Winter Park Lodging Company » winter park restaurants

Recipe of the Month: Slow Cooker Carnitas

Chris — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:58:35 +0000

Carnitas Tacos

Are you looking for that perfect meal for the family that slow cooks all day while you are out on the ski slopes? Well, here is one of the best that we here at Winter Park Lodging Company have had this year. Slow Cooker Carnitas, with 15 minutes of prep time before you head out will result in a delicious meal for the whole family that is satisfying and simple to serve.

The popular “little meats” of Mexican cooking are traditionally made by slowly simmering large chunks of well-seasoned, sometimes marinated pork shoulder in hot lard, then coarsely chopping the meat and eating it wrapped in warm tortillas. In the following version, the fat content of the finished dish is dramatically diminished by simmering the meat in flavorful citrus juices. The results taste marvelously authentic. Add some tortilla chips with salsa or guacamole and some cold Coronas and you have a perfect after skiing feast.

Ingredients:

2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. freshly ground pepper
1 boneless pork shoulder roast, 3 to 4 lb.
1/4 cup olive oil
1 yellow onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 cups Mexican lager-style beer (12oz)
Grated zest and juice of 1 large orange
Grated zest and juice of 1 lime
1 Tbs. dried oregano

For serving:

Warm corn or flour tortillas
Lime wedges
Chopped yellow onion
Hot or mild salsa
Chopped fresh cilantro
Green Tabasco sauce

Directions:

In a small bowl, combine the salt and pepper. Season the pork roast generously with the mixture.

In a large fry pan over medium-high heat, warm the olive oil. Add the pork and cook, turning frequently until browned on all sides, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a platter and set aside.

Pour off all but a thin layer of fat in the pan. Add the onion and garlic and sauté just until they begin to soften, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the beer and deglaze the pan, stirring and scraping up the browned bits from the pan bottom with a wooden spoon.

Oven method: Preheat an oven to 350°F. Transfer the pork to a large Dutch oven and pour in the beer mixture. Add the orange and lime zests and juices and the oregano. Cover and cook until the pork is very tender, about 2 1/2 hours.

Slow-cooker method: Transfer the pork to a slow cooker and pour in the beer mixture. Add the orange and lime zests and juices and the oregano. Cover and cook according to the manufacturer’s instructions until the pork is very tender, about 5 hours on high or 10 hours on low.

Transfer the pork to a carving board and cover loosely with aluminum foil. Using a large, shallow spoon or a ladle, skim as much fat as possible from the surface of the cooking liquid. Using a large, sharp knife and a fork, coarsely cut and shred the pork into small bite-size pieces.

Arrange the meat on a warmed platter or individual plates, moisten it lightly with the cooking juices, and serve immediately with the tortillas, lime wedges, chopped onion, salsa and cilantro. Serves 6 to 8.

Check out Winter Park Lodging Company’s list of recipes of the month.

Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Essentials of Slow Cooking, by Melanie Barnard, Charles Pierce & Denis Kelly (Oxmoor House, 2008).

Winter Park, CO Lunch – Carvers

Chris — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 21:50:39 +0000

Winter Park, CO Restaurants

We had a chance to get out and hit an old Winter Park favorite for lunch today. Carvers has been around for since 1983 and has gone through a couple of different owners and has been open for dinner some parts of the year and then closed for other parts of the year. Currently Carvers is open for breakfast and lunch seven days a week. Carver Brothers Bakery first opened on June 1, 1983, in Winter Park, Colorado. It was started by Jim, Bill, Sara and Eleanor Carver.

Today the old time bakery serves up some fine breakfasts and lunches including great Eggs Benedict variations. Today we had a Frito Pie chili bowl and an egg white omelet with bacon. Yummmm!

Carvers strives to use only the freshest, locally-grown products available including 100% cage free eggs with no added hormones or antibiotics. The same can be said for the 100% naturally grown beef…It’s locally raised in Colorado without adding hormones or unnecessary antibiotics. All bread products served are made in house daily including the bread accompanying our breakfast entrées, all sandwich buns and to-die-for cinnamon rolls. The extra attention sets them apart from other places and will bring you back time after time.

