Early-season ski trip food plan for a group

Opening weekends and early-December ski trips are cheaper and quieter, but the resort is still waking up: some shops, bakeries and restaurants open later than the lifts, and the days are at their shortest. Plan the food as if the village had less to offer, and the trip runs smoothly.

Expect a resort that is still waking up

Many European resorts open between late November and mid-December, often with only part of the ski area running at first. Shops, bakeries and restaurants in the village frequently follow their own calendar, and some only open for the Christmas holidays. Before you go, check which supermarket in the resort is open for your dates, its opening hours, and whether the restaurants you were counting on are already serving.

Do one big shop in the valley

Early in the season, the valley supermarket on the way up is your safest bet: it is open, fully stocked and cheaper than resort shops. Split the shopping list before you leave so two people are not buying the same pasta, and decide who drives with the cool box.

• •Staples for the whole stay: pasta, rice, flour, oil, coffee, tea, breakfast cereals, tins.
• •Fresh food for the first three or four days, then a top-up trip mid-week if the resort shop is limited.
• •Long-life milk and bread you can freeze, in case the village bakery is not open yet.
• •Snacks and drinks for the evenings: there may be fewer bars open than in high season.

Short days, early dinners

Early December has the shortest days of the year, and lifts often close mid-afternoon. That gives the group a long evening at the chalet: perfect for slow-cooked dinners that someone puts on after the last run.

1. A big stew, chilli or curry started at 4pm, served with rice or bread.
2. A raclette or fondue night, easy to buy for in the valley before you arrive.
3. Homemade pizza or tartiflette: cheap, warming, and everyone can help.
4. A soup and cheese board evening after a long first day.
5. One night out, booked ahead, at a restaurant you have confirmed is open.

Lunches when mountain restaurants are closed

With only part of the ski area open, some on-mountain restaurants may still be shut. Plan packed lunches for most days: sandwiches with fillings that do not freeze, a flask of hot soup, and snacks that are easy to open with gloves. It also saves a lot of money across the group.

Have a plan B for thin snow days

Early-season snow is never guaranteed. If conditions limit the skiing, a long brunch, a cooking afternoon or a trip to a valley market can rescue the day. Keep one flexible meal in the plan so it can move to whichever day the group spends indoors.