Welcome to our Table!
Known for recreational opportunities in nature — skiing, biking, hiking, fishing, rafting — the Roaring Fork Valley is not often thought about as a local food hub. But if you think about it, nature and food production go hand in hand. Sunshine, water, and good soil— abundant resources here — are needed to grow produce, and healthy ecosystems are essential for raising livestock. But the secret sauce is the people, who put it all together to get that local food on your plate.
Food and Farm Culture in Our Five Communities
Aspen’s high elevation and history as a bustling mining-town turned-ski-and-cultural resort have made it a more dining-out destination than ag-hub. The sky’s the limit here with creative uses of local food — from one of the valley’s original adopters of farm-to-table dining, The Little Nell hotel, to award-winning chef Barclay Dodge at Bosq.
Until the late 1960s, the rolling slopes surrounding Snowmass Village were dotted with sheep and cattle. Farms and ranches supplied Aspen’s food in the mining era and the buildings for the Anderson Ranch Arts Center campus. Snowmass’ agricultural and local food traditions continue today through pastoral landscapes, authentic dining options, and food-centered special events.
Basalt sprung to life as a railroad hub, with trains from Denver and Leadville stopping to load and unload food and passengers before continuing to other local stops. Gold Medal trout waters became the draw for this town at the junction of the Roaring Fork and Fryingpan Rivers, which is also now home to innovative farmers including the world-renowned Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute and Rock Bottom Ranch.
Thanks to its rich soil, the valley was once a growing region for potatoes — and Carbondale was the epicenter. Spuds continue to be celebrated at Carbondale’s Potato Day (in its 114th year in 2023,) and the local McClure Red is in Slow Food’s “Ark of Taste” heritage food catalog. Beyond potatoes, ranchers still run cattle through downtown en route to and from forest pastures and supply beef to many local eateries.
For Colorado’s Native American Utes, the Glenwood Springs area was prime hunting grounds. Presidents Teddy Roosevelt and William Taft were two prominent visitors that enjoyed the fruits of the town’s land and waters — including strawberries, after which the town’s 126-year-old annual Strawberry Days civic celebration of regional food was named. Nowadays, the largest town in the Roaring Fork Valley offers a variety of recreational experiences and equally broad options for local dining and drinking, such as The Pullman and Casey Brewing.
