We've recently moved to Colorado Springs! Major Obvious had Labor Day off, so we headed to Aspen for a family getaway. When asked, "What are you going to do in Aspen in the off-season," our response was an emphatic, "EAT!"
And wow, did we eat. We loved breakfast at
BB's Kitchen, where Little Man dove into a yogurt parfait, "This is delicious!" Sweet Pea had a Belgian waffle with fresh berries, Major Obvious had some kick-ass Huevos Rancheros, and I had the decadent and toothsome Lobster Eggs Benedict. Mmmm, that Benedict was really something. There were homemade English muffins, huge pieces of tender lobster, loads of asparagus spears, and a perfect amount of dreamy Hollandaise. Can you tell that I miss it?
A great lunch can be had at
Ajax Tavern, which is located at the gondola base of Aspen Mountain. Kids can have white cheddar pasta or enormous cheeseburgers while grown ups partake in regular or little plates. Some fun little plates include lamb short ribs or truffle oil fries (those fries, incidentally, do NOT come on a little plate, but in an enormous cone). I can heartily recommend the Lobster Roll, which I shamelessly had only hours after my Lobster Eggs Benedict.
Dinnertime is well-spent at
Rustique, the country French bistro that Jacques Pepin supposedly visits when in Aspen. (I suspect that he hangs out in the kitchen and makes little things with the chef instead of actually just eating there like a mere mortal). The menu at this cozy place has great classics like frog legs (Little Man's favorite), escargot, cheese souffles, artichoke gratin, and mussels. After eating such delicacies, we barely had any room in our stomachs, but manned up for the super-tasty homemade ice cream and sorbet. With one of the best wine lists in Aspen and tempting tidbits such as warm, crusty bread and foie gras, it's a miracle we made it out of there alive. The wait staff is extremely friendly and attentive. They are ready with answers to questions or will enthusiastically cheer you on as you crazily order the entire menu. They also have a lot of information about the area and will point you towards great sandwich venues, places for kids to have a great time, etc.
