Vegetarian food hits the slopes: a guide to the best of apres-ski across the country

Vegetarian Times, Jan, 1995 by Amy Plummer

If vegetables have avoided skiing for fear of starving to death, it's no wonder; for years, all you could find to eat on the slopes were burgers, fries milkshakes. But good news has finally arrived: Not only are restaurants in major ski towns now full of delicious meatless dishes, but even the on-mountain lodges are serving lasagna, salads, pizza, sandwiches, soups, yogurt and muffins suitable for vegetarians (or, at least, those who eat dairy products and eggs; vegans may still have a tough time). What follows is a guide to some of the most popular North American ski resorts that accommodate vegetarians exceptionally well.

COLORADO

Telluride: This Victorian town nestled amid the slate's highest peaks is bursting with impressive, healthful food. Legends, the restaurant in a luxury resort and spa known as The Peaks (atop Country Club Drive in Mountain Village), features roasted ravioli with wilted spinach and lemon, warm asparagus salad in a yellow-tomato vinaigrette, and grilled vegetables with couscous and white-wine-roasted-garlic sauce--and all are non-fat! In town, try the black bean veggie burger with mild green chilies and cheese at the San Juan Brewing Co. (300 S. Townsend), the strudel at Evangeline's (646 Mountain Village Blvd.) and the array of creative Asian tofu dishes at Honga's Lotus Petal (138 E. Colorado Ave.).

Aspen: A mecca for celebrities and other big spenders, sophisticated Aspen abounds with sensational veg fare. At the base of Aspen mountain, Shlomo's is a good bet for lunch, with falafel, spinach salad and potato latkes. The Silver City Grille in town (308 S. Hunter) is another good lunch spot, featuring not one, but three varieties of veggie burgers, including a vegan one made of black beans. Aspen is renowned for its haute cuisine at night. Try Aspen Grove Cafe's (525 E. Cooper) macadamia-breaded goat cheese and toasted pine nuts on meadow greens with raspberry vinaigrette or Creole zucchini baked with a cornbread and cheddar-swiss stuffing and mild Cajun sauce. Lauretta's Cafe Mexicana (333 E. Durant) cooks up the most unusual Chili Rellenos Enogadas, stuffed with raisins, walnuts, bananas and apples. Finally, don't miss Syzygy's (520 E. Hyman) salad of arugula, radicchio and butter lettuce, carmelized pecans and rose petals with balsamic honey vinaigrette.

Crested Butte: If laid-back locals, adventure skiing and tourists of the non-glamorous ilk are more your style, this former Gold Rush town in south-central Colorado is the answer. Crested Butte seems to have less veg fare than some other resorts in the Rockies, but you can still find a good meal. Try Le Bosquets' (Second and Elk Avenue) phyllo tart with basil puree, tomato confit and goat cheese, or linguine with fresh asparagus and tomatoes in lemon butter. Vegetarian offerings at Cafe Lobos (215 Elk Ave. include a Southwestern stir-fry, pine nut fettucine and winter garden pasta. Wong's (in Crested Butte Lodge) makes hearty meals of MSG-free bean curd Szechuan and broccolli, or eggplant with garlic sauce.

Fear not if your non-veg friends happen to suggest an evening meal at Rocky Mountain Steaks (in Whiterock Lodge); it serves good Veggie K-Bobs. And the Swiss Chalet (621 Gothic Road) offers cheese fondue and traditional raclette grills (melted cheese, potatoes in their skins and pickles), as well as a ski fondue party by torchlight.

Copper Mountain: Boasting a new highspeed quad chairlift (the fastest lift up the mountain for four people), this popular ski area 75 miles west of Denver features lots of veggie food. Try the eggplant sub at Creekside in nearby Snowbridge Square Mall. For dinner, go with Racket's (in Cooper Mountain Athletic Club) black bean chipotle chili quesadilla and wild mushroom enchiladas. The Double Diamond Bar & Grill (in the Foxpine at the East Village) has the California Veggie Burger with guacamole and lots of pizzas.

Steamboat: This is a great ski mountain for the whole family to enjoy. Recent improvements run the gamut from new kiddie lifts and high-speed quads to expansion plans into two new areas on the mountain and a warming hut at the top of Four Points lift. On-mountain restaurants feature veggie chili, pasta salads, garden burgers, potato bars and other standard veg fare. Evening diners can enjoy veggie fajitas at La Montana (Apres Ski Way and Village Drive), curried Madras veggies over rice at Harwig's Grill (911 Lincoln Ave.), or vegetable stromboli at Cugino's (825 Oak St.).

PENNSYLVANIA

The Poconos: Three new trails and a new high-speed detachable quad chairlift should be finished before this ski season. Known for attracting honeymooners, the Poconos are indeed a romantic alpine escape in the East. The ski areas feature an assortment of soups, yogurt and pierogis. Away from the resorts, the Naturally Rite Restaurant (Route 209 in Marshalls Creek) features eggplant rollatini, bean burritos and Spanish-style stuffed peppers. The Inn at Tannersville (Route 611 in Tannersville) makes a nice pasta primavera, while Mimi's Streamside Cafe (River Road in Shawnee-on-Delaware) serves up steaming bowls of vegetarian chili. Italian restaurants abound in this part of the country, so a good pasta marinara is never far away.