With a glut of attention from international food and wine publications, sold out “foody” festivals, and a handful of local chefs reaching celebrity status, the food scene in the Vail Valley is certainly thriving. There is no shortage of Wine Spectator award winning wine lists centered on matching opulent Colorado Lamb and Elk Medallion dishes, but when your waistline (and pocket book) need a break from 5 course dinners, consider a night of keeping things low key. Here are the Top Five Picks for Casual Dining in Vail (in no particular order):

Moe’s BBQ: The ‘Bama boys that started Moe’s are on to something so good that Moe’s Original BBQ’s seem to be popping up everywhere these days, but the Original Moe’s Original started right here in Vail! Get your soul food fix with their delicious pulled pork sandwiches and side dishes sourced from family recipes that stay true to their Southern spirit; quite simply, this ma & pa place is low key, unique, and delicious.

Vendetta’s Pizza Bar: Yes, it’s always crowded and usually loud, but there’s a good reason: it’s full of locals telling tales of the sweet powder stashes they found late in the day (and mercilessly destroyed). Located on Bridge Street (let your nose lead you to the amazing pizza oven aromas wafting out the front door), try  to grab a seat in the pizza bar – you can people watch as you dig in to a couple slices of Snow Pig and wash it down with a cold lager. If you are lucky enough to be in Vail in Spring, the back patio next to the Lodge at Vail is a great spot to watch the action of the Village.  If you are however, trying to avoid the umm “interesting” things that can happen as après merges with late night in a beer soaked setting, make a reservation in advance for the full service restaurant that sits below the pizza bar. Often accompanied by live jazz, the restaurant offers the same great pizza, but with table service, and expanded dinner menu of old world italian favorites, a nice wine list, and the option of a kids menu.

Bully Ranch: Located in the posh Euro-styled Sonnenalp Resort, Bully Ranch has been a locals favorite since 1986. The limited kitsch “Old West” atmosphere provides a great environment to belly up to the bar and have some good old fashioned fun. The food at the Bully is really well executed (think bar food made by a famous French chef held gun point by Annie Oakley) a broad menu, big cowpoke portions, a little spice, and quality ingredients. If one fancies themselves a burger aficionado then the Black Angus monster called the “Definitive Burger” is a no-brainer pick.  Also, try the Nachos, they are the ultimate refuel after a big day in Blue Sky Basin; oh and while most might be used to saving the frozen concoctions for beach resorts, give the famous Mudslides a try, they might be the perfect alternative to that epic 1961 Château Margaux that you dropped a car payment on last evening.

Los Amigos: A perfect place for an après bite.  Good vibe, solid food, and exemplary people watching.  If it’s warm enough, make sure to sit outside on the South facing deck and take bets on how many people will miss making an edge on the always ice covered Pepi’s Face and slide helplessly all the way to the bottom (and yes, the author slid the face his first year in Vail to a roaring round of applause from the Amigo’s deck patrons). The menu covers all classic tex-mex dishes, but make sure to hit a carafe of the house margarita and try out some of their delicious fish tacos.

Tap Room: A locals’ haunt at the end of Bridge Street, casual dining often includes casual drinking and the Tap Room is typically a great choice for both food and drink specials. If burgers and chicken wings fit the bill for your evening, then Tap Room is your place. While their menu includes other entrees, I’ve never seen anyone actually eating Chicken Alfredo here, so I can’t speak to their other dining options.  We’ve heard the the wings pair nicely with a Coors and a shot of Patron, though!

A word of caution when keeping it casual in Vail. “Casual” in a ski town is often synonymous with “local” and our five favorites are certainly haunts of the locals and visitors alike. In Vail, the “locals” are the same guys/gals that sell you your lift tickets and tune your skis in exchange for low wages and legendary powder days. In short, most locals try not to take themselves too seriously, so if you can keep it casual and bounce from the bootle of rare vintage Champagne the night before to being able to gulp down the Champagne of Beers (aka Miller High Life) the next, you’ll fit right in!

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A SONG FOR UNPRETENTIOUS EATING: HOT SAUCE

(AS PERFORMED BY THE GREYHOUNDS)

All of the staff is passionate about getting “out there”. Whether snowboarding the pipe, skiing the trees, or tele-marking down a steep untracked face, we hit the lifts often and hard (there’s nothing quite as sweet as a few early morning powder runs squeezed in before a full day of work). All this being said we can understand that there are people who want to to do a bit more than simply making turns non-stop for their entire vacation. And that’s ok. There’s plenty out there for you, too. While some members of the family might be catching first tracks on a bluebird powder morning, here are a few options for those less inclined to strap themselves to a pair of sticks and fly down a mountain.

