Aspen Peak - Niche Media - Aspen living at its peak
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À TABLE AU CHALET PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF LA CRÊPERIE DU VILLAGE/RAPHAEL DERLY (CRÊPES); GIBEON PHOTOGRAPHY/ASPEN SNOWMASS (ELEMENT 47); BILLY ROOD (MCCOY) The Crêperie's specialty? You guessed it: crêpes, offered in varieties both savory and sweet, with fillings ranging from boeuf bourguignon to sweet berries and crème chantilly (PICTURED). European Union CRÊPERIE DU VILLAGE SIZZLES WITH THE ALPINE FLAVORS OF FRANCE, AUSTRIA, AND GERMANY. BY AMANDA RAE Crêperie du Village, on the bustling corner of East Hopkins Avenue and Mill Street, brings one range of mountains to another. The Alps-inspired sublevel res- taurant has fast become a favorite haunt for authentic food and wine from the European high country. First- timers are wise to look past the name, though, as new Executive Chef Andreas Neufeld—veteran of Elevation and Ute City restaurants, formerly down Restaurant Row—has expanded the original menu of gourmet crêpes, fondue, and raclette to include a slew of elegant dishes that evoke the specialties of the finest bistros in Paris and Lyon. Traditional standouts include slow-braised veal cheeks, seared sea scallops with pea purée, smoked trout rillettes, and a silky, Sauternes-soaked foie gras torchon with cherry-shallot compote. Neufeld's twist on chèvre chaud sees Colorado's own Haystack Mountain goat cheese baked into an ooey, gooey, shareable appe- tizer, while his escargots en brioche hews true to the classic, while benefiting from a boozy splash of pastis. Summer specials will feature fresh farmers market bounty—veggie crêpes, naturally, plus an airy yogurt mousse with passion fruit or seasonal berries. True to European tradition, rosé—some four bottles span the spectrum from citrusy to f loral—Champagne, and effer- vescent cocktails will f low from lunchtime on. Now with German native Neufeld, Crêperie du Village may be the only Aspen restaurant with an all- European cast; proprietors Raphael Derly and Karin Schwendtner hail from Marseille and Austria, respec- tively. The couple has furnished the cozy, 50 -seat sub- terranean space with artifacts and other petits trucs from their travels around the globe. As such, crossing the threshold transports diners to a chalet tucked high in the Alps, infused with the rock 'n' roll lifestyle led by the trio running the show. "It's about the culture of the food," Derly says. "And creation. We want to challenge people a little bit." Nighttime diners will hope to snag one of seven stools at the bar, a prime spot to soak in the theater of Neufeld's tiny open kitchen. Though, those who get even luckier will snuggle into one of the most coveted sidewalk tables in town: the corner patio table upstairs, with twilight views of Aspen Mountain—and compli- mentary linen blankets. 400 E. Hopkins Ave., 970-925-1566; lacreperieduvillage.com AP // on the vine // MOUNTAIN VINTAGE Element 47 pours a legacy of f ine wine service. Wine simply tastes better at altitude—take it from master sommelier Carlton McCoy (ABOVE, BOTTOM). "Wine ages more slowly at altitude, so [it is] fresher longer," says the wine director of Element 47 at The Little Nell (ABOVE, TOP). Aged white Burgundy, for example, "while it's likely over the hill in New York City, is just hitting its prime here in Aspen." Imbibers at the Forbes-rated fi ve-star restaurant can expect a similar wine education. The resort of- fers creative ways to connect with its vast collection—which includes the unveiling of private label wines and Champagnes every June. A program dubbed Master's Markdown offers ap- proachable and rare Burgundy daily; in Dealer's Choice, McCoy handpicks a bottle according to guests' preferences. Ele- ment 47's 19,500-bottle cellar and 600-bottle glass wine wall showcase varietals both ap- proachable (a dozen under $75) and invaluable. No matter their value, however, they are all de- canted impressively at a French guéridon wine station. Another tableside cart for spirits wheels around as well, boasting fl ights of Tokaji, Madeira, Calvados, and Armagnac. 675 E. Durant Ave., 970-920-6330; thelittle nell.com/dining/element-47 106 ASPENPEAK-MAGAZINE.COM TASTE Best Eats