Skiing is hard work, staying warm is even more difficult, especially for a Floridian. Recently we had the luxury of taking a spring break – that’s right an entire week of snow, racing down the slopes and absolutely no email allowed. Tucked away and irresistibly charming, Crested Butte, Colorado is where we recently vacationed and dined. Although a tiny community, this mountain town is exploding with fine culinary goodness and endless ski runs. If you ever find yourself in this delightful town, here’s where to eat and how to stay warm with GetOutfitted!
Camp 4 Coffee
Rarely do coffee shops have food on par with their beverages. Inside this license plate covered shop, you’ll be treated to the most delicious piping hot ham and cheese croissants, incredible burritos and quite simply, the best coffee this planet has to offer. After a long day of skiing, there’s nothing more rewarding than heading to the mountain’s base and treating yourself to a mocha with house-made whipped cream or a warm, gooey sandwich. Your standard for “good” coffee will truly be raised after taking a single sip of Camp 4 Coffee’s creations.
Soupçon
This quaint eight table restaurant serves up some of the finest French cuisine in North America. Chef Jason is a master at his trade and I’m quite sure he could be a James Beard nominee if he lived in a larger city. His quaint restaurant fills up night after night with locals and tourists alike. With impeccable service and an exquisite menu, you’re sure to enjoy every last bite. The menu changes seasonally, but you’ll find a range of menu offerings from Seared Foie Gras to Colorado Filet Mignon with proscuitto wrapped asparagus and Brined Double Cut Pork Chop. And regardless of what you order or how stuffed you feel, do not skip dessert. Order the espresso soufflé and all your cares will melt away. Soupçon is a must try spot if you ever find yourself in Crested Butte.
Django’s Restaurant & Wine Bar
Serving up the ultimate après-ski menu, this small-plate-style restaurant is easily the trendiest and most sought after spot in town. After a long day of skiing there’s no better way to feed your appetite than with exceptional small plates, an extensive wine list and crafted cocktails. Inspired by the cuisines of Southern Europe, Django’s is sure to delight everyone in your party. We recommend ordering the charcuterie plate filled with the most amazing chorizo, shaved salami, creamy burrata cheese and house-made lavosh crackers. The Trio of Nibbles with rosemary marcona almonds, parsnip ribbons and Italian country olives, will make you re-examine everything you think you know about parsnips, olives and almonds. Such a tasty platter, we fought over the last crumbs in this trio. Of course, you can’t go wrong with the Catalonian Flatbreads topped with fruitwood-smoked blue cheese, caramelized onions and Medjool dates. The blue cheese is just divine. Don’t miss the trendiest après-ski spot on the mountain!
GetOutfitted
Lastly, but most importantly, staying warm while galavanting and dining all over the mountain. It’s not an easy task keeping those pesky goosebumps away – especially when you’re a native of the Sunshine State. GetOutfitted is simply put, one of the most brilliant clothing concepts on the web. Unless you ski multiple times a year, it just doesn’t make sense to buy an entire outfit ranging from ski socks to long johns and three jacket layers. Ski clothes are notoriously expensive, but thankfully the people at GetOutfitted have come up with a brilliant and stylish solution to pricy ski outfits.
The concept? It’s simple, from their site you can order an entire outfit for your ski trip skewing upwards of only $135 for premium outfit for three days.After selecting your outfit you can give complete direction on the style and color of your clothing or simply be surprised by the outfit hand-selected by your stylist. Either way, the outfit shows up at the doorstep of wherever you are staying for your ski vacation. How cool is that? A custom, trendy, warm ski outfit that arrives to your resort….I’m sold! Our friends at GetOutfitted were kind enough to send over an amazing outfit for our ski week. I “raced” around on the slopes in a fabulous black and grey down jacket with an amazing fur collar. Underneath I wore Patagonia apparel and my hands were kept warm with black Burton gloves. I was so blown away by GetOutfitted’s customer service and quality of ski goods – ordering from them is a MUST do for your next ski trip.They also rent skis, poles and more too! Check them out at http://getoutfitted.com/ and race down that slope in style.
Sigh. We’re dreaming of snow, fluffy jackets and endless dining in Crested Butte. If you haven’t taken a ski vacation lately – we highly recommend adding some slopes to your future vacation plans. Thanks Crested Butte for a week of exploring your mountain and incredible culinary delights!