Grandmère looks astonished, her eyebrows lift into her snowy hair and she says "perhaps" in a way that makes me think she doesn't believe a word of it, her granddaughter grins.
I've known these people for such a short while but they've welcomed me like a friend, made me feel at home, fed and watered me, praised my not brilliant French.
It is a very special place, representative of the ethos of the mountain people and, as for the cheese – it is sublime, especially when you taste it in its natural surroundings.
Tourism: thones-valsulens.com
Where to try plus buy Reblochon
Coopérative du reblochon “Le Farto” - Rte d’Annecy, 74230 Thônes, cheese making from Monday to Friday www.reblochon-thones.com
You'll find a full range of cheeses at Fromagerie Hubert Thuet – 2 rue des vernaies – 7423 Thônes www.fromageriehubertthuet.fr
Farmers cheeses and regional products at Crèmerie Perrissin-Fabert, 21 place Avet, Thônes
Organic cheeses at Biomonde L’Edelweiss, 8 rue Louis Haase,Thônes www.edelweiss-biomonde-thones.fr
Reblochon is perfect for making tartiflette, a tasty, warming speciality of Haute-Savoie, see our fab recipe on page 118.