If you wish to book any of these activities or have any questions, please feel free to contact the concierge at (970)479-9990, or shoot us an e-mail at info@peakpropertiesvail.com.

IF you have been riding Vail for any period of time, you probably have developed a LOVE/HATE relationship with the Sun Up/Down Bowls on a powder day (LOVE the untouched knee deep freshies with great steeps on the way down and HATE the 30 to 45 minute wait for the blasted fixed triple chair.  Well you can now enjoy a more pure, LOVE/LOVE relationship with these two monster pieces of terrain – check out this video of the work done to install the new high speed quad replacement coming out of Sun Down Bowl.  (The fast-forwarded helicopter shots are worth the view alone) I don’t know about you, but I’m itching to get out there and make some laps!!!

NEW CHAIR 5 VIDEO

When your legs are spent from carving up Vail’s legendary pow, you’ll be glad to find an exponentially shorter  lift line at the bottom (and bit quicker to the top so you can duck into Buffalo’s and refuel for more turns!!!)

As Thanksgiving approaches, I can’t imagine a better place to be, than in the Vail Valley. Aside from the traditional Thanksgiving activities of gathering family or friends for a bountiful feast, watching football, and enjoying the company of one another, Thanksgiving in Vail also means the beginning of a new winter season. The ski mountain, restaurants, and Peak Properties staff are ramping up for another winter season, preparing to bring to life the vacation dreams of our guests. It’s an exciting time and it’s also chalk full of activities to allow you to be thankful for the time you have to spend with your family this seasons.

Vail Mountain opens on November 19th, closely followed by Beaver Creek Mountain opening on November 24th. If you want to start feasting a day early, check out Beaver Creek’s famous chocolate chip cookie competition at the base of the mountain. Either enter your own recipe or taste them all vote on the top 5 cookies to decide which one will be served throughout the winter during the afternoon “cookie time” when warm cookies are handed out at the base of Centennial lift.

Thanksgiving morning, the family can burn off a few of those cookie calories with an early morning walk/run. The Riverfront Club, part of the Westin Riverfront Resort and Spa, offers their annual “Turkey Trot”, a short run around the Avon area and Lake Nottingham.

For dinner, while several of the restaurants in the area offer Thanksgiving menus, consider the more intimate alternative of having your holiday meal catered to your vacation home. Several area caterers provide full Thanksgiving meals. A few favorites in the area include Allison Plummer Events (butternut squash flan anyone?) and the Gourmet Cowboy (spice up your table with a Cajun fried turkey). If you haven’t experienced the treat that is a catered Turkey Day meal, this season may be the time to try, as any group in a Peak Properties home who spends 4 or more nights will get an in home gourmet Thanksgiving dinner on the Peak Properties tab! Lay back and watch Football, ski, or whatever while we take care of the rest via a personal chef! (Click below to learn more)

TURKEY DINNER ON US

Popping out of the Turkey coma on Friday, the savvy shoppers of America swarm the malls on Friday morning, but the Vail Valley comes to life by those hitting the slopes. Get out and breathe in the fresh air of the Rocky Mountains and thank yourself for not being in the local Walmart by carving down one of North America’s favorite ski mountains. Cap off your day with the tree lighting ceremony in Beaver Creek, complete with traditional carolers, gingerbread competitions, and a personal visit from the big man himself, Santa Claus.

Thanksgiving is a time for celebrating family, friends, and tradition. I can’t think of a more beautiful location for Thanksgiving than the Vail Valley, and I can’t imagine a better place to take your turkey induced nap than in a Peak Properties luxury rental home. for creating more memories and for kicking off the holiday season while kicking off the ski season. Eat, Drink, and be Merry.

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BE THANKFUL FOR THE GREAT PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE, TAKE SOME TIME TO REFLECT OVER SOME GREAT JAZZ WHILE ENJOYING  A BIG GLASS OF RED WINE

A SONG FOR THE BEGINNING OF WINTER: NOVEMBER 15

(AS PERFORMED BY KENNY GARRETT)

As the weather starts to cool and the leaves start to change, I can’t help but feel like I want to hold onto the warm days for a few more weekends, but as summer ends it ushers in the shortest , vivid,  and perhaps most lovely season in the mountains, Fall.  There is so much to do in the Vail Valley before the snow falls (and no I’m not talking about waxing your skis) and I encourage everyone to get out and enjoy the fruits of mountain living over next few weeks.Fall in Vail means brilliant colors from the changing aspen trees, the smell of fireplaces once again crackling to life to keep us warm in the evening, and the tastes of autumn in our restaurants and in our glasses. Here’s a short guide to squeezing the most out of the next several weeks, whether you are trying to hold on to summer for just a little longer or ready to embrace fall.