Check out the full Carvers menu.

CARVERS is little hard to find because they are one of the only sucessful business not on Main Street. They are located behind Cooper Creek Square in downtown Winter Park. If driving, turn west on Vazquez Road from HWY 40 and pull into the free parking garage located 100 yard from your turn on the right. You will find them at the west end of the mall. There is also parking available by accessing us from Lions Gate Road. Call if more info is needed, (970) 531-7120!

Check out Winter Park Lodging Company’s list of favorite Winter Park restaurants.

New Winter Park Area Restaurant: The Ditch

Chris — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 22:17:55 +0000

The Ditch – Fresh Burgers and Tamales

We have another new restaurant here in the Winter Park/Fraser area. The Ditch specializes in burgers, tamales and delicious homemade New Mexican Food. Menu extends to sandwiches, frito pies and don’t forget the homemade hatch green chili! Red or green!

The Ditch is housed in the same roadside building that was previously home to the “Thai Place” and before that the infamous Fraser Brazier.

Open 7:30am till 8pm with extended hours on the weekend The Ditch is a great stop for homemade food that won’t kill the budget. Currently they are serving soft drinks and will decide in the future about getting a beer and wine liquor license.

On our stop at The Ditch we had a burger, chicken burrito smothered Christmas style (red & green) and the kids had a corn dog and chicken tenders. The food was tasty, affordable and quick. Kids loved the corn dog and I’m sure we will be making a few more stops for that culinary delight.

The Ditch is brought to us by Dustin and Scotti, longtime visitors from the Denver area. Give The Ditch a try if you are craving some fresh, quick affordable grub – better prices than Micky D and whole lot healthier.

Mailing Address
PO Box 965
Fraser, Co 80442

Physical Address
409 N Zerex St
Fraser, Co 80442

Email
scotti@theditchon40.com

Website
TheDitchOn40.com

Winter Park Recipe of the Month

Chris — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 20:25:37 +0000

Fresh Pasta with Chicken in Cilantro Pesto

Looking for the perfect food to accommodate your outdoor winter activities and sports? Well, pasta is the way to go and there is nothing better than fresh homemade pasta. Don’t be scared it is simple to make fresh pasta with a little help from a food processor. Rolling the dough takes a little effort but it is a great way to work those arm out. The tools to make this meal are all available in your Winter Park Vacation Rental from Winter Park Lodging Company.

The recipe below calls for sautéing the chicken and it is good that way but if you are able to grill the chicken breasts you will be very pleased with the results.

This is a perfect meal for the kids and the adults after a day on the slopes of Winter Park Resort or after a day of sledding. In a pinch you can use dried past from the store. De Cecco Fettuccini will substitute very nicely but the fresh egg pasta is unbelievably good.

Tagliatelle with Cilantro Pesto and Chicken

ingredients:

1 lb. egg pasta - Egg Pasta Recipe

FOR THE CILANTRO PESTO:

2 cups loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves
2 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup pine nuts, lightly toasted
3 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
1 Tbs. fresh lime juice
1/2 tsp. fine sea salt
Freshly ground pepper, to taste

1 lb. boneless, skinless, chicken breasts
Fine sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
3 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
1 lime quarter
2 Tbs. kosher salt

Directions:

Roll out the pasta dough and cut into tagliatelle. Let dry for 30 minutes or up to 3 hours.

To make the pesto, in a food processor, combine the cilantro, garlic, pine nuts, olive oil, lime juice, the 1/2 tsp. sea salt and a few grinds of pepper and process to a paste, stopping occasionally to scrape down the sides of the work bowl. Be careful not to overprocess; the consistency of the pesto should be thick and fluid and have a slightly grainy texture. Transfer the pesto to a large serving bowl.

Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels, then season on both sides with sea salt and pepper. In a large nonstick fry pan over medium-high heat, warm the olive oil until very hot but not smoking. Working in batches if needed to avoid crowding the pan, add the chicken and cook, turning once, until golden on both sides and just opaque in the center when cut into with a knife, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate, cover loosely with aluminum foil and set aside in a warm place. Just before you add the pasta to the boiling water, using a sharp chef’s knife, cut each breast in half lengthwise, then cut the halves crosswise into thin slices. Squeeze the lime quarter over the chicken and re-cover the chicken.

In a large pot over high heat, bring 5 quarts water to a rapid boil. Add the kosher salt and pasta and cover the pot. When the water returns to a boil, uncover and cook for about 5 seconds and then drain, reserving about 1/2 cup of the cooking water. Blend a few tablespoons of the cooking water into the pesto to make a creamy consistency, then add the pasta to the bowl and stir and toss with the pesto until the strands are well coated with the sauce, adding a little more of the cooking water if needed to loosen the sauce. Arrange the chicken slices on top of the pasta and serve immediately. Serves 4.

Adapted from Williams-Sonoma The Pasta Book, by Julia della Croce (Weldon Owen, 2010).

Wine and Dine at Deno’s – Winter Park, CO

Chris — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 23:13:54 +0000

Deno’s Mountain Bistro – Winter Park, Colorado

Looking for that classic ski town bar and restaurant on your stay in Winter Park? Deno’s is your place.

Seems like the place has been here for 100 years with the eatery on its third generation of owners. Now Nick and Teddy Kutrumbos are running things and they have a great menu with a quick and personable staff. Deno’s also has an extensive wine list with some rare finds in their upstairs wine cellar.

Nothing fancy at Deno’s – no valet parking or maitre d’ in a tuxedo – the world is stressful enough with adding to it with pretentious ski restaurant behavior. Deno’s is simple – to provide an oasis of relaxation in this busy world and to serve terrific food in portions so generous that you’ll probably have to take some home. If the upper dining and pub level is occasionally a little loud, Deno’s asks for forgiveness. Some people relax louder than others. The blend of sports, music, good food and relaxation is the ski resort standard and should have you kickin’ late into the night.

Deno’s features Micro Brews on from Colorado’s finest breweries. 10 beers on tap!There are 9 TVs and a HD projection screen, plus satellite coverage so you can watch you favorite sports event (NFL, MLB Packages).

Deno’s is on the Winter Park Lodging Company VIP discount card. With the WPLCo VIP card you will get a free dessert with the purchase of a bottle wine. So make sure to book with WPLCo for your Winter Park Resort lodging.

Deno’s Contact info:

Address 78911 US HWY 40, Winter Park, CO 80482

Phone 970-726-5332

Website http://www.denoswp.com

Elevation Pizza Winter Park, Colorado

Chris — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 21:48:56 +0000

Pizza Delivery Winter Park, CO

Elevation Pizza is the Winter Park areas newest pizza maker. And boy are the pizzas here tasty and they deliver to the comforts of your own home or condo.

Elevation Pizza is the place to get a giant pie in Winter Park and the Fraser Valley. From fresh made pizza dough to homemade San Marzano tomato sauce, we invite you to choose from familiar favorites or signature styles with unique flavors and blends, all topped with high-quality ingredients. Located in Fraser in the Fraser Valley Center (near ALCO). Dine in, carry out, and delivery available to Winter Park/Fraser-area. We also can take care of your group catering needs.

Elevation Pizza is also on the Winter Park Lodging Company Vip discount card. As a guest with WPLCo you the second pizza of your liking at 50% off with the purchase of a regular menu priced pizza. That is a screaming deal to feed the masses after a day on the slopes and remember they will deliver to your door.

Check out the Elevation Pizza Menu.

Our favorite here at the Winter Park Lodging Company office is the Adam Bomb. This a spectacular pie with pepperoni, hatch green chills, a smear of cream cheese with San Marzano tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese…. Yum!

Elevation Pizza Contact info:

970.726.0066

Web: www.elevationpizzaco.com

Only those staying with Winter Park Lodging Company get the Elevation Pizza deal so remember to book your Winter Park vacation lodging with WPLCo.

