Snowmass Culinary Art Festival - A Colorado Summer Bucket List Tradition

Another Colorado Bucket List event in Snowmass Colorado

Today marks day two of the 2nd now Annual Snowmass Culinary & Arts Festival in Snowmass CO 3 hours from Denver and minutes from Aspen. If you’ve never gotten to experience the warm hospitality of this small mountain ski town in the summer you really should take this opportunity to give it a try.

Each day of the festival includes a juried art show all along the Snowmass Mall which is at a midway point on the ski hill and offers incredible views both up and down the slope. Above that the most crystalline blue sky you are likely to see anywhere. All this will be accompanied by small bites offered by locally and nationally renowned chefs along with Colorado made wine, beer and strong spirits.

All of the photos in the gallery were taken in 2010 when we were able to explore the Inaugural year of this one-of-a-kind event. Please take a look at the photo gallery at the end of the article to delight at the artful food pairings, Colorado wine and beverages and hospitality to be enjoyed in this delightful mountain getaway.

The Celebrity Chef’s for the Snowmass Culinary & Arts Festival 2011 include:

Celebrity Chef Christy Rost with Leonardo Lozano Front Office Manager of the Viceroy Snowmass

Chef Richard Sandoval: Restaurateur of the Year by Bon Appétit in 2006, one of the Best Chefs of 2003 by New York magazine, and Mexican Chef of the Year by the National Toque d’Oro in 1992. Chef Hosea Rosenberg:

Bravo TV’s TOP CHEF 2009 Winner and 2006, 2007, 2008 Best Chef, Denver International Wine Festival, 2007 Guest Chef, James Beard House, NYC, 1994-2009 Best Seafood Restaurant, Jax Fish House.

Chef Alex Seidel: Named by Food and Wine Magazine as one of its 2010 “Best New Chefs in America”, “Chef of the Year” in Denver magazine in 2009 and by 5280 magazine in 2008, Nationally recognized Fruition Restaurant as “One of Top 10 New Restaurants” in America in 2007.

Chef Christy Rost: National culinary, entertaining and home improvement programming on PBS affiliates nationwide and on CREATE TV. Chef Rost is also the author of The Family Table and Where’s My Spatula?, and the host of the syndicated television program Just Like Home.

Diane Henderiks: Diane is contributing chef/RD for Prevention Magazine and regular on-air contributor for ABC’s Good Morning America Health. She is also consulting nutritionist for TrueLemon and Camp Shane and has been expert contributor for The New York Times and Shape Magazine.

Mark Fischer has been a James Beard Foundation Best Chef Southwest semi-finalist for the last 5 years. He’s received accolades from around the country including features in The New York Times, Gourmet, Bon Appetit, the Wall Street Journal and Food & Wine magazines.

Schedule of activities for Friday July 22 through Sunday July 24, 2011

The Artist Exhibition runs throughout the weekend and includes regionally and nationally recognized artists exhibit their work in various media categories: ceramics, drawing, fiber, glass, graphics & printmaking, jewelry, metal-works, mixed media, painting, photography, sculpture and wood. A list of the artists you’ll be experiencing are here.

The highlight of your culinary adventure for the weekend will be the palette of pairings. You should arrive hungry and thirsty so you’ll be able to take in the amazing culinary genius of what will be offered to you in two short hours. You’ll be able to enjoy specialty foods prepared by local restaurants and chefs that have been artfully paired with a variety of fine wines and spirits. You will have over 40 options on the food combined with 100 different varietals of wine and spirits. It’s simply not able to be described without experiencing it so make your plans to head up the hill now. You can see the full details of this culinary extravaganza here.

2011 A La Carte Options for spirit paired dinners by renouned chefs

Friday, July 22nd Tequilas & Tapas - Sample a flight of tequilas paired with wide variety of authentic and modern day Mexican tapas prepared by Nationally acclaimed Chef Richard Sandoval. Enjoy the Venga Venga deck and beautiful views, while learning how to create delicious tapas over an open outdoor fire pit. Cost: $30 To make a reservation, call: 970-923-7777

Friday, July 22nd - The Brothers’ Grille Kannah Creek Brewing Company Beer Dinner (This was one of our favorite events) $60.00 tax and tip included = 5 courses paired with 5 beers - Brothers Grille Restaurant. For reservations call:(970) 923-8285 kannahcreekbrewingco.com.

Friday, July 22nd The Artisan Spanish Winemakers Dinner 5:30pm (Available all evening) $44 6:00pm 45 minute concert Aiana String Quartet Wine makers dinner to follow through the night For reservations call:(970) 923-2427

stonebridgeinn.com

Examiner Lodging Recommendations:

The Silvertree Hotel is running a special Festival discount of $89.00/night and It sits right in the midst of the action. We have not yet had the pleasure of staying at this hotel so we can’t give you a personalized recommendation.
The Viceroy Snowmass - This hotel is a new offering to the valley sitting at the base of the ski hill. It offers you incredible views, impeccable service and attention to detail, an incredibly attentive staff and some of the most beautiful and luxurious rooms in Colorado. If you are looking for a getaway at any time of the year we highly recommend this hotel.
Top of the Village - If you are looking for a rustic, quiet out of the way experience with babbling brooks and wildlife at your doorstep then this large condominium complex might be just what you are looking for. It also features a wonderful pool and hot tub set surrounded by towering quaking aspens and pine tree’s. We’ve always spied a deer or two as we’ve soaked in the bubbling jets.

One of the most relaxing things about a vacation in Snowmass is that you never need to worry about driving and parking your car. There is a town shuttle that runs constantly up and down the mountain along with special services provided by the individual hotels and their staff. You won’t need a DD for this festival so everyone can enjoy the full experience.