{"id":2452623,"date":"2019-12-26T12:02:00","date_gmt":"2019-12-26T19:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/?p=318218"},"modified":"2019-12-26T12:02:00","modified_gmt":"2019-12-26T19:02:00","slug":"new-on-the-blockwinter-2020-dining-heats-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/local-news\/new-on-the-blockwinter-2020-dining-heats-up\/","title":{"rendered":"NEW ON THE BLOCKWinter 2020 dining heats up"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
Ollie’s East West Kitchen: Bok Choy<\/strong>
Amanda Rae<\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

By all accounts, Aspen is a great escape. And this winter brings myriad new restaurants to feel transported to another world. Here are the recent openings \u2014 with a few yet unveiled \u2014 that reinvigorate our dining scene with flavors of Northern Italy, Germany, the Amalfi Coast, coastal New York, China, Mexico and more. Cheers, to a delicious 2020!<\/p>\n

OLLIE\u2019S EAST WEST KITCHEN \/ BOK CHOY<\/h4>\n

Opens:<\/strong> \u201cSoon,\u201d says co-owner David Roth.<\/p>\n

Location:<\/strong> 308 S. Hunter St. (formerly Little Ollie\u2019s)<\/p>\n

Origin story:<\/strong> Chef-owner Frank Lu revamped Jing (formerly Asie) in late 2017. Now he\u2019s transformed his Little Ollie\u2019s with Roth into a virtually unrecognizable casual eatery.<\/p>\n

Feels like:<\/strong> A bright, minimalist Asian joint in another city.<\/p>\n

Go for:<\/strong> Juicy dumplings \u2014 at least nine kinds steamed or with \u201ccrispy bottom,\u201d including shrimp shumai; Cantonese har gow; and soup dumplings.<\/p>\n

Stay for:<\/strong> Entr\u00e9es of \u201cthe usual suspects\u201d such as General Tso\u2019s chicken, orange chicken and Mongolian beef made with fresh, organic ingredients, plus salmon, noodles, Japanese maple-glazed \u201cKrack Chicken\u201d in a waffle bowl, and Lu\u2019s sure-to-woo kale spring roll. Most items $10 or less; none top $20.<\/p>\n

Tasty:<\/strong> The sparkling kitchen\u2019s new China wok system and steamers join brand-new staff, six of whom speak Chinese only.<\/p>\n

olliesaspen.com (still in development)<\/p>\n

<\/h4>\n

ALMRESI <\/span><\/p>\n

Opened:<\/strong> Dec. 20<\/p>\n

Location:<\/strong> 219 E. Durant Ave. (new Dancing Bear luxury residences)<\/p>\n

Origin story:<\/strong> The imagined haunt of an alpine hostess, Resi, popular in Bavarian folklore, Almresi Aspen harks to homonymous properties in Vail (since 2016) and Germany.<\/p>\n

Feels like:<\/strong> A milkmaid\u2019s sanctuary in the Black Forest awash in reclaimed barnwood with embroidered window treatments, carved wooden hearts and plaid curtains that match traditional staff garb made by Munich Oktoberfest\u2019s official fashion brand.<\/p>\n

Go for:<\/strong> Romantic ambience and comforting German schnitzel, fondue, r\u00f6sti, and gl\u00fcwein, oh my!<\/p>\n

Stay for:<\/strong> Herbal schnapps and apfelstrudel, bitte!<\/p>\n

Save this seat:<\/strong> At the central wooden farmhouse table with cowhide high-back chairs, cowbells and dairy pails strung overhead.<\/p>\n

Tasty:<\/strong> Look for the vintage Morris Minor 1000 saloon car parked out front and packed for a European ski picnic.<\/p>\n

almresi-aspen.com <\/a><\/p>\n

<\/h4>\n

THE SNOW LODGE<\/span><\/p>\n

Opens:<\/strong> Dec. 26<\/p>\n

Location:<\/strong> Looker\u2019s right of Gondola Plaza (formerly Shlomo\u2019s)<\/p>\n

Origin story:<\/strong> \u201cIt\u2019s like taking the deck we have in the summer and transporting it here, to snow,\u201d says Jayma Cardoso, also owner of the Hamptons\u2019 hipster Surf Lodge, next door to Grey Lady in Montuak, New York (sibling of Mr. Grey Aspen).<\/p>\n

