Last week, the Turner PR team visited our new client, Capella Telluride, in the beautiful town of Mountain Village. We had fun exploring the destination, learning all about our new client, and most of all, eating and drinking our way thru Telluride. In fact, we spent so much time sampling the local fare, we felt the need to share our top picks; so without further ado, Turner PR’s culinary tour of Telluride:

Allred’s
This hot spot, owned by the Telluride Ski Resort, sits on top of the mountain with killer views and even deadlier drinks. We especially liked the margaritas (in all varieties, including one aptly named, “The Cat’s Meow”).

9545
9545 takes mountain cuisine to the next level with its creative use of local ingredients and worldly flavors. We ordered the Pan Seared Salmon with Senora Cactus Tapenade, Melted Tomatillo Broth and Grilled Cilantro Garlic Polenta, as well as the Grilled Shrimp with Tequila Orange Sauce and Crispy Chorizo Corn Relish. Both were delish, but our favorite dish of the night was the Oreo Cookie Chocolate Parfait with FRIED Oreos. Yum.

Onyx & Suede
These trendy spots were both at Capella Telluride, proving that if that’s where you choose to lay your head (there’s nowhere that matches it, trust us), you don’t have to go far to get a great meal. We started at Suede and tried the “Constellation” beer flight. All four beers are brewed exclusively for Capella Telluride by local Smuggler’s Brewery. The brews range from an espresso-infused porter, to a light tasting spa brew – perhaps the world’s only green tea-based cider, and the Turner team’s favorite of the four.

Next stop was Onyx for one of the best meals we’d ever had. We sampled nearly everything on the appetizer menu, including the to-die-for Corn Cream, a fresh cream soup accented with roasted red pepper, poblano pepper and fresh corn salad, and Mini Crab Cakes complimented by herb jicama salad. Other top picks of the night included grilled shrimp, Angus beef tenderloin, grilled striped bass, and last but not least, a blueberry cobbler that we’re still dreaming about.

Floradora
For a more laid-back local hotspot, and popular with the summer festival crowd, try Floradora, serving up an interesting take on family-friendly organic cuisine, and a great weekend brunch. We liked the duck quesadilla and palisade peach cobbler more than anyone should.

No matter where you choose to dine, we learned that it’s nearly impossible to get a bad meal in Telluride. Not only does it offer up thrills for the ski and summer adventure crowd, but it appeals to even the most extreme foodie. So … Telluride or bust – as long as you’re not counting calories!