Aspen dining scene levels up with new restaurants from renowned chefs

Last ski season Aspen saw a wave of noteworthy restaurant openings marked by the arrivals of Wayan by Cedric and Ochi Vongerichten Zigzag by chef Romain Pav e and the long-awaited Sant Ambroeus Restaurant This winter it continues to attract iconic eateries by familiar faces looking to make their mark on the star-studded city Related Aspen s food scene soaring above its apr s-ski society The big hitters which we profile below include chef Ludo Lefebvre who brings his celebrated L A institution Petit Trois to The Mollie boutique hotel chef Mawa McQueen who returns with a revival of Mawita inside her Michelin-recommended Mawa s Kitchen and chef Nobu Matsuhisa who will debut a brand new concept in Aspen called Yuki But there is plenty more as well New York City pizza institution Rubirosa opened Mt Rubirosa at the base of the Aspen Mountain gondola in The Residences at Little Nell in early December serving Italian-American staples like its famous TIE-DYE Pizza Paris legendary Caviar Kaspia will bring its signature fine-dining to the Snow Lodge s Jade Room at the St Regis Hotel from Dec to March with formal dining during the week and a new Club Kaspia concept on the weekends And there s even a new bagel shop in town Silvers that debuted in August with a menu that includes an open-faced bagel loaded with caviar Petit Trois is a slice of Paris Chef Ludo Lefebvre opened an Aspen outlet of his Petit Trois in The Mollie boutique hotel in December Michele Cardamone provided by MOLLIE Aspen French-born chef Ludo Lefebvre debuts Petit Trois in The Mollie boutique hotel on Dec The Michelin Bib Gourmand concept is well-known in Los Angeles where it opened an intimate -seat counter in Hollywood in and a larger brasserie-style location in Sherman Oaks in The cozy Aspen outpost is its first outside of L A Petit Trois is my version of a Parisian bistro noted Lefebvre The menu will stay true to the original with items like Burgundy Escargot the famed Petit Trois Omelet and the decadently messy Big Mec which is frequently cited by food writers as one of the best burgers in the country Expect classic dishes and local creative seasonal dishes the chef commented Unique to the Aspen menu will be items like foie gras and Colorado lamb We can t serve foie gras in California so I am looking forward to adding that to the Aspen menu I am at present working on a foie gras Pot-au-feu with truffle broth he continued It is key to me that these be as fresh and local as manageable Of program I will use Colorado lamb and am at this moment progressing a poached and grilled rack of Colorado lamb with hay It wouldn t be an Aspen joint without apr s-ski specials Lefebvre teased items like a gooey cheesy tartiflette to be enjoyed after a day on the slopes as well as merch that reflects the town s style like cashmere baseball hats The extensive wine list curated alongside Master Sommeliers and Little Nell alums Dustin Wilson and Sabato Sagaria is focused on French and California wines with an emphasis on by-the-glass selections from top producers The -seat dining room features the green brass and leather accents uncovered at the L A locations with additional seating on two outdoor patios There is also a small cafe and bar that will serve breakfast and lunch Colorado and Aspen both hold special places in my heart mentioned Lefebvre who also helms Chez Maggy inside the Thomson Denver hotel I ve spent summers and winters in Aspen and love that it has something for everybody year-round I ve unfailingly been drawn to the mountains and ice sports are a huge part of my life my wife and I spend the majority weekends at the hockey rink watching our kids play Aspen also reminds me of the ski tradition we have in France so it feels like a natural fit for Petit Trois Mawita focuses on Spanish tapas Cote d Ivoire-born chef Mawa McQueen launched Mawita in the former event room of her Michelin-recommended Mawa s Kitchen on Dec She will also unveil a new format at Mawa s Kitchen a multi-course tasting menu later this month The two concepts will share an entrance at their location near the Aspen Pitkin County airport but offer distinct experiences Think of Mawa s as the sophisticated older sister of the two while Mawita is the lively younger sibling Inspired by the coastal fare of European cities like San Sebasti n and Biarritz Mawita will feature tapas like Iberico ham truffle grits croquettes Gambas al Ajillo grilled butternut squash with chimichurri poached egg and prosciutto dressed with grilled leek vinaigrette and McQueen s crowd-favorite Chicken Yassa all for around a piece There will also be a small selection of larger plates like paella I love San Sebastian it s my favorite food scene and there is no small