Val Thorens Apres Ski Report: 22nd March 2012

Located just off the Folyeres run (a lovely wide piste, incidentally, which makes its way through the trees), Ski Lodge does in fact share the area with a handful of other cafes and small restaurants. However, none can hold a candle to its illustrious reputation as one of the best eateries in the Three Valleys. The venue isn’t ideal for bad-weather days as about 70% of the seating is located on the outdoor decking. However, in the sunshine it is a wonderfully relaxing place to get off your feet and enjoy a frosty beer before lunch.

After eating at a few mountain restaurants you become used to recognising the usual Savoyard suspects - the pizzas, the burgers, the fondues – but Ski Lodge mixes it up with its menu, an eclectic little mix of delicious oddities. Of course it is tempting to stick with what you know and go for something you are sure you will enjoy (I've consumed many a mountain burger this season) but why not try something a little more adventurous? Always popular is the eye-grabbing kangaroo steak (quite how they get the meat all the way from Australia I would be interested to know) served with chips, salad and your choice of sauce. As expected, the meat is rather gamey but it’s absolutely delicious. My personal favourite on the menu is the tuna stir fry. Asian cuisine tends to be a little hit and miss in the Alps but this noodle dish is absolutely fantastic. Cooked with vegetables and a very authentic-tasting sauce, it is topped with a mouth-wateringly juicy tuna steak which will happily fill you up for the rest of the afternoon. Of course, you could just go with the sizable fish and chips option as this is reputedly one of the only locations in the Three Valleys that serve it.

If you do venture over to La Tania to sample The Ski Lodge for yourself (which I urge you to do), it is always important to manage your time appropriately and leave enough for the return journey as mountain taxis are extortionate. Back in Val Thorens, there is plenty going on in terms of après-ski entertainment to keep you satisfied. With the plethora of students that are in resort this week, La Folie Douce and Bar360 are always pumping out good vibes from mid-afternoon.

However, if you’d rather avoid the university students, there are numerous bars in town that provide a great atmosphere and live music. After pleasing many with their off-beat style at the beginning of the season, DJs Carpetface and Audible1 are back in town. Hailing from Cornwall, the duo are quickly making a name for themselves as two of the most interesting hip-hop DJs in the UK. Generating their own original tunes with beat-boxing, rapping and plenty of electronic equipment that I won’t bother to try and understand, they are once again drawing the crowds at The Frog and Roastbeef. The small pub is bereft of much of the student activity that has hit the other bars on the strip and is popular as a quieter hang-out; a favourite of the season workers. The duo began Wednesday night’s set with some superbly mixed hip-hop tracks, throwing in a little electronic bongo rhythms for good measure, before moving into their own material after midnight. It may not have been quite as lively as their visit at the start of the season, but they definitely impressed the crowd with their skills. If you missed it, they are finishing up the week back at the Frog on Friday evening.

The big event to for your calendars for next week is the Festi Val Tho at Bar360. For the fifth year in a row, the festival is descending on the mountain bar from Tuesday 27th until Thursday 29th. Bringing an international selection of DJ acts, as well as numerous live acts including some Big Air riding from prominent pro-riders, this is shaping up to be one of the biggest parties of the season. Don’t miss it.