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Katie! We have two extra spots for lunch at Kareela Hutte if you'd like to join us! 1.30pm xx
Did we ever! Skiing plans - and children - abandoned, we start dreaming about our invite to the best ticket in snowtown.
You see, it's near impossible to book a meal at Kareela Hutte, Thredbo's fancy ski-in, ski-out dining experience (they don't call it a restaurant), and possibly the one time you can combine "on snow" and "great food" in the same sentence.
A secret email comes out shortly before ski season letting frequent Kareela flyers know when they can book. Aforementioned email recipients have to be ready at that time; when they get online to book, they'll likely find several spots already taken. (When I checked in mid-July, there were eight days left with slots - none of them weekends - until the end of the season.)
So what's it all about? Luxury dining and drinking in your ski gear, red-cheeked and happy. Sharing piled-up plates and tales of snow adventures. A delectable Austrian-inspired menu featuring succulent roasts and decadent desserts.
It's worth the hype.
We order the old favourites - the famous Kareela (cheese and charcuterie) Board and the twice-cooked pork knuckle, as well as a slow-roasted lamb shoulder, and some newbies - inexplicably, in this wintry wonderland, a lobster roll, and today the chicken schnitzel is instead veal. Sides of winter greens and roasted potatoes with garlic and capers.
It's a meandering lunch - no next diners breathing down your neck here - ending with a bucket-list experience: my first "ski shot" - don't knock it until you've tried it, and, oh yes, you should try it. We each have a shot (Nick, our cheeky organiser, has gone for "gold flecked schnapps") lined on a wooden ski held by cowbell playing bar-staff. It's messy, unique, bonding and hilarious.
Later, happy and full, we stumble into the fading day and ski carefully down the Supertrail slope; with food and friendship memories we'll cherish forever.