The Little Diner

It's hard to find a legit diner in Vail. Many are touristy, over-priced with crappy service from young, attractive seasonal workers who really don't give a damn.
However, The Little Diner is an exception--and exceptional. Open from 7: 30 am to 1 pm and serving breakfast the whole time. I can honestly say that this is the best breakfast I've had since Ireland.
I couldn't decide between the biscuits and homemade sausage gravy and the corned beef hash... So I got both! Yes I know, I'm doomed when my metabolism catches up with me.
The hash came topped with two perfectly poached eggs and the biscuits were homemade and warm and... Foodgasm.
As for the ambiance, it's a horseshoe bar around the open kitchen. I had a conversation with the chef while he made my breakfast which was fully awesome.

All in all I highly recommend it!

Mmm... Breakfast.

Fresh biscuits, sharp cheddar cheese, fried chicken, poached eggs and chipotle hollandaise.
All made in house. Life is good.

Knowing bartenders

The best part about knowing your bartenders is that they are always looking for someone to experiment on.
Josh made me his new invention, a panty-dropper made with mint, cucumber-infused gin and ginger ale.

<3

Beef carpaccio

So. Good. Seared NY strip steak, fried capers, horseradish aioli, arugula, shaved parmesan and truffle oil.

Total foodgasm.

Key lime semifreddo parfait

One of my desserts at the restaurant. I burned myself so I'm officially a pastry b*tch now!

"Westside Cafe" Vail, CO.

My new favorite place for apres/happy hour if you're not living in a pretentious ski town, is Westside.
I believe everyone is familiar with their epic bloodies and truffle fries but they also have outstanding beef carpachio and amazing eggs benedict.
The breakfast comes in a multitude of benedicty varieties, including crab cake eggs benedict. The carpachio is pounded thin and topped with arugula tossed in truffle oil, fried capers, shaved parmesan and some kind of herb cream dressing that indices foodgasms.
Service is great, ambiance relaxed and it's always spotless. My only complaints are that the restroom is not actually in the restaurant and that they are a little lenient with the intoxication levels of their regulars.

All in all, four and a half shiny objects!

Hangover cure

Bacon bloody mary with a beer sidecar and truffle fries.

The bloody is made (at the request of yours truly) with half habenero and half bacon-infused vodka and served with candied bacon.

Sandwich of the day

Today's sandwich if the day (designed by yours truly) was a vegetarian grilled portabella and zucchini on focaccia bread.

I toasted the bread and then spread boursin with the balsamic marinade from the cleaned portabella caps on both sides; sliced a grilled portabella in half; and put slices of grilled zucchini in between the layers, stacking the sandwich high.

Simple. Easy. Delicious.

Epic french toast

So I made some ridiculously awesome french toast at the restaurant yesterday.

Candied bacon and rasberry cream cheese stuffed french toast. Yeah that's right.

Candied bacon- set your oven to 350ish, tray up some bacon, cook for five minutes.
While the bacon is cooking microwave some brown sugar and butter until melty--usually around 30-45 seconds.
Remove bacon, pour sugar mixture on to and put back in the oven for 7-10 minutes... Or until done.
let cool, but not too much or the sugar will cement to the parchment or tray.

Whip some softened cream cheese with rasberry preserves until delicious.

Cut the crusts off some bread, spread some cream cheese in the middle with a piece of your bacon and press another piece of bread on top. Dip in your favorite french toast batter (eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, sugar works great.) Squeeze your improvised dumpling to get rid of excess batter and fry until GBD.

Author's note: I've always wanted to try frying these in the bacon fat, if someone does let me know how it turns out!

Breakfast

Breakfast at Le Delices De France. And yes, that is my morning reading material.

Mediterranean Neapolitan

One of my items at the restaurant. Pesto, fried wonton, watercress, cucumber, tomato, repeat layers and top with balsamic reduction.

French onion soup, vegan

Slice onions
Salt GENEROUSLY
Leave overnight
Lift out of salty onion juice, reserving liquids
Onions into WARM not hot pan
caramelize slowly, deglazing with onion juice as liquid is needed.

Add wine to taste and mushroom vegetable stock.

Vegan and delicious!