Just a little bit of Aspen…
It’s been busy past week to say the least. From a down-home kind of season so far, I feel like I’ve hit the road with a bang. First stop was Aspen, to meet up with fellow Marmot athletes Greg Ernst, Darcy Conover, Emma Landine, and Shea Flyn and photographer Gabe Rogel to shoot the 2012 winter line. Conditions were definitely challenging. We woke up Thursday morning to grey-bird skies and dust on crust, scavenging for some the shot. However, Aspen local Greg Ernst found us the goods off the back side of Ajax down Castle Creek. I’m not quite sure where we skied, but we found scenic Aspens, moody groves of pine trees, and fluffy pillows the leading the way to the road. You could say we had found a little bit of post-lunch success. The weather gods were a little bit more generous to us on day two, with eight fresh inches of snow overnight, and the sun constantly fighting with the clouds, the light was there, if we waited for it.
The shooting in Aspen may not of been ideal conditions. But the food? O man, the food was a completely different story. I know, I know, I was there to ski. But every athlete needs food to stay strong right? Why not make it delicious and just a little bit decadent. Our first night in town, Gabe, Nick Devore, and birthday boy Will Cardamon and I visited Darcy at Brexie, a delightful little brasserie just outside of the hustle and bustle of main street. We sat at the bar, where the service was incredible, the cocktails tasty and the wine selection diverse. I ordered a small salad, which was delicious, fresh and simple, and then had the Wild Colorado Bass with beets, fennel, collard greens and a lemon buerre sauce. O man. I wanted to savor the flavours longer than I was capable from restraining myself from gobbling it all up.
On night two we visited Will at the Silver Queen, a little locals hideaway on the second floor of a building with no sign. I felt like I was walking into a prohibition speakeasy, just a small silver SQ on a steel door with no windows, but inside, it is quite another story. The boys drooled over mustard stuffed pretzels served with a fondue of chedder and fontina, and my celery root soup was as fresh and flavor-full as it gets. But my lamb? O man, it was close my eyes and chew on the bone delicious. It was served with just a hint of a rosemary rub, mint jus, kale and celery root. It was tender and perfect, just like lamb should be. The third little secret I stumbled upon was Bonnie’s up on Ajax. Instead of the Sundeck or heading into town at the bottom of the gondola, head to Bonnies on hill for a little bit of Tirolian ambiance. The low wood ceilings, wood benches, tables, and delicious array of homemade soups, chili, salads, pizza, and apple strudel are enough to refuel any weary skier. It was far better fare than most ski area lunch choices.
It’s probably a good thing we were skiing, I definitely felt like I could happily eat my way through Aspen.
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