Steaks and Chops in Winter Park, CO

Chris — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 22:31:08 +0000

Strip & Tail Winter Park, Colorado

Had a chance to get out and visit one of the new restaurants here in Winter Park. Strip & Tail opened about three weeks ago in the space once occupied by The Sushi Bar and before that was home to Lost Boys Hamburgers.

Strip & Tail remodeled the space and it turned out magnificent. There are two large screen tv’s behind the bar and the bar has been completely redone. The color scheme is now tasteful off white and homey wood. In short the space is very classy with a mountain feel.

I started out with some happy hour calamari that was served with cocktail and bbq sauce. The entree was a double cut pork chop with steak fries and creamed spinach. The entire meal was very tasty as was the bottle of Emeritus Pinot Noir. Owner/Barkeep Steve provided great service and conversation about Timmy Tebow, the Broncos and the NFL in general. I had a flan for dessert with a dram of tawny port… delicious.

Strip & Tail has a great happy hour with food and beverage specials. They serve a kobe/wagyu strip steak that looked fantastic that I will need to return for. The meal was one of the best I have had in Winter Park and I highly recommend Strip &Tail.

Strip & Tail is on the Winter Park Lodging Company VIP discount card. Make sure to stop by after you hit the slopes or after your mountain bike ride. Great steaks and chops in the town of WInter Park with a great brew and wine collection.

Strip & Tail Contact Info:

Address
78259 US Hwy 40
Winter Park, Colorado 80482

Phone
970.363.7047

Email
ssbromberg@comcast.net

Winter Park, Colorado Thanksgiving Dinner Options

Chris — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 22:17:37 +0000

Thanksgiving Dinner in Winter Park, CO

The weather has taken a turn here in Winter Park and we are on our way to the opening of ski season and then we are at the favorite of all holidays, the day of giving Thanks. Thanksgiving this year is November 24th and that is eight days after the of Winter Park Resort. Hopefully, we will be giving thanks to all the snow that is on the ground this year (Thank You La Nina).

There are a whole lot of options this year for those wanting to get out of the house and let someone else stuff that turkey and make those candied yams.

The Lodge at Sunspot on top of the Winter Park Resort slopes will again offering a spectacular spread. The meal starts with a lovely gondola ride to the top on the Zephyr Express chairlift.

Buffet Menu:

Salad Station – chef tossed to order Caesar and/or field green salad w/ champagne vinaigrette and ranch dressing. Served w/ fresh bread & butter.
Chef carved turkey and prime rib w/ a jus and horseradish sauce.
Mashed potatoes w/ giblet gravy and sweet potatoes.
Soup du jour.
Herbed stuffing.
Sautéed baby carrots and green beans.
Desert Bar – pumpkin pie, apple pie, chocolate trilogy and assorted mousses.

Thanksgiving Buffet: $49.95 Adults / $19.95 Children 10 and under (Buffet Only)

For reservations, call 970.726.1446.

Price includes gondola ride, buffet, non-alcoholic beverages, and dessert. Sales tax and gratuity will be added. Alcohol and specialty beverages are additional.

Devil’s Thumb Ranch will also be offering traditional Thanksgiving Dinner in one of the most beautiful settings in Colorado. If you are looking to be pampered let DTR make Thanksgiving a snap. Give a special Thanks at Devil’s Thumb. Hang up the apron and let Chef Evan do the cooking this year. Besides a gourmet meal, you’ll get to relax and enjoy the day. Now that’s something to be thankful for! Advance Reservations Required.

Dinner at Heck’s 11:30am – 8:30pm $49
Dinner at the Ranch House Restaurant 4pm – 9pm $59

- A la carte options also available
Looking to stay intown for your Winter Park Thanksgiving?

Randi’s is offering a traditional Thanksgiving dinner . They will be open 11-8 serving a traditional Thanksgiving dinner & several select menu items for those who are not into the Thanksgiving grub. Randi’s is also a great place to catch those Thanksgiving NFL games or to escape from the family overload. If you haven’t seen the new bar at Randi’s you are missing out. It’s a great place to catch a game and have a cold brew.