Take a hike. A great thing about Colorado hikes is that you can do them over and over again in one year and see something different every time. Our flora and fauna change so quickly with the varying temperatures at altitude that the same hike you did in May to see the rushing run off of spring’s waterfalls can hold some of the most brilliant fall color landscapes in September. Booth Falls is a local favorite, easily accessible from the east Vail exit, the trail head puts you at the base of a steady climb up one of the many nooks and crannies that our area has to offer. It’s about 4 miles round trip and will take you 1,800 feet up in elevation to Booth Falls, now a humble trickle of water over rock compared to the raging waters it spews forth in the spring. Along the way, you’ll meander through golden aspen forests and experience breathtaking views of Vail Mountain from afar. This hike is great for all ages, but for the less acclimated with altitude, the elevation gain may be a little challenging in some sections. It’s worth the trek uphill to breathe in that crisp fall air and let your senses take over when the sounds of I-70 fade away and the quiet beauty of fall takes center stage. If you stay in one of our flagship 4 bedroom vacation rental homes: 2975 Manns Ranch Road, this trail is actually less than 200 yards from your front door!!

Get your Oom-pah-pah on. September in Vail also means Oktoberfest season, which gives us all a great reason to, well, drink good beer. Vail Village and Lionshead host their nod to the Bavarian tradition September 10th – 12th. The beloved festivities include live music, juicy brats, gigantic steins (yes…of beer), keg tossing, and lederhosen. September 16th-19th is the Great American Beer Festival in the Denver area, so why not celebrate numerous samplings of suds for the whole month by spending a few weekends in Vail and then capping it off with the largest beer festival in America. Colorado is home to more than 100 microbreweries and events like the Great American Beer Festival and Vail’s Oktoberfest are a great excuse to break away from that national light beer and try something new and delicious. Missed the festivals, but still in the mood for microbrews? You can head to Edwards where Gore Range Brewery offers their own microbrews from Great Sex Honey Ale to Whitewater Wheat, brewed onsite and paired with a versatile menu of barbecue, sandwiches, and wood oven pizzas.

Eat up. Maybe it’s all the cornucopia decorations that start to come out in fall (or maybe I secretly wish I was preparing for a month long hibernation ending just before opening day), but fall seems to be a great time to eat copious amounts of richer, delicious foods. The good news is that many of the restaurants in the Vail area offer great “locals” specials during the fall season, further enticing me to store up some calories in preparation for the long winter ahead. Of my favorite fall dining items, soup has to be high on the list. A chef once told me that the true test of culinary expertise can be found in a chef’s soups and I happen to agree. Getting just the right blend of flavors is an art. One of my favorite, Sweet Basil’s corn chowder, is available on both the lunch and dinner menu. For more seasonal delights, try Dish in Edwards. Their tasting menu always offers the freshest and best of dsevery season. Palisade peaches are just about out of season, so get one more bite of summer in by ordering these up for desert paired with honeyed vanilla ice cream.

Drink up. Finally, after you’ve used up all of your fun tickets on mojitos, margaritas, and umbrella drinks, I think the fall season calls for some thing more classic. Here’s a great fall cocktail from one of my favorite new bartenders, Mike at the Colt and Gray in Denver (I can honestly taste the fall colors in every sip). If you want to extend the fall just a few weeks come down to Denver and try it for yourself! Autumn cheers to you!!!

The Brazilian Clipper**
2 ounces Boca Loca Cachaca
½ ounce Domaine Canton Ginger Liqueur
½ ounce Dolin Sweet Vermouth
1 bar spoon St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram
1) In a chilled mixing glass combine all ingredients, ice, and stir for 15-20 seconds (don’t shake!).
2) Strain into a chilled cocktail glass or coupe and garnish with a zest of orange.
**Created by Michael Henderson from Colt and Gray in Denver

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SONG FOR THE AUTUMN IN THE MOUNTAINS: HARVEST MOON

(AS PERFORMED BY NEIL YOUNG)

I’m just finishing up Michael Pollan’s Omnivore’s Dilemma. So far, the conclusion I’ve come to is that if you are going to attempt to go “loca-vore” in Colorado, summertime is the easiest time to get started. A multitude of farmer’s markets spring up each summer allowing you to wander from tent to tent seeking out the week’s freshest and best ingredients of the season. Whether you are traveling to the area or a long time local, the Vail Valley has a few great Farmer’s Markets to choose from. If you are looking for a great way to get a true “taste” of the area, make a weekend of it and tour them all.

