ASPEN IS GREAT FOOD

The Artisan Restaurant

Dan and I just got back from our Second Annual Fredericksen Brothers (Minus One) Reunion in Aspen/Snowmass. Aspen got its start as a Colorado silver mining town in the 1880s. In recent times it has become a destination for the Rich and Famous, especially during ski season. Snowmass Village, where we stayed, is just a few miles away.

Instead of writing one very long post, I am going to write several shorter posts about our trip. I think my favorite aspect of the trip was the dining. We ate at a wide variety of restaurants, some of which Dan and I could not have afforded to eat at had we not been treated by our relatives, and some were just a little bit more spendy than Bismarck restaurants. So here, without further ado, is a culinary tour of Aspen/Snowmass.

The first night of our vacation, we ate at The Artisan Restaurant at the Stonebridge Inn in Snowmass, pictured above. This is the only time we did not dine outside. However, we were close. We were seated next to the windows looking out onto the patio. I had Lollipop Chicken - big chicken drummies flavored with a delicious Thai peanut sauce.



Sunday brunch on the upstairs patio at Bb's Kitchen in Aspen.

I had the Green Eggs and Ham omelet. Green Eggs = eggs with basil pesto sauce, ham = prosciutto. Their homemade toast was most excellent. My brother-in-law Scott had a giant stack of pancakes covered with lemon curd and blueberries. He biked into Aspen to meet us and biked back afterward. He said he needed all those calories for fuel!



Dan enjoying Sunday brunch at Bb's.

He had boring fried eggs and bacon.

Sister-in-law Bonny and brother-in-law Dick
on the terrace of the Eight K Restaurant

My sister-in-law Dana  introduced the rest of us to Moscow Mule cocktails (vodka, ginger beer and lime juice) last year at the Eight K. Dana, Dick, Scott and I opted for them again this year.

My meal that night: taleggio- ("smelly cheese") stuffed Southern Fried Chicken Breast with wild rice risotto and collard greens. I had never tried collard greens before but I liked them, and I did not detect one whiff of smelly cheese in the chicken.

Because Aspen evenings can get cool,  many restaurants have these heat lamps on their patios or terraces. We had this amazing view of the mountains as the sun set and dusk descended.

Peach's Corner Cafe

We stopped here for frappucinos and Italian sodas one afternoon. Peach's is an excellent people- and dog-watching spot. Aspen is very much a dog-loving town, and at one time or another you will see every type of dog ever bred.

Brother-in-law Scott and sister-in-law Dana

hanging out at Peach's.

Su Casa Mexican restaurant

Su Casa had the best chips and salsa and the best chicken fajitas I've ever had.

The Stew Pot, Snowmass

We had lunch at The Stew Pot two days in a row. They feature hearty homemade soups and stews. Our favorites included Beef Barley Soup, French Onion Soup, a hearty Beef Stew and a Rosemary Chicken Stew. I wish I had the recipe for the chicken stew.

 

Campo de Fiori Italian restaurant, Aspen





From left, Scott, Dana, Dick,

Bonny, myself, Dan

We began with Formaggi e Salumi - cured meats, artisanal cheeses, toasted nuts, and fruit senapita. Dick had the Fettuccine Bolognese, I had the Linguine Positano (with shrimp) and the other four had the Penne Vodka on recommendation of Scott and Dana. Penne vodka is pasta and prosciutto flambéed with vodka in a light pink sauce. I sampled Dan's and liked it even better than my own.

Are you has hungry as I am? I ate better during the six days of vacation than I will the rest of the year!