tapas place in Aspen mentioned McQueen who wants to provide an elevated yet affordable experience I want people to know that downtown Aspen is not the only place where you can find great food in the area The space s more casual ambiance is even reflected in the name Mawita which is a nickname given to the chef by her close friends and family My staff calls me Mawita and it s very endearing she shared Truffled Grit Croquettas at chef Mawa McQueen's new Mawita restaurant in Aspen in Photo by Kelsey Brunner The casual concept was originally housed in the Collective in Snowmass Village for two-and-a-half years before closing this April Back then it served tacos and Mexican-inspired cuisine After it closed she opted to divide and conquer Mawa s Kitchen to make room for the reinvented tapas bar McQueen s club put just as much effort into the beverage operation as it did into the dishes with European wines white and red sangrias and a cocktail list featuring flavors like hibiscus and lychee all created by McQueen s brother Zak Sidibe and her husband Daniel McQueen Mawa s Kitchen meanwhile will feature rotating hyperseasonal dishes The new tasting menu format will start at per person Several inaugural dishes include a scallop dish prepared two means a plantain-charcoal bread class guests choice of four rotating protein entrees think wagyu and red snapper with caviar beurre blanc plus mignardise small desserts and an African tea organization We re going to start in France and finish in Africa The meal will accentuate French and Mediterranean food and spices from Africa with French technique she mentioned The two concepts create one global experience she added Start with drinks at Mawita then go to Mawa s Kitchen if you want the full dinner Or just stay for small plates It s whatever mood you re in Yuki shows a new side of chef Nobu Yuki is the latest project from world-renowned chef Nobu Matsuhisa and longtime Aspen restaurateurs Michael Goldberg owner of Belly Up and Todd Clark Brad Yamamoto Tucked above Belly Up Aspen Yuki debuted in late June as the latest project from world-renowned chef Nobu Matsuhisa and longtime Aspen restaurateurs Michael Goldberg owner of Belly Up and Todd Clark Goldberg s sons David and Danny are also partners in the venture The restaurant s name Yuki which means snow or happiness in Japanese comes from part of Nobu s given name Nobuyuki A reference to his surname matsu pine in the logo and in the -year-old -foot-tall Japanese black pine bonsai at the entrance Nobu was part of this from start to finish in terms of the design and feel of the space and the kitchen in particular Goldberg declared The eatery seats indoors and on the patio It looks cosmopolitan contemporary but assured Goldberg revealed Clark added that the clean lines and Japanese simplicity create a modern aesthetic that makes Nobu feel at home Related Articles Beard-nominated chef returning to Denver with a shiny take on chicken LoDo nightclub closes as Monfort scales back third project on block This new East Colfax restaurant s Szechuan Cantonese and American-Chinese food is popular for a reason Dog-themed dive bar coming to th and Champa downtown Jack s on Pearl unveiling two-story steakhouse in Lone Tree next year While Goldberg and Clark s ties to Nobu span nearly three decades managing partners in Colorado s Matsuhisa locations in Aspen Vail and Denver Yuki represents a break from sushi-bar expectations The menu is broad playful and inspired by the crew s travels and culinary instincts Goldberg recalls its impetus a paella he tried at Nobu Melbourne years ago I was curious why a Japanese restaurant would have paella he revealed I like doing things that aren t just Japanese but have a Nobu influence his take on cuisines from other parts of the world The menu ranges from carpaccio and dumplings to Kakiage katsu sandos and an array of A Wagyu steaks and fish like branzino and whole snapper And it features family-style dining allowing guests to graze or build a longer multi-course progression The majority surprising offerings may be the pizzas which include a Neapolitan shiso and a tuna-topped pie with serrano peppers The beverage offerings match the menu s global ambitions Overseen by Master Sommelier Jay Fletcher who also leads Matsuhisa Colorado s wine project it features an extensive global wine list sake spirits and cocktails like the vibrant Sol Refresher made with Aguasol Reposado St Germain prickly pear and agave The more Aspen is viewed as a great food scene the better it is for us declared Goldberg The idea that there are new styles and people from outside of Aspen as well as expanding from within Aspen just adds to the excitement Subscribe to our new food newsletter Stuffed to get Denver food and drink news sent straight to your inbox