Deno’s is also offering a Thanksgiving Dinner and selections from it’s menu for those that are opposed to turkey. Check out their menu below:

Lets give thanks to what a wonderful place that we have here in Winter Park, Colorado? Looking to have a Winter Park kind of Thanksgiving? Check out Winter Park Lodging Company’s Winter Park, Co Thanksgiving Lodging.

Best Bars in Winter Park, CO

Chris — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 22:49:25 +0000

Winter Park Resort Area Best Bars

Beers and skiing go hand in hand like ski condos and hot tubs. We have finished, finally, the best burgers review for Winter Park, CO and since ski season is just about here we thought we would do what are the best bars here in Winter Park and the surrounding Fraser Valley.

There as many kinds of bars as there are beers and there is a place for each and every one of them. Local pub, restaurant bar, shot bar at the ski slope, sports bar, bar at the pizza place, the night club bar …. lotsa bars and we have them all here in WP.

What is your favorite and why is the question? Is it the selection of beers on tap, great location and view, the hotty slinging the swill, the bartender hooks you up with with free suds, great people watching (both sexes), what gets you to head out and plop your dollars on that bar?

I did a best place to get a beer in Winter Park a couple of years ago and all those places are still around but they are places to get a beer not necessarily bars (splitting hairs maybe?). So we are doing this top five bars for the start of this ski season. Remember we have some new places here in WP so lets not leave them out of the competition. Emilie’s wine bar, The Library Sports and Grill are two of the newbies that should be in consideration. We also have an older list of best patio to get a beer in Winter Park, CO. Lets not leave these, mostly, Winter Park Resort watering holes out of the equation either.

So here is how this works, I will post this blog on the Winter Park Facebook page and you all can recommend away either on the FB page or in the comments below this blog. I will take the top five and give those top five the old college try.

So here goes: What are the best bars in Winter Park, CO?

Best Burgers in Winter Park, CO

Chris — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 21:05:03 +0000

Winter Park, Colorado’ s Best Burger

It has taken awhile but we have completed the best burger competition in Winter Park, CO. I have eaten enough burgers to be fairly sure that I will not be ordering a burger in a restaurant for the next couple months. The positive is I have learned we have some killer burgers here in Winter Park.

The original competition was going to be a contest of the top three recommended by our Winter Park Lodging Company Facebook Fans but there were more than three recommendations. I tried all five different burgers in addition to the ever present McDonald’s franchise here in Winter Park, CO.

I have seen some burger reviews break down a burger almost scientifically in how they rate the burger. I was not very scientific at all. If the meat was flavorful and the bun had a good texture and consistency I pretty much thought the burger good, from there it was deciding what burger had the best flavor combination overall.

The restaurants that we visited were Deno’s, The Library Grill, Heck’s at Devils Thumb Ranch, Randi’s and Sharky’s. There was not a bad burger at any one of them. I am a blue cheese lover and most if the time I ordered some kind blue cheese burger sometimes with bacon. At Hecks they had a burger with a nice slice of pork belly that can be seen in the pic on the far right. YUM!!!!!

So the top burger in Winter Park, Colorado goes to……… drumbeat please……..

Deno’s. As I said the competition was close but if I had to rate the five burgers I would go in this order:

Deno’s – great meat but it is the bun that really makes this burger.
Heck’s at Devil’s Thumb Ranch – you can not go wrong with putting a slab of pork belly on a burger. They might even be 1a
Randi’s – may have had the best meat but the bun was “stiff”. Still a really good burger and had some awesome onion rings to go with.
The Library – ordered the Paul Bunyon which is a two patty behemoth that will satisfy any large appetite. The sweet potato fries sound great but are pretty much mediocre.
Sharky’s – don’t know why they are last as the burger was really good but a tad small. They have a homemade bun that is fantastic.

So, there are the best burgers in Winter Park, Colorado from my humble opinion. You can and will not go wrong with any one of these. If you are in a rush, or hungover, you can still hit McDonald’s for that Big Mac or Q/Pounder with cheese but you would be much better off hitting one of these local stops here in Winter Park and Fraser.

Here is the original post for the best burger competition in Winter Park , Colorado.