telluride is calling Step out of the ordinary
and into the most authentic
mountain community
“F
Written by Ottocina Ryan
or some Telluride is a hideout, for some it’s absolute freedom. For me it’s both,” states Chef Patrick Laguens of Sidework restaurant. I graze on what’s left on the table—a charcuterie board of housemade bread, meats and quince paste, a whole branzino, and the remnants of eight different cocktails. It’s towards the end of a meal that was equal parts delicious food, classic cocktails…and poetry recital. Over the course of dinner the chef with a master’s in philosophy slid into our booth twice to dramatically recite poems he wrote. To say Telluride gives him the freedom to create an unconventionally amazing dining experience would be an understatement. Patrick is just one of the many characters I meet over this crisp fall weekend in Telluride. The first was Tom Watkinson, my tour guide.
Earlier that day, Tom picked me up from Telluride Airport. At 9,070 feet it’s the highest commercial airport in the US, and now easier than ever to visit with new Denver Air Connection flights from Denver. Tom was raised in Telluride and has lived there ever since. He is on town council, knows everyone, and wears a ring engraved fuck yeah Telluride on his middle finger. How many people do you know with that level of hometown pride? Thought so.
@ S B L I F E A N D S T Y L E | 65
