Locals add flavor to the Taos Ski Valley food scene

This summer, the Taos Ski Valley will find itself in the midst of its planned growth initiatives. With the skiers gone for the season, expansion will be taking place — and with that comes construction and bustling activity. And through it all, there will be hiking and live music, and a variety of summer fun. To fuel the fun, three locally-owned and -operated establishments will be open for business.

This will be the second summer on the mountain for Cid’s Mountain Market, owned and operated by Angelica and Lee Backer, who experienced a record-busy winter season. While Cid’s is a popular choice for skiers who want to stop only long enough for a healthy grab n’ go lunch, the market also offers prepared foods, groceries, snacks, fine wine, beer and craft spirits.

BY HAVEN LINDSEY

If the ‘Location, Location, Location’ adage is true, Cid’s is hard to beat during the summer when live music takes center stage. The skating rink transitions to a lawn for picnics and live music is mere steps away from Cid’s Mountain Market. “The Ski Valley is gorgeous in the summer,” said Angelica, “and it’s easy to pick up a picnic lunch from Cid’s — we even have ready-made cocktails.”

Much like its original location, Cid’s Mountain Market is committed to providing natural, organic and reasonably-priced food choices for the community. “Supporting our community with fresh, sustainable foods is important — it makes a difference, and that’s why we’re here. We wanted local Taos families to have the option and we’ve been very well-received,” Angelica added.

This past winter season, we watched the Der Garten Bistro transition from its successful food truck to its brick-and-mortar location in the Brownell Chalet. Co-owners Asia Golden and Christoff Brownell not only have a full liquor license (and serve some of the best margaritas in town), but also serve from the area’s only authentic beer garden underneath a canopy of trees with a babbling brook.

According to Golden, “We will always have a German special on the menu like Bavarian brats with sour kraut, spätzle, and homemade pretzels along with European beer. We’re excited to offer happy hour specials this summer.”

Der Garten Bistro quickly gained a reputation for its tasty gourmet sandwiches and salads made from organic ingredients sourced from local farms. Sustainability is important to the duo and, in July, they are planning to offer fourcourse, farm-to-table dinners on Sunday evenings.

“We’re excited to support our local farmers and this will be a great way to do that. We’re hoping to highlight a farm for each meal and have the farmer come to the restaurant,” explained Golden. This year, in addition to her own garden, Golden is working closely with Chile Vince of Taos Village Farm who will grow vegetables for Der Garten.

Similar to the way Cid’s Mountain Market established a solid reputation in Taos before expanding to the Ski Valley, the Taos Ale House’s Door 38 Pizza has followed suit.

Open year-round, Door 38 Pizza may have pizza in its name, but they offer more than their signature Detroit-style pizza. For the uninitiated, Detroit-style pizza is baked in a high-sided rectangular pan resulting in a thick, crisp yet chewy crust. The pan plays an integral role in allowing the cheese to caramelize against the sides which is one reason Door 38 is so popular. There’s pizza — and there’s Door 38 pizza.

Door 38 also serves salads, wings and handcrafted burgers cooked to order — the menu has something for everyone. With al fresco dining by the Hondo River and a full bar including craft cocktails, a summertime escape is an easy choice.

The Taos Ski Valley attracts tourists to its majestic mountain year-round. They come to ski in the winter, hike in the summer, and take in the beautiful colors in the fall.

But the Ski Valley isn’t just for tourists. Just a short drive from Taos, locals can also experience that vacation-like escape. As the small village expands on the mountaintop, a core group of local business owners are ensuring that friends, neighbors, and travelers have the opportunity to enjoy healthy food in one of the best settings you’ll find.

As Der Garten Bistro’s Golden said, “The Ski Valley is beautiful, there is so much going on, and everyone deserves to be part of it.”