In the vibrant resort town of Aspen, Colorado, you can ski the powdery white slopes of Ajax Mountain, shop till you drop at posh and trendy boutiques and rub elbows with the upscale celebrity set. But you can also find exquisite cuisine around practically every well-manicured corner. One such place to sink your cosmetically enhanced teeth into a decadent meal is at Cache Cache—so nice they had to name it twice.
Chef and co-owner Chris Lanter definitely works his special brand of magic in the kitchen. Together with co-owner Jodi Larner, they have crafted an Aspen institution that has thrived for many years.
A lively French bistro that offers delicious food and an impeccable (and evolving) wine list paired with style, grace and charm, Cache Cache is a favorite not only among the locals who expect and receive consistency but also among first timers such as yours truly. When you walk into the space, the crisp but contemporary bar area is highlighted with a wall of electric blue backlit wine bottles. Step into the saffron hued dining room, which takes full advantage of every bit of real estate, and you’ve entered a world of culinary pleasure in which you’ll find all too easy to become totally immersed.
For all of its charm that oozes from every conceivable corner, Cache Cache is anything but pretentious. But despite great ambience and a lovely vibe (take a virtual tour of the interior), let’s face it: what we ultimately go to a restaurant for is the food. And if it’s one thing that Georgia native Chef Lanter knows, it’s the rudimentary principles of pleasing the palate…and he does it so well.
Unfortunately, I missed out on the Dungeness crab cocktail appetizer as they were already sold out of that special offering by eight-thirty in the evening, but the duck leg confit with succulent flavors rolling across the tongue that practically liquefied in my mouth more than made up for my second—but by no means second-rate—choice. Also on the appetizer menu was the distinctively curly, slightly bitter frisée salad, which leaned ever so slightly on the side of decadence with the addition of apple wood smoked bacon, which seems to have an uncanny knack for elevating almost every dish in the known universe.
On the entrée side, the toothsome prime New York strip resting on a tiny lake of Dijon-peppercorn sauce was enough to sway any vegetarian over to the dark, meaty side of life. And while it wasn’t sampled on this particular evening, the osso bucco is reputed to be one of Cache Cache’s most treasured dishes.
There’s so much more to Chef Lanter’s menu than can be described in a few words. The true test is one of experience. And it must be said that emphasis is placed on service at Cache Cache. But one person’s opinion can only take you so far. Should you find yourself in the lovely town of Aspen, visit Cache Cache and decide for yourself. Just be certain to go with an appetite. You’ll be glad you did.
Cache Cache, 205 S. Mill Street, Aspen, CO / 970-925-3835
Check out my other column, “Fairfield County Restaurant Examiner,” dedicated to dining in Fairfield County, CT.
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