The ‘Aerie’ up there tastes better at Forage & Feast | Whiteout
Arapahoe Basin gets a new 'online' look
Copper Mountain is getting more fancy shmancy. From first chair until mid-afternoon, a new lodge awaits your exit from the American Eagle chairlift.
Aerie Lodge, at the mid-mountain spot where Solitude Station used to be, is now 100% open, and the Forage & Feast restaurant inside is the talk of the slopes.
On Dec. 8, approximately 100 ski-industry guests gathered on the terrace next to the American Eagle chairlift to celebrate the official opening of Aerie and then feast on some tasty Colorado-cuisine treats presented by Chef Brian Duncan at Forage & Feast.
Dustin Lyman, president and GM at Copper Mountain, and Graeme Bilenduke, director of development and property services, spoke to the crowd before cutting the ribbon and guests filed into the lodge.
Nestled in the back and overlooking the resort, with views of the Gore and Ten Mile ranges, is Forage & Feast. Duncan’s elevated creations sat presented on tables, bartenders served drinks and a fire warmed the open space.
Duncan walked around talking to guests while others snatched up dishes such as Chicken Torte Sandwiches, BLT Sliders, Blueberry Basil Cobbler and Chocolate PB&J desserts.
“Upstairs (Forage & Feast) is the pinnacle of our food offerings at Copper,” Duncan said. “We’re looking to refine the food service at the resort and give our guests a different version of what they expect. We really want to give them something that reads easy and comfortable, but tastes and presents very unique and very refined.”
Duncan mentioned he is proud in particular of the bread offerings he and his team are baking at Forage & Feast. Baking bread at 11,000 feet of elevation is a lot different than at sea level and consists of different methods for creating high quality bread.
“It’s kind of funny since bread is really simple, but it’s not when you are at this elevation. At 11,000 feet bread takes a lot of energy,” Duncan said. “From apps to entrees to desserts, we have a lot of fun stuff like the potato wrapped salmon with the English pea risotto to the venison leg, which is a grilled venison leg that comes with a pumpernickel bread pudding, meant to be an ode to Thanksgiving.”
Duncan, a native Coloradan, started cooking when he was 14 and wanted to bring dishes like game meat to the restaurant after eating those kinds of dishes growing up.
“I grew up in a family where grandma was always around and here for the holidays and cooking and I was there with her, so she kind of instilled in me the desire to be part of the family that cooks.”
Duncan also reiterated the idea of building “culture” at the restaurant, with a focus on dining and guest experience at the restaurant.
“It takes time to build culture, but it takes mistakes to build culture,” Duncan said. “Culture is a huge thing within this building because we need to know who we are becoming over time. As time goes on, we intend to be one of the best dining offerings in all of Summit County.”
When it comes to the food offerings, Duncan has taken classic dishes like the BLT to an elevated level. Included in the dish are high-end sundried tomatoes, high-end vinegars and high-quality bacon, along with Duncan’s bread, smashed together in patty form, creating “definitely familiar but with intense flavors and an intense presentation,” according to Duncan.
The blueberry cobbler is one of two desserts currently offered.
“The crust we make, we actually layer basil in between the crusts and then we bake it so that basil flavor is encapsulated inside that crust,” Duncan said. “And then we have a lemon curd and basil whip cream that goes on top.”
More offerings will make their way to the menu in the future, Duncan said, and the menu will evolve as the restaurant grows and seasons change.
“The menu and offerings we are opening with are not the ones we will close with,” Duncan said.
Forage & Feast is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
SNOW NEWS:
• Arapahoe Basin announced Monday on social media the resort has a new online look via the resort’s website.
“It is very different. I encourage all of you to look, explore, play and let us know what you think,” Arapahoe Basin COO Alan Henceroth said of the new website.
The website is said to be a larger design, significantly more user friendly, faster, sleeker and more intuitive.
- Al’s Blog: Find it under the “ENGAGE” tab on our new site. But the link remains the same https://arapahoebasin.blogspot.com/
- Mountain Cams: https://www.arapahoebasin.com/mountain-cams/
- Snow report: https://www.arapahoebasin.com/snow-report/
- Lift & Terrain Status: https://www.arapahoebasin.com/snow-report/#terrainAndLiftStatus
- Tickets & Passes: https://www.arapahoebasin.com/tickets-and-passes/
- Events: https://www.arapahoebasin.com/events/
- ALL NEW Field Guide: https://www.arapahoebasin.com/field-guide/
- ALL NEW Media Guide: https://www.arapahoebasin.com/media/
Christmas Eve dinner at Forage & Feast
On Dec. 24, celebrate the holiday with an evening at Copper’s mid-mountain lodge Aerie. Travel via gondola to 11,200′ for dinner at Forage & Feast, serving a five-course meal featuring fresh, local, organic ingredients. Dinner seatings start at 7:30 p.m., guests are welcome to arrive prior to their reservation to view the 7:15 p.m. fireworks show and enjoy a cocktail at the Forage & Feast bar.
Learn more here: www.coppercolorado.com/things-to-do/events/december-events/christmas-eve-fandf-dinner
Aerie New Years Eve celebration and fireworks
Ring in 2024 close to the clouds from 6 to 11 p.m. Dec. 31 at Aerie’s mid-mountain New Year’s Eve celebration. Travel from Center Village via gondola starting at 5:45 p.m. to where baked brie, charcuterie, crudité, and hand-passed appetizers will be waiting you and your crew amidst scenic views. Dinner food station selections start at 6:45 p.m. and includes grilled tomahawk & cauliflower steak, a raw seafood bar, portobello fries, baked oysters, and roasted chicken & veggies, all topped off with decadent desserts from the Copper bakeshop.
Enjoy two floors of entertainment; the lower level will boast a lively, upbeat environment with a live band and the upper level will offer a DJ with a more relaxed setting. Ring in the New Year at 10 p.m. (midnight on the East Coast) with a champagne toast and exclusive viewing of a fireworks show.
Learn more and buy tickets here: www.coppercolorado.com/things-to-do/events/december-events/NYE-fireworks-dinner
Graeme Bilenduke, Director of Development & Property Services at Copper Mountain Resort, speaks to a crowd awaiting the opening of Aerie, the resort’s newest lodge at the mid-mountain station, Thursday, Dec. 8, 2023 in Copper Mountain, Colorado.
jonathan.ingraham@denvergazettedev.gazette.com
Chicken Torte Sandwiches sit on a serving table during the opening day event of Aerie Thursday, Dec. 8, 2023 at Copper Mountain Resort in Copper Mountain, Colorado.
jonathan.ingraham@denvergazettedev.gazette.com
Guests enjoy the new Forage & Feast restaurant inside Aerie Lodge during the opening day event Thursday, Dec. 8, 2023 at Copper Mountain Resort in Copper Mountain, Colorado.
jonathan.ingraham@denvergazettedev.gazette.com
The Aerie, the replacement for Solitude Station, a mid-mountain lodge that includes a fine dining restaurant titled Forage & Feast at Copper Mountain Resort opened Thursday, Dec. 8, 2023.
jonathan.ingraham@denvergazettedev.gazette.com
A cook at Forage & Feast prepares food in the kitchen during the opening day event of Aerie, the new mid-mountain lodge at Copper Mountain Resort, Thursday, Dec. 8, 2023 in Copper Mountain, Colorado.
jonathan.ingraham@denvergazettedev.gazette.com
A Chocolate PB&J dessert is picked up by a guest attending the opening day event of Aerie, Copper Mountain Resort’s newest lodge, Thursday, Dec. 8, 2023.
jonathan.ingraham@denvergazettedev.gazette.com
