The end of the season has been a rather snowy one, not the usual bbq’s and sunbathing efforts but the Val team managed to get a ski in right at the end! After several rather arduous days of shutdown cleaning we all went out for a lovely ski in the sunshine on totally empty pistes! You can see from the photos that the final team ski came as a welcome break from all the cleaning, especially when it came to cleaning the staff accommodation (!). Thanks team for all the hard work and fun you have brought to F&P Val d’Isere this winter!

Judy x

I always knew years in the Alps would come in useful….  We finally got round to building our new garage and log store at F&P HQ in Devon and who better than to stack the logs that moi… Holly, I hope you are proud!

The F&P Meribel team went on their merry way today. I was very sad to see them go, what a team they have been - thanks so much guys for an amazing season. So much fun, happy guests, and not one single injury or premature departure for anyone. Here are some photos of some of the fun that has been had this season!!

Thanks guys,

Lots of love

Clare xxx

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A couple of weeks ago the Fish and Pips team joined up with team Project Ski for a ’skidooing’ outing. For those unfamiliar with the word, a skidoo is a motorized toboggan with the versatility to ride both on trail and off. They are agile, easy to handle and can cope with anything from bumps to powder. What could be simpler we thought!!

So, we paired up chose our skidoos and off we set. Within 2 secs, Holly and Naomi (I’m not going to say who was driving!!) had careered off in the wrong direction, turned the skidoo onto it’s side narrowly missing a support of the Tommeuse lift…much to the amusement of the people in the chair above. Fortunately they both came up laughing and were back in the saddle as soon as the machine had been turned back over.

We then all set off into the ‘outback’ seeing places in Val d’Isere that we had not been to all season. A couple more scarey moments saw another Skidoo turn on its side and one flying through the air only to land safely and continue on at great speed. The only way to end an outing like this was of course with champagne and a picnic.

Judy X

I was thinking about what to write on next now that we’ve covered the start to the season, fantastic snow and random snippets from both resorts; and it makes perfect sense to start writing about what I, and most of the F&P team, love most….FOOD!

We have a wealth of cuisine here right on our doorstep; from some of the finest food on offer and wholesome great value feeds to some of the most extortionate and over-valued fare imaginable (including the 49 Euro Truffle Pizza and 18 Euro hot chocolate in Courchevel)!

Being food-mad at F&P, between us we have probably tried and test most eateries around, and continue to do so. Things are constantly changing here when it comes to places eat and so we will endeavour to report back on our continuous food quest for the best places to eat in the Alps. And when we say best, we don’t mean the heaviest on your wallet or the Michelin Stars necessarily, but what we consider to be value and experience. We can point you in the right direction for whatever dining experience you are after - whether it is a quick snack between runs, a long lingering lunch, a Michelin or more rustic Savoy experience, the best burger or the hot chocolate to beat all hot chocolate stops! In our opinion there is little better than snuffling and skiing our way round these mountains.

We have it all right here in the Alps and what better place to start exploring than our very own cuisine at F&P. Here are some samples of the yummy treats our chefs create for our guests….

Here are some snaps of the oh so busy pistes yesterday in Meribel… No school kids, lots of snow, amazing piste conditions as well as some lovely fresh powder to ski off the side.  Even our lovely lapin is in great shape with loads of snow right down to our F&P chalets!  I even got a few fresh lines in while out yesterday onm a bit of a girly (read gnarly) ski with Jo Jo from Marmalade Ski School!  Who said the snow was melting??  I heart skiing!

Clare  xx

Last week, after eight seasons on skis, I decided it was about time I found out what all the fuss was about with Snowboarding.

So Holly and I persuaded Roddy from Pro-snowboarding to give us an introductory lesson on the beginner slopes of Val d’Isere. The first thing we had to do was go and swop our skis for boards and the correct boots. Well, that was the easy bit! Boarding boots…comfortable, easy to walk in, they almost make you swagger! And just one piece of equipment to carry…no poles (something I was later to miss more than I expected) and only one plank of wood! We were laughing all the way to the piste.

Following a quick guided tour of our boards and bindings we headed up the hill….no lifts yet, and then assumed the position. That being the one that snowboarders are renowned for - sitting down on their bums! Still smiling, we strapped in and then tried to stand up. First sign of trouble! For all those skiers who have never been on a board, it’s so difficult without poles to push up on. Only with the steadying hands of Roddy did I manage to get to my feet while watching with envy the younger, more supple Holly, spring  up and head off down the slope.

