While visiting Vail recently, I was introduced to some of the loveliest restaurants in town. I assumed that the food would be good, but I truly didn’t realize just how good. The majority of restaurants are inspired by farm-to-table ingredients and are made with organic ingredients. While I’m not typically a foodie, I found the food to be inspiring. Once my body got over altitude sickness (which took 24 hours), I was able to really partake in exquisite Vail cuisine. Here are some of the restaurants I tried.
La Tour is a French-American restaurant located in the heart of the Vail Farmer’s Market and offers natural and sustainable products. For brunch, which is when I was there, they serve lovely French toast with banana fosters brioche (pictured below), eggs benedict with hollandaise sauce, mussels, escargot, a trio of summer tomato salads, summer truffle grilled cheese and other delicacies including lovely madelines with lemon sauce all made by Chef Paul Ferzacca.
The handcrafted cheese plate includes goat cheese and assorted creameries, berries, pecan raisin bread and marcona almonds and is as divine as it looks.
The atmosphere is lovely and the dining rooms are adorned with world class sculptures, paintings, photographs and glass art. To top it off, the service was absolutely perfect…both cordial and accommodating. I couldn’t have enjoyed it more. Location: 122 East Meadow Drive, Vail Village, Tel: 970-476-4403. Follow them on Twitter.
Terra Bistro is another of Vail’s favorites, offering free-range meat, poultry and vegetables from local markets. The restaurant is beautiful, with big glass windows in an intimate setting with a fireplace. The menu focuses on contemporary American cuisine that throws in a few Asian, Mediterranean, and Southwestern influences. For starters, we shared a few interesting dishes including Sprouted Quinoa Cups, crispy baked kale chips (YUM) and ahi tartare. Entrees include Grilled Amish beef tenderloin with Yukon mashed potatoes and cornmeal-crusted Rocky Mountain trout with sweet-potato hash and Sweet potato ravioli which is a signature and was delicious – I sampled an eating companion’s.
My main dish was Pan Seared Steelhead Filet, which was heavenly and akin to salmon, a fish I’d never had. They also serve excellent home made juice drinks and exotic wine. Kids can munch on their edamame, butternut squash ravioli or a meat dish while you explore your own palette. Location: Vail Mountain Lodge & Spa, 352 E. Meadow Dr., Vail Village, Tel: 970-476-6836. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
If you’re in the mood for something really special and exotic, and your kids can keep up with your palette, or you have no kids to worry about and want an exquisite night out, try Matsuhisa, Japanese and Peruvian fusion cuisine from Chef Nobu Matshuhisa. We went on a sample binge and tried multiple dishes including Jalapeño yellowtail, broiled black cod with miso and Tomato heirloom salad and I can’t even begin to describe my satisfaction.
The food is as good as it gets and the only way to describe it is orgasmic. There were actually kids in the dining room and I was impressed and wondered how my kids would fare in such a restaurant. Nonetheless, I was glad to be on my own and able to explore dish after dish after dish. I hung onto every bite. Location: 141 E Meadow Dr, Tel: 970-476-6628. Follow them on Facebook.
Disclosure: I was on a press trip so all these meals were complimentary. However, as always, opinions are my own.