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Verbier Apres Ski Report: 24th January 2013

Chilly noses, mountain meals and live music

featured in Nightlife reviews Author Angus Griffin, Verbier Reporter Updated

Chilly noses have meant a quieter week in resort this week. A drop in temperature has seemed to induce hibernation for many but for those holidaymakers and seasonaires who did brave the icy blast, there was more than enough excitement to keep the Verbier antics flowing. With some mind-blowing skiing, captivating live music and a great choice of restaurants there's always plenty of fun to be had in the 4 Valleys!

This week on the mountain saw Verbier Freeride World Championship qualifiers created an atmospheric buzz in the resort. Giving gifted skiers the opportunity to showcase their finest skills, the competition extended over Bruson, La Tzoumaz, Verbier and Vichères-Liddes. Making the most of this electric ski hype, the local ski companies set up shop at the bottom of the Medran lift exhibiting a wide range of choice, there was a ski to be tested for all conditions.

Notably, Verbier legends Faction Skis put-up-shop and exhibited their world-class choice of skis. With a range spanning freeride, park and pipe and all-mountain, the choice was extensive and the quality of ski impressive. Faction's The Wednesdays ski gives all-mountain skiers the opportunity to try a ski that can do it all – it’s well worth testing. Responsive, dynamic and able to rip up the off-piste as well as the park, they make a fantastic ski for all occasions and a worthy challenger in this competitive market.

As far as live music is concerned, regular T-Bar legend Stevie Appleton played on Saturday evening whilst Tuesday saw Yellow Mike make a welcome come-back to play with his new band at the Pub Mont Fort. Everyone’s favourite Korean drew a decent crowd and hopefully there will be more to come from the epic frontman’s new outfit.

As mid-season edges its way nearer and nearer, it’s well worth swapping that evening pint for a mountain meal. If you haven’t eaten out yet, now is the time to dig deep into the wallet and experiment with some of the Alp’s finest eateries. Just slightly off the Rue de Medran, Hôtel les Chamois is a family run affair and one that will not disappoint. Traditional, rustic and cosy, the Oreiller-Jullier family provide hungry snow-goers with mountain specialities including a mouth-watering array of fondues and an extensive buffet salad bar. There is something for everyone here and if you’re really lucky, your very own accordion player will add a soundtrack to your meal! With a fondue and half a bottle of wine coming to around 50CHF’s it’s by no means the cheapest alternative, but if your pockets are feeling particularly heavy after your last pay cheque, it’s well worth a visit for some local delights.

Being so close to the Italian border, it’s little surprise that pizzeria’s seem to pop up around every corner in Verbier. If you still want quality but don’t feel like splashing your weekly allowance, this can be a great option. Located on the Route de Verbier, La Pergola Restaurant is in the heart of the resort. Serving up a delicious selection of pizzas, ranging from the infamous fold up calzone to your classic funghi, you can adventure out or stay with what you know. The risotto is a tempting alternative and will be sure to have you experiencing significant food-envy if not chosen! Their antipasti is also worthy of a mention so why not share the assortiment charcuterie Italienne for a delicious cold-meat starter? With pizzas starting at around 20 CHF, La Pergola doubles up as quality-assured, cheap meal out for a group of friends or a cost-effective family meal.

If you are beginning to suffer from a dose of the mid-season blues (pretty unlikely in this snow-covered paradise!), there’s plenty to keep you busy through the chilly January weeks. Burn’s Night is not a night usually associated with the Swiss Alps, but Le Rouge has appeased the Scot within us and decide to throw a Burns Night Supper on Friday 25th January. Starting at 19:30, tickets cost 40 CHF per person and the price includes a two-course meal, half a bottle of wine and a couple of drams of whisky. Dress code is (un)strictly black tie or kilts, but if you left your man skirt at home, don’t despair as smart casual is accepted.

Alternatively, for some acoustic fun, head down to T-Bar on Saturday 26th January to see Mikey Gray perform live. Famous throughout the Alps for his legendary sets (I first saw him in Méribel), he is guaranteed to provide a fun-filled show so make an appearance to see him grace the Verbier stage.

Don’t forget to wrap up warm this week as it’s looking to stay chilly! Oh and don’t forget to visit our events calendar to see all of the fun-filled activities to keep you warm.