Park City Ski Weekend: Where to Go, What to Eat

by Michelle Dudash, Chef and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

March 7, 2011 • 0 comments

My husband and I instantly accepted an invitation from my sister Lauren and her fiancé (we’ll call him Medicine Man) to stay with them at their Park City condo amidst the excitement of the recent Sundance Film Festival.

Ski magazine readers ranked Deer Valley Ski Resort as number one in North America and you discover why almost immediately upon entering the grounds with their impeccably kept runs and first class service. Another thing I’m almost sure ranks in the top is likely country’s most expensive salad bar. I crave salads. During our visit we lunched at the Silver Lake Lodge café one day.

Here is a look at what my hungry party of four scarfed down after a day of skiing. The granddaddy of all salad bars at a whopping $17 per bowl, with or without meat. But worth every penny. My sister piled on the vegetables, cheese, and artisan cured meats. I demolished mine before I remembered to snap a shot.

The Medicine Man raves about these catfish tacos, so I ordered some too. They lived up to their reputation. The cooks obligingly substituted a mayonnaise-based coleslaw for the fresh baby romaine salad. I had to ask for salsa since it’s not typically served with tacos there. Curious.

After spending a day at Deer Valley, après ski at the St. Regis Deer Valley Bar and Lounge is a must. Too bad they didn’t sell Gatorade (not really), so I replenished electrolytes with the Ginger Margarita rimmed with candied ginger salt. Lickable to the last crystal. My sister sipped on the signature bloody Mary garnished with a Tabasco and Worcestershire-filled dropper, rimmed with lava salt, and topped with a wasabi-celery foam. They also offer an amazing rosemary and Parmesan popcorn, but since they were so busy they must have run out, since I unearthed only one herb and cheese encrusted morsel underneath the off-brand regular popcorn.

Here’s a glimpse of their patio view.

If you’re just looking for breathtaking scenery après ski, head to the lounge at Stein Erikson Lodge, a Park City institution. Though the drinks are pretty typical, the knock-out mountain view beats all.

On Saturday we enjoyed a dinner I won’t soon forget. Who would have guessed that a city covered in snow would have some of the best sushi around? Hidden at basement level, Shabu has a cozy but cool decor. I think the large table of pretty 20-somethings next to us may have own an award from the film festival because they were slamming sake bombs faster than their server could bring them rounds. The table behind us plugged their ears. They must have been regulars.

The show-stopping Wagyu beef strip loin delivered raw with a hot rock was fun to sizzle at the table. I savored (inhaled) the Miso Glazed Black Cod. The Fresh Seared Tuna Tetaki Pyramid, Duck Confit Spring Rolls, and sashimi were fabulous too. As for the prices, escaping for under $300 for a table of four might have been possible, except for the three bottles of sake Lauren and the Medicine Man imbibed.

For anyone searching for an action-packed weekend of skiing, star sighting, pub-crawling, and some pretty great food amidst the well heeled, I highly recommend heading to Park City. Until next year PC, I bid you adieu.