Here’s the ideal “Tour de market” for the Vail Valley:

Saturday morning, Edwards Farmer’s Market
Not so long ago, Edwards consisted of a gas station and a single restaurant. Today, the corner of Highway 6 and Edwards Village Road is booming with shops, restaurants, a movie theater and a gas station. Don’t worry, it’s still quaint and mostly local businesses. You won’t find Gap or Abercrombie in this little corner. On Saturdays, Edwards Corner turns its parking area into a small farmers market. About a dozen booths fill the small area with their goods and give you the opportunity to get in and get out with your “loco-vore” veggies or spend more time sampling the wares of these local vendors. If you are heading over on an empty stomach, have no fear. Avon Bakery has a tent and offers delicious local baked goods including excellent bagels and croissants. If you have more of a morning sweet tooth, splurge with some of Jajabelle’s greek pastries. Coffee and baklava could be the Farmer’s Market breakfast of champions. If you are stocking up on your “loca-vore” menu for the evening, you can choose from several different farm stands and organic meat vendors. My recommendation, get some smoked salmon. It’s perfect for packing a picnic for grass seats at Ford Amphitheater later in the week.

Saturday afternoon, Minturn Farmer’s Market
The Minturn Market is open until 2pm, so if you hit the Edwards Market early enough on Saturday, you can head down to the Minturn Market for a double dip of Farmer’s Market fare. While the Edwards Market is smaller and seems to be more food focused, the Minturn Market vendors include more artists than food. It’s a great opportunity to purchase unique gifts that you won’t find in every gift shop in town. Personally, I love to talk to the vendors about their arts, crafts, and goods. The story that you can get from them brings new meaning to your purchase, so that you are buying a memory, not just a piece of pottery. A great example of this is the Thanks-Dad t-shirt booth. Owner, Tom Kiddoo started the concept as an homage to his father after he passed away. Each shirt has touching artwork that captures the love that a father has for his children and the gratitude that we owe our father’s for teaching us the important things in life, like riding a bike for the first time or learning to fish. Spend your afternoon talking up the vendors like Tom and you might head out with a few great gifts, and a few great stories. (Oh and there is great live music each week as well!)

Sunday afternoon, Vail’s Meadow Drive Farmer’s Market
If you are going to do just one Farmer’s Market in the Vail area, this is the one. Rumor has it that this is the larger farmer’s market in Colorado. I can believe it. Vendors line both sides of the street on Meadow Drive in Vail Village (if you’ve been on the Village buses that run from Lions Head to Vail Village, you’ve been on Meadow Drive). In truth, the Vail Farmer’s market might be better described as a street fair. It’s true that the farm stands tend to get lost in the variety of other tents and vendors, but in my “loca-vore” quest I can still find plenty of options on a Sunday that make me feel good about supporting local farmers, vendors, chefs, and artists. There’s so much to look at, you might not know where to start. I recommend starting near Campo Di Fiori, just west of the new Solaris building. Here you’ll find a tent with a few chairs under it facing the outdoor Vail Jazz Festival stage. Every Sunday, a new set of artists takes to the “stage” and provides an intimate setting for taking in fresh mountain air and cool jazz standards. I start here because it gives me a chance to people watch and overhear the conversations of what people have found so far in their explorations.

“Lamb burgers at the Sweet Basil tent…found this great pop up dog bowl for Charlie…did you try the almond fudge toffee…beautiful wooden bowl set for the kitchen…” and they go on and on.
I make a mental checklist of what I’ve overheard before leaving behind the jazz tent and wandering through the market. Indeed, the lamb sliders from Vail Valley’s dining darling, Sweet Basil, are nothing short of superb, but if that’s not your cup of tea, you can choose from gyros, barbecue, authentic bratwursts, gelato, cupcakes, fudge, cookies, baked goods, and more.

Oh and Michael Pollan would be pleased to find that there’s not a single McNugget in sight, so feel free to chow down on that giant coconut macaroon with a clean conscious.

SONG FOR A DAY AT THE MARKET: TAKE ME HOME COUNTRY ROAD

(AS PERFORMED BY TOOTS & THE MAYTALS)