The PMUs have, in a way, their own Michelin guide! A guide which lists the 100 best PMUs in France has just been published (Thursday November 14). His name: “PMU, the 100 bars that make France!” (Fooding Editions). 35 investigators claim to have gone through the list of 14,200 PMUs in our beautiful country before pre-selecting 250. And imagine that among the 100 “best”, there is one in Haute-Savoie: the Bar des Alpes in Megève.
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In the little guide, the establishment has the right to its little chronicle: “Fed up with paneling and animal skins? Get out into the fresh air for a good sip of Alpine oxygen. No need to climb back up, just slalom behind the counter. All year round, the hidden terrace of the Bar des Alpes offers you its XXL teak track, where Thierry provides the PMUramique service.” Please note that the Thierry in question does not exist. A mistake that is largely forgiven Romain Orset, the boss : “It’s a great recognition for us! For me and all the staff, we work every day to satisfy our customers and it’s always nice to have a little article somewhere to recognize our work.”
Philippe Peyre
“People like coming here because it’s natural”
If it is the terrace – very nice indeed – which is highlighted by the guide, what is striking is that the Bar des Alpes is a popular establishment in a resort which is not at all. A contrast reflected by the clientele according to the boss : “It goes from the worker to the person who works in an office in town, to the billionaire who will discreetly move to the minimum wage. They will perhaps chat together and each pay their own way!”
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“We have everything, corroborates Manon, waitress here for two years. In winter, obviously, we have a lot of tourists, but the clientele here, the real Megevans, are simple people, some have money, but you don’t see it on them. People like to come here because it’s natural, it’s simple and they look for simplicity.”
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An observation shared by Rico, 64-year-old retiree, who has always lived in Megève. A faithful among the faithful. “It feels like home,” he says. The prices are affordable, we don’t get knocked out like in the rest of the resort. No need for a suit and tie like elsewhere to be well seen, and I’m proud to say it!”
Prevention
Behind the success of the establishment, the keen advice of certain employees, according to Elvina, at the dish. “We have very playful colleagues from PMU, who are interested in it and are able to advise punters!” Follow his gaze and you come across Jérémy, waiter at Bar des Alpes for two years. “I’m getting by”he blurted, modestly. “It’s good to also be there to guide customers who want to play while being reasonable.”
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Philippe Peyre
Because, yes, playing is nice, but always in moderation. “Like alcohol!”sourit Rico. “It’s also good to do a little prevention”adds Jérémy. “Explain to them, not to get carried away with the bets, to really play for fun, once in a while, because you have races every ten minutes all day long.” And Jérémy expresses his pride in seeing his work rewarded: “We work above all for the locals and guys like Rico, giving them leisure activities, we’ll say. If we manage to be rewarded with that afterward, so much the better!”
“PMU, the 100 bars that make France”signed Le Fooding and PMU. 10 euros. Available in bookstores, at listed PMU points of sale and on the PMU online store.
