Montagna
The Little Nell, Aspen, Colorado

The chaletlike Little Nell, Aspen's only ski-in, ski-out hotel, attracts the sort of Prada-clad skiers who look for something a little more posh than a burger and a beer at the end of a day on the slopes. Chef Ryan Hardy (a James Beard nominee and formerly of Rubicon in San Francisco) is happy to oblige. Hardy's menu at Montagna restaurant revolves around ingredients sourced from the Rocky Mountain region, much of it supplied by the chef's own farm. He not only raises chickens and heritage pigs but also cultivates vegetables and makes cheese. Dishes such as glazed pork belly with pear and endive and elk strip loin with caramelized pumpkin, chestnuts, and black truffle nage are paired with vino from Montagna's 20,000-bottle cellar. The 92 guest rooms, which were renovated in 2009 and have fireplaces and large marble baths, are also more elegant than your usual mountainside hotel fare.

Montagna
The Little Nell
675 E. Durant Avenue
Aspen, Colorado
Tel: 970 920 4600

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