Skiing is one of my favorite outdoor activities. I have been fortunate to ski everywhere, from Europe to South America to New Zealand, and live in iconic ski towns like Tahoe City and Jackson Hole. So, here are my picks for the 10 Best Snacks for Ski Days… some are best enjoyed before your turns, and some are best enjoyed after.
Best Snacks for Ski Days #10-6
10. Cheese Fondue
When in doubt, go with a classic. Swiss mountaineers have been enjoying this melted cheese dish since as early as the 17th Century. I fell in love with this dish while skiing in Verbier, Switzerland.
What makes this great for outdoor eating is that most fondue pots come with their own heat source, ready to hold up to the elements like wind and snow.
New to Fondue? Check out my 2021 Fondue party post for where to get started.
9. Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
Not every chairlift sandwich has to be savory. They can also be sweet! I couldn’t resist sharing some of my latest treats for Bachelor ski friends. Cute and so much fun to make!
8. RAMEN
Ramen is the “little black dress of outdoor eating.” Dress it up to be faaaancy or keep it simple and classic; both ways, it always tastes marvelous.
From shoyu to miso to super spicy, great ramen always starts with a great base. So on your rest days, when you have extra time, make a batch of your favorite in your slow cooker. Then. freeze until ready to use. Literally, my freezer is stocked.
Looking for a recipe on where to get started? Try this Miso Clam and Pork Belly Ramen.
7. Chicken Wings
One of my favorite snacks for ski days is chicken wings. With years of “study,” I believe that I found the best chicken wings in every ski town in the West.
- Tahoe: The Bridgetender
- Jackson Hole: The Bird
- Park City: High West
- Vail: The George
- Revelstoke: Village Idiot
- Mammoth: Mammoth Brewing Company
- Big Sky: Scissorbills Saloon
- Telluride: Smuggler’s Brew Pub
- Sun Valley: Lefty’s
- Whistler: Longhorn
- Mt. Baker: Chair 9
- Deer Valley: St. Regis Bar
And if these places are closed, don’t be afraid to make your own.
P.S. Ranch is better than Blue Cheese.
6. Duck Rillettes Sandwich
So, what the heck is duck rillettes?
Rillettes is a traditional French method to preserve meat by cooking meat low and slow and storing it in fat. It eats similar to a pate, but in my opinion, it is much tastier.
I’m a huge fan of the preservation methods of old. People ate well long before modern refrigeration techniques, so there is no need to reinvent the wheel. Let’s learn from our ancestors when transporting food.
Along with French preservation methods, I also love the French Alps. Chamonix is the best skiing in the world. What is more exciting than dramatic, steep peaks falling into a narrow ski valley? The best run of my life was the Vallee Blanche, and of course, it was finished with duck rillettes and pomme frittes.
Best Snacks for Ski Days #5-1
5. Chilean Empanadas
My first empanada was at a roadside stop somewhere in between Santiago and Portillo, where you paid 100 pesos to use the bathroom and got an empanada, freshly baked from a clay oven, to-go. This is a warm and satisfying treat that can easily be easily eaten with one hand. (Hands definitely washed after going to the bathroom, of course!).
Roadside bathroom stories aren’t usually associated with great food, but it was in this case.
4. Doughnuts, doughnuts, doughnuts!
My parents have a great picture of me, about 7 years old, bawling, red as a tomato, and shoving a maple bar in my mouth. Needless to say, I’m passionate about my doughnuts… making them essential snacks for ski days.
“There is never a wrong time for a doughnut.”
Annie C.
There have been many times during the ski day when I have had tired legs, and in my opinion, a quick bite of sugar energizes me like nothing else.
And checkout this recipe for Pumpkin Doughnuts with Black Sesame Glaze.
3. Tomato Bisque and Bacon Cheese Biscuits
Don’t look for a tomato soup recipe on my site, as my favorite comes from Food and Wine and the renowned Seattle chef and restauranteur Tom Douglas. It is easy to make ahead and stores well in a thermos for on-mountain or apres enjoyment. Impress your friends with “to-order” grilled cheese “croutons” on your camping or backpacking stove. Or make ahead these cheesy bacon biscuits!
2. Ribs
There are a few dishes that I think are just as good on day 2, if not a little better. Pad Thai, lasagna, and of course, barbeque ribs. (Different opinion? Please share in the comments section!)
My current obsessions are wild boar ribs and bison ribs. They are so much healthier and more flavorful than their pork and beef cousins.
1. Apple and Sausage Hand Pies
Yes, I know this option is eerily similar to empanadas but I had to share this new recipe. These mitten-size crispy gems are just what you need for a mid-mountain, mid-day snack.
