If you think ski area menus consist only of chicken tenders and fries, you’re in for a delightful surprise. Colorado Ski Country member resorts offer many mouth-watering gourmet food options. In honor of the ‘Top Chef: Colorado’ season finale tonight, we’d like to focus your attention on the world-class dining experiences at Colorado ski areas.
Here are the signature dishes and must-try menu items from the restaurants, bars and grills of Ski Country:
Across the Wolf Creek eateries, most patrons have a bowl of Wolf Creek’s famously homemade Santa Fe style Green Chili. A favorite at Wolf Creek, the Green Chili has spicy New Mexico green chiles, diced potatoes, carrots, onions and chicken with a variety of fresh toppings available to customize your bowl of chili. Veggie lovers have a meat free option of the Green Chili Stew as well.
Wolf Creek Lodge in the base area also offers daily specials like skier spaghetti, chicken black bean burritos, fish and chips and Wolf Burgers.
A must try dish, especially after a full day on the mountain, is the Colorado Elk Chili at Vertical Bistro and Tap, located in the Village. In addition to Colorado-sourced Elk, it’s made with roasted peppers, which gives it just the right amount of kick.
Telluride’s signature dish, the Alpino Vino Grilled Cheese, includes local parmesan bread, Colorado Camembert cheese, house-made Pesto and oven-roasted Roma tomatoes, served with an organic gorgonzola tomato bisque.
Sunlight’s signature dish this season is spaghetti, officially approved by the Sunlight Mini-Mayor and served exclusively on Sundays. If you want a plate, you better come on Sundays, and you better come early. Spaghetti Sunday’s have been sold out since the resort officially voted in favor of the Spaghetti Act, that establishes that spaghetti be served on Sundays with 10 percent of proceeds donated to the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
Steamboat’s signature dish is the Four Points Lodge turkey pot pie, one of the most popular dishes on mountain and complete with crispy, flaky crust and a rich, flavorful filling. Four Points chefs Mike Apostle and Shawn Atwood are even so kind to share the recipe if you’re craving Turkey Pot Pie at home.
Silverton Mountain doesn’t have lot of culinary options, but they love to serve up Face Shots. Some folks enjoy placing a few of their Pringles chips on the stove for a warm treat after a satisfying day.
Nestled in the heart of the base area at Purgatory Resort, Purgy’s Slopeside features full-service dining in a cozy mountain lodge, with modern American cuisine. Purgatory’s flagship restaurant features signature dishes like Elk Ragout with braised elk loin, rich heirloom tomato sauce, pappardelle pasta, herbed ricotta and garlic buttered Texas toast.
The Sunset Bar & Grill features local grass fed organic beef from Homestead Meats. These Burgers are the go-to favorites of many. Powderhorn Pub Located in the SlopeSide Inn has a phenomenal menu with a wide range of dishes featuring everything from pizza, signature sandwiches, and gourmet salads.
Monarch Mountain’s signature dish, and a must-try when you visit this ski area, is the Fiesta Nachos in the Sidewinder Saloon. A local favorite, the dish includes tortilla chips piled high with melted cheese, tomatoes, black olives, red onions, sour cream, guacamole and a side of salsa. Add steak, ground beef, grilled chicken, or pulled pork for a legendary ski break.
Loveland’s local favorite and must-try dish is the Zip Burger, complete with cheese, onion rings, bacon and raspberry chipotle sauce.
The Granby Ranch Grill is world-renowned for serving up the Brunch Burger, a mouth-watering burger with cheddar cheese, an over easy egg and bacon.
At Eldora, you can’t go wrong with signature items from the smoker, like Beef Brisket or Pulled Pork.
Signature dishes at Echo Mountain include the waffle fries, which are “literally life changing” according to skier reviews, and also come in Chile Cheese Fries and Loaded French Fries varieties. Another crowd pleaser is the Tex Mex Burger, complete with habanero jack cheese, roasted poblano chiles, pico de gallo and guacamole.
At Crested Butte, everything at on-mountain Uley’s Cabin is a must try. Uley’s Cabin features a rotating menu, making it difficult to pick a signature dish, but the Mushroom Bisque is a mainstay on the menu and a fan favorite.
Copper Mountain’s signature dishes come from Toast & Co. a new all-day breakfast spot serving up some of the best regionally-sourced dishes in Colorado. Crowd favorites include the Med Veg Benny, Amaretto French Toast and Chorizo Hash. Another must-try spot on the mountain, the Ten Mile Tavern, serves Steak and Gorgonzola Nachos featuring cajun pub chips with grilled steak, Applewood smoked bacon, jalapenos, shallots, Pepper Jack cheese, green onions and a four cheese sauce.
Cooper’s General Manager regularly mans the grill to make the best Philly Cheesesteaks around.
Each of Aspen Snowmass’ four resorts features it’s own signature dish. At Aspen Mountain, Breakfast Pancakes at Bonnies are a can’t-miss start to your ski day. At Aspen Highlands, skiers and riders rave about the Raclette at Cloud Nine. At Buttermilk, the Vietnamese Noodle Bowls at the Cliffhouse or the Pasta Bar at Bumps bring the biggest crowds. And at Snowmass, it’s too difficult to choose just one. The Salad Bar at Elk Camp, cookies at Up 4 pizza, Gwyns Chicken George Sandwich, and Sam’s Smokehouse Fried Green Tomatoes are all Snowmass must-try dishes.
According to A-Basin Chef Rybak himself, the signature dishes include house-smoked BBQ, pork brisket and smoked chicken at Black Mountain Lodge. Guests also rave about the nachos and the Bacon Bloody Mary at 6th Alley Bar & Grill.