Practising heel and then toe edges we gradually managed to slide our way down to the Village chair lift where we then had to unstrap one foot and manouvere our way onto the lift. Everything is done sideways on a board, walking, sitting, so un-natural. And don’t even ask me about getting off the lift at the top. The board ran away with me, Roddy grabbed me by the back of my jacket and tried his best to preserve my dignity but it was a lost cause. I ended up in a heap under the chair with the pisteur shaking his head and looking very un-amused.

Next run down, beginning to get the feel of this and quite enjoying the ‘feathering’ as it’s called. Even Holly was having trouble standing up so Roddy told us to turn over onto our knees and get up that way…very unelegant but it worked!

And suddenly we almost felt like we knew what we were doing. Well in theory anyway. So a few more disastrous trips up on the lift, not once did I manage to stay standing as I hurled myself away from the chair, but with alot of encouragement and support, literally, suddenly Holly and I were both doing turns. Well to be honest, Holly managed to link a couple and I just followed Roddy and held on to him for dear life.

Two hours absolutely flew by and although we both had very sore wrists, knees and bums by the end of it we both agreed that it wouldn’t be the last time we went out on a Snowboard. I have to admit to having a little bit more respect for Boarders now, catching an edge on a board means you’re down whereas as a skier you have the other ski to save you. So, if anyone sees me at the top of the Village lift on a board struggling to stand up, please don’t laugh, give me a hand!!

Judy X

A couple of weeks ago, a guest who was coming to stay in one our F&P chalets in Val d’Isere, e mailed me and offered to bring out anything that the staff couldn’t buy in resort or was missing from home. They suggested Marmite, peanut butter etc. I think they were extremely surprised at the unanimous response, almost pleading, for Percy Pigs!!

Two days later I was sent this picture of Percy Pigs on the conveyer belt at M&S:

So when our guests arrived and we received our wonderful package I decided to give Percy a tour of the slopes.

First run the lovely Madeleine, blue, wide and empty. 

Then a little bit of Off Piste!

A ride in the Signal bubble!

Pig’s view from a chairlift!

Ending up where all good skis should finish, Bar 15 with Percy Pig dipped in Hot Chocolate and Baileys.

Delicious!!

Judy X

So, whilst Clare is over in Sainte Foy burning up the slopes, we here in Val d’Isere had a slightly different night out the other week. It was to celebrate the ‘Centenary’ (joint 50!) of Jock and Susan from Snowberry and was held in the infamous Dick’s Tea Bar.

Usually a haunt for youngsters wearing jeans, t.shirts and anything baggy and under the influence of way too much alchohol, this evening it was taken over by a more select group. Over 500 personal friends and associates were invited to come and dance the night away to the popular Alps band Mullit.

 So Fish and Pips team donned their dancing shoes…..well the girls did!

Dug out their glad rags..

I think we scrub up quite well!!

And OK…maybe we did all consume copious amounts of champagne, wine and beer, but what a great night. Liz from Europe Tranfers certainly had fun!!  Many thanks to Jock and Susan.

Judy X

So with February half term behind us I thought that it was about time I made the most of all this wonderful snow we have had.  I left the parisians at home, holidaying in Meribel and made for St Foy - a tiny wee ski resort on the way up to Val d’Isere.

We hopped on all the chairlifts that the resort has to offer (only 4!) to get right to the top.  With stunning views over the Espace Killy and the other way to the Italian side of Mont Blanc - which seemed remarkably close - we donned our touring kit and set off up to the ridge.  I am not very good on the ski touring front, so with a lot of help from dear friend Badger and encouragement from Peta, we made it to the top only a little out of breath and not too bruised (all but the ego of course)!  It was the ski down that made it all worth it - fresh tracks all the way to the bottom, lots of powder turns on my lovely handmade Fork Tree Skis, I even braved an ice bridge which I thought was very gnarly!

Once we reached the bottom we stopped for some lunch at the hidden away restaurant Chez Marie - a lovely little place (although the most expensive omlette I have ever eaten) run by Marie herself and the perfect end to the perfect ski!!  Here are some of the photos…

Clare xx