Denver Magazine / Denver Magazine May 2010 / Taste-Trotting: Salida

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Taste-Trotting: Salida

A gourmand’s guide to road-tripping in the Rockies

Located in the picturesque Upper Arkansas River Valley, laid-back Salida is known for two things: art galleries and water sports. The Arkansas River winds its way along the historic Victorian downtown, which serves as a launching point for fishing trips, river rafting, and kayaking. Head there this May to take advantage of the swift spring melt and some of the best Class 5 rapids in the country — and be sure to go hungry. Salida is home to a handful of food options that are as undiscovered and unpretentious as the town itself.

Salida Café and Roastery

Formerly known as Bongo Billy’s, this relaxed café adjacent to Absolute Bikes is a great place to grab a breakfast sandwich and a mug of Salida-roasted Mountain Phoenix coffee while watching kayakers battle the river. In the evenings, the café features a menu of salads, sandwiches, and burgers accompanied by live music. Look for old-time acoustic folk and bluegrass artists Anne and Pete Sibley this May (breakfast sandwich, $5; 719.539.4261; salidacafe.com)

Laughing Ladies Restaurant

The husband-and-wife team behind Laughing Ladies Restaurant have created a 14-year-old area standby, named in honor of another Salida institution — prostitution, which was legal there until as late as the 1950s. Today, the Southwestern-influenced menu includes sweet potato chilaquiles with avocado pico de gallo and roasted squash-and-mushroom enchiladas alongside standard bistro fare such as crispy chicken and mashed potatoes. The romantic dining room is adorned with art hung by the locally loved gallery Cultureclash. Don’t miss the baked goods — the owners are also behind The Downtown Bakery and Delicatessen, an all-butter, sourdough bakery up the street (entrées from $17.50; 719.539.6209; laughingladiesrestaurant.com).

The Butcher’s Table

When Iron Chef America contestant Kurt Boucher relocated from the ski-in, ski-out Pine Creek Cookhouse near Aspen to Salida in 2007, he brought a whole new level of sophistication to the town’s dining scene. The chef-owner of The Butcher’s Table is big on promoting area-grown produce and Colorado-raised meats on his “mountain gourmet” menu. This spring, look for asparagus, greens, and other early-season treasures from local farms deftly prepared by Boucher (entrées from $23; 719.530.9909; thebutcherstable.com).

The Mixing Bowl

Need to grab a gift? Look no further than The Mixing Bowl, a fully loaded kitchenware store on F Street, Salida’s main drag. The store, which employs special-needs adults, is home to LeCreuset cookware, strawberry hullers, and table linens. For Mother’s Day, we especially love the colorful new line of Gloveables aprons and matching vinyl gloves (full apron with matching gloves, $42; 719.539.2655; salidamixingbowl.com).

Amicas

Still in your river rags? Head straight for Amicas, a casual brewpub and pizzeria where you can pair tossed-to-order, wood-fired personal pizzas with a house-brewed beer. Minimalists beware, Amicas’ perfectly charred crusts are packed with flavor. To wit, the Biella is topped with mozzarella, caramelized onions, fresh rosemary, shredded capocollo ham, portobello mushroom slices, fresh tomato, goat cheese, gorgonzola, and Amicas’ signature spicy oil. We love this pizza with the recently released, balanced, and potent Double IPA or a High Pine root beer float (dinner-sized Biella, $9.50; pints of beer from $4; large root beer float, $3.50; 719.539.5219; amicassalida.com).

Scanga Meat Company

Before you head for home, be sure to hit the Scanga Meat Company, a third-generation butcher shop. The Scanga family has been ranching and packing meat for hotels and restaurants since 1952 and sells beef, pork, buffalo, lamb, chicken, and smoked and cured sausages to consumers out of their original shop and meat case on County Road 156 (719.539.3511).