could make some wonderful gift baskets with their unique and delicious items! Chocola-thé has been open for 5 years, with a nice indoor café to sample their delicious goods.

Next on the list is Secrets Gourmet Caterer and Specialty Wines, a hidden gem with some wonderful unique specialty food items, especially for the British tourists, like Worchestire Sauce, and patés. Lionel Demange, the owner, has hand-picked all of the items in his boutique, including white and black truffle oil and dried Morrell mushrooms. Or his aged Modena balsamic vinegar, with black truffles. But if you like smoked salmon, Lionel's is second to none, house-smoking it in his farmhouse in Domancy. For his specialty wines and spirits, his exotique rums like Domenica and Tres Generaciones are exclusive to Secrets. During the holidays, Lionel offers homemade foie gras and special holiday menus to go.

Lionel Demange comes from a family of caterers, with his mother owning a catering business called Chateau de Beauregard in Vaucluse. Formerly a ski jump champion, Lionel fell in the love with the Alps and chose to open his high-end boutique in Sallanches five years ago. His boutique has evolved over time, now offering catering and sushi to go. If you're looking for a quality lunch to go, his weekly menus are a great bang for the buck. And he's one of only a handful of locales offering sushi made fresh daily.

Finally, Quai 118 is a sweet little women's clothing boutique open now for 2 years on Quai St. Jacques. The clothes are great quality, and I just happened upon some amazing sales. I used to love to happen upon such boutiques in Paris, but was pleasantly surprised to find such a boutique in Sallanches.

Nathalie Gruffat, the owner, from Haute Savoie, found this boutique for sale two years ago, and opted to get into the clothing business. Her brands are danish, which explains their unique look, stylishly conservative, but still timeless. I especially liked her accessories, like leather purses with a bull's head that can dress up a plain sweater or jacket, or her unique leather belts, surprisingly affordable.

Who needs Paris with such fun boutiques as Chocola-Thé, Secrets Gourmet Caterer and Quai 118, all right here in Sallanches. I know this year's holiday shopping will be fun and unique!