Outdoor Entertaining with Ease…at 11,480′!
One of our favorite entertaining venues is in the Back Bowls of Vail, CO, at Belle’s Camp. This past Sunday was the perfect day for skiing, grilling and enjoying lunch outside with the best panoramic view imaginable. How does this work? It is easy with a some planning and I truly mean it. A little organization goes a long way. I always don a backpack, color-coordinated of course, while skiing. I simply plan the meal the night before and pack the morning of accordingly. I swear my pack sometimes feels like that magic bag Mary Poppins had which appeared bottomless! The food and beverages just keep on coming when we arrive at our picnic table and start to get organized. This past Sunday it was only two of us, which made producing lunch almost effortless. We have entertained as many as ten up there, which requires two backpacks. I can’t carry it all! This was our most recent menu: Smoked Mozzarella, Artichoke and Chicken Sausages, Tortillas, Jarlsberg Cheese, Sautéed Peppers with Turmeric, salt and pepper, two adult beverages and Espresso Truffnies for dessert. The sausages were frozen and properly defrosted by lunch time. They went on the grill first, followed by the tortillas with cheese melted on top. The peppers in foil went on when the sausages did, double-foiled and packed in a zipper baggie for travel. The cooked sausages were then placed on top of the cheese/tortilla with peppers drowning the protein. Once folded in half, we had lunch! Add mustard as needed, which is a given with me. We also enjoyed Truffnies for dessert. What’s a Truffnie? It is my friend’s creation and the best chocolate ever. It is an organic blend between a European Truffle and an American Brownie. Yes, they are amazing.
The next time you think about strapping on the skis and enjoying the high country, I encourage you to take it up a notch and enjoy grilling lunch at Belle’s Camp. You will be happy you did!
If you are eclectic enough to entertain grilling lunch at Belle’s Camp, let me give you some tips:
The communal grills are turned on at 9:00 and off at 3:00
Adult beverages are not sold in the hut but soft drinks and hot drinks are.
Paper plates, cutlery and condiments are available. I sometimes bring my own napkins because….they are way cuter than the free ones!
Be prepared to eat with strangers, have fun conversations and create new memories!