Feels like:<\/strong> A swank 1970s mountain den as envisioned by celebrated Montuak designer Bob Melet (owner of Melet Mercantile, a half-mile from the Surf Lodge for 12 years). See: vintage ski equipment, toboggans, disco balls, a handmade retro-logo ski hat wall covering, classic downhill films on projector, and haute retail enclave hawking Chanel, Moncler and more.<\/p>\n

Go for:<\/strong> Craveable, hearty apr\u00e8s-ski snacks by chef Robert Sieber: Swiss Gruy\u00e8re or vegan fondue; flatbreads; French onion soup; a wagyu burger or vegan Impossible burger. Composed dinner plates might include butternut risotto, truffled pasta and salt-baked potatoes with smoked Colorado river trout, cr\u00e8me fraiche and Long Island\u2019s Pearl Street caviar.<\/p>\n

Stay for:<\/strong> Free shows produced by Belly Up Aspen (electro duo Bob Moses, Dec. 30; Sofi Tukker, TBA)<\/p>\n

Save this seat:<\/strong> Indoors by the leather trunk-turned-DJ booth beneath Snurfer-evolution wall art; outside on sheepskins by the \u201cigloo.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tasty:<\/strong> \u201cWe do a lot of lobster rolls (at the Surf Lodge) \u2014 almost 1,000 a week! \u2014 so we\u2019ll do one Connecticut-style, with warm, drawn, lemongrass butter, as a special,\u201d says chef Sieber, who has spent time cooking in Asia, Mexico and Korea.<\/p>\n

thesnowlodge.com<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/h4>\n

CONCA DEL SOGNO AT CHEFS CLUB<\/span><\/p>\n

Opened:<\/strong> Dec. 15<\/p>\n

Location:<\/strong> Inside the St. Regis Aspen Resort<\/p>\n

Origin story:<\/strong> Following a residency last winter at Chefs Club New York, the summertime Amalfi Coast restaurant decamped to Aspen.<\/p>\n

Go for:<\/strong> Spaghetti alla Nerano (traditional of its namesake fishing village); whole branzino baked in salt, carved in the open kitchen, then delivered tableside.<\/p>\n

Stay for:<\/strong> Pistachio profiteroles and signature sgroppino, a frosty cocktail of lemon sorbet, vodka, prosecco and mint.<\/p>\n

Save this seat:<\/strong> The fireside table.<\/p>\n

Tasty:<\/strong> The name translates loosely to \u201cBay of Dreams.\u201d<\/p>\n

chefsclub.com\/aspen<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/h4>\n

DUEMANI<\/span><\/p>\n

Opened:<\/strong> Dec. 20<\/p>\n

Location:<\/strong> 216 S. Monarch St. (formerly Rustique Bistro)<\/p>\n

Origin story:<\/strong> \u201cWe wanted to create something more refined, with an emphasis on seafood and prime meats, shared family style,\u201d says Gretchen Leary, who also runs 6-year-old Acquolina with Luigi Giordani.<\/p>\n

Feels like:<\/strong> A soothing, modern seaside spot in Cinque Terre, thanks to clean lines in imported Italian gray marble, aqua glass wave tile, mosaic pebble stone, smoked-glass sconces and sleek cement flooring.<\/p>\n

Go for:<\/strong> Bright, creative crudo, tartare, ceviche, and carpaccio \u2014 \u201calmost like an Italian take on sushi, using modern flavors,\u201d Leary says.<\/p>\n

Stay for:<\/strong> Rotisserie-roasted lamb and whole fish, succulent meats, classic pasta and side dishes with a twist.<\/p>\n

Save this seat:<\/strong> Inside the sleek, subterranean private dining room\/wine cellar for 24.<\/p>\n

Tasty:<\/strong> Translated as \u201ctwo hands,\u201d Duemani breathes craftmanship, from custom walnut seating to creative cocktails, imported artisan olive oil, and Duemani wine from coastal Tuscany (plus French, Spanish, and domestic producers).<\/p>\n

duemaniaspen.com<\/a><\/p>\n

SMALL BITES<\/h4>\n