Viceroy Snowmass Colorado: Tops In Dining And Accommodations

The bull is hungry

Viceroy Snowmass has spared no expense in providing the best luxury experience in Snowmass. Therefore it stands to reason the food program should be part of an overall upgrade. TORO Kitchen & Lounge, the fine dining restaurant features Executive Chef Jay McCarthy. This talented chef may be the only former aerospace engineer-turned-chef on the planet. This career change was no whim, and Chef McCarthy has won accolades in Texas and Colorado.

Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, TORO Kitchen & Lounge features a Latin-inspired menu. The High Country of Colorado is breathtaking and stimulates appetites from eating up the clear blue skies and sunny slopes. Find one of Snowmass Village’s best fine dining options at TORO to slay the bull of hunger. Dinner entrees like BBQ king salmon, grilled Colorado lamb chops, or a 32-ounce (907 grams) tomahawk chop will tame the High Country hunger monster.

My wife and I started our culinary journey at the bar. This gorgeous back-lit bar made of agate and ancient wood set the mood for slowing down after skiing. We ordered ceviche which came with fried yucca chips and surprised us with both the portion size and taste. The seafood mix of shrimp, scallops, and calamari, was studded with chunks of fresh avocado, tomato, and toasted pepitas. I’d recommend a glass of cava or Moët & Chandon “Imperial” to pair with this delicious ceviche. Across from the bar is a long gas fireplace where you can pull up a seat and enjoy your provisions in style and comfort.

Catering to meat eaters and vegetable fans too

After drinks and appetizers in the lounge, move into the dining room to fully immerse yourself in fine dining. The king salmon is cooked to perfection and adds achiote, cauliflower puree, bacon morita, and mushrooms to this delicious seafood offering. In all my extensive dining experiences I’ve never had a tastier king salmon entrée! The BBQ sauce is applied judiciously, but enhances both the salmon and the mushrooms, taking both to new heights.

Meat eaters will love the steaks and chops. The two double-cut lamb chops are delivered on a rectangular slab of slate with bright-green grilled shishito peppers and a portion of garlicky-good chimichurri. This colorful platter of stick-to-your-ribs goodness is a must for lamb chop fans. Vegetarian and vegan options like quinoa stir fry, butternut squash soup, beet salad cover the non-meat eaters in your group.

You can order sides of mac & cheese, broccolini, caramelized brussels sprouts, creamy potato puree, or roasted seasonal mushrooms for sharing. An extensive list of cocktails, beers, and wine are available to pair with your meal. Our server Megan was not only an excellent waitress but a level 2 sommelier as well. Megan and head sommelier Philippe suggested perfect wines to taste before our appetizers and entrees arrived. The Albariño by-the-glass paired well with the salmon, and the Pine Ridge Napa cabernet sauvignon enhanced the lamb.

Save room for dessert

As good as appetizers and dinner were, dessert was just as good. The brightly colored green apple is a white chocolate mousse-stuffed work of art. On the side, a cinnamon Breton vanilla mousseline and green apple sorbet complement this gorgeous taste treat. The kabocha tart (Japanese pumpkin), was an intricate assemblage of thin-slices kabocha on a dome of coconut-hazelnut dacquoise. On the side was sea salt caramel ice cream and a few strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries for good measure. This kabocha tart showed off Executive Pastry Chef Ron Valoria’s love of French and Japanese pastries. The man is a real star in the world of baking, and you can try his baked goods at TORO or Café V.

Try the spa, Nest, and Cafe V

Café V brings a world-class patisserie to Snowmass. Perfect for a light breakfast with cappuccino, latte, coffee, or tea; order up and enjoy your light meal in the lobby just steps away. Chef Valoria bakes up an assortment of tempting treats like buttery croissants, kouign amann, chocolate croissants, and other incredible pastries. At lunch, consider sandwich offerings at Café V and a baked treat for dessert.

If the weather cooperates, check out the newly remodeled NEST Bar & Grill outside by the pool. After a major upgrade, the pool area features a bar menu of light fare like crispy noodle salad, grilled shrimp, and more. The new infinity hot pool will be a welcome sight after a day of skiing, snowboarding, hiking, or biking the Snowmass area. Note that NEST Bar & Grill is open to the public but not the swimming pool or infinity hot pool. Consider the infinity hot pool for a perfect starting point before enjoying Viceroy Snowmass’ spa for a massage, facial, other treatments.