BASALT RESTAURANTS
Angelo's Basalt
Robin and Steve Humble have sold their locally beloved restaurant, Free Range, to Italian chef and restaurateur Angelo Elia, former owner of Angelo’s in Aspen. Free Range will be missed but Elia hopes to keep that sense of community and continue to hire local students, following the Humbles’ example. As for Robin and Steve, they have worked their little bottoms off and now it's time for them to take a well deserved rest.
Elia, who owns several Italian restaurants, said he was drawn to Basalt’s warmth and natural setting. Born in Salerno, Italy, he began cooking in his family’s New York restaurant at age 14.
"Basalt is so local and so beautiful — and already a destination,” he said. He and his wife, Denise, said they feel honored to join the community.
Elia plans to keep operating Free Range Kitchen as-is through the 2025/26 winter season. Renovations will begin in spring of 2026, with a new name and full relaunch planned for later in the year.
He expects to introduce a handful of dishes from his childhood such as his mother’s Sunday chicken. The revamped menu will feature handmade pastas, cacio e pepe, osso buco, fresh seafood, and other Italian dishes, accompanied by updated, home-style décor. ~ Aspen Times
The longtime Village Smithy has also changed hands after 50 years, with new ownership planning updates before reopening—one to watch for locals who grew up with it.
Wild Fig Willits
After more than two decades as one of Aspen's most beloved restaurants, Craig & Sam Cordts-Pearce of CP Restaurant Group, opened another Wild Fig in Willits, bringing its signature Mediterranean spirit to the heart of the midvalley. The restaurant showcases the sun-drenched flavors of Spain, France, Italy, Greece, and the Middle East through thoughtfully prepared dishes, a carefully curated wine list, and the warm hospitality that has made the Aspen location a longtime favorite. Housed in the former Ocean Seafood space, the restaurant underwent a complete transformation, creating an atmosphere that Samantha describes as "stepping into a brasserie in Paris." The details matter here—from the elegant design to the storied zinc-topped bar the couple acquired from famed New York restaurateur Keith McNally's Schiller's, once a favorite date-night destination of their own.
The Cordts-Pearces continue to shape the valley's dining scene and are now preparing to open a new boutique restaurant and local market as part of the Midland Residences development in downtown Basalt. Featuring a prominent outdoor patio and designed to serve as a vibrant community gathering place, the project promises to bring even more energy and culinary creativity to the midvalley. More than simply restaurateurs, Samantha and Craig have built a reputation for creating spaces where people gather, linger, and connect over exceptional food, wine, and conversation.
Other CP Restaurant Group restaurants: CP Burger, The Monarch, Steakhouse No. 316 in Aspen and Boulder, d’Aosta, and they will reopen the historic The Red Onion, which has been defunct since 2020.
Working to preserve Aspen’s independent restaurant industry, the Cordts-Pearce are proud of saving Woody Creek Tavern and the Red Onion from big-city restaurant groups. What’s next for the power couple? Turning The Popcorn Wagon in front of The Wild Fig into a taco truck. ~ Modern Luxury
CARBONDALE RESTAURANTS
Sprazzo, Carbondale
Sprazzo, a new Italian-themed restaurant, will open on 689 Main Street in Carbondale, Colorado (hopefully) “in time for the holidays,” Justin “Chester” White told The Sopris Sun.
The restaurant will be operated under the same business umbrella as Main Line Social, another new restaurant currently under construction on Highway 133. Chester, the owner of both ventures, is a father of two young children and first came to Carbondale teaching with the High School High Scholar program at Colorado Rocky Mountain School. ~ Sopris Sun
Village Smithy, Carbondale
For more than 50 years, The Village Smithy has been woven into the fabric of Carbondale, serving generations of locals, visitors, skiers, cyclists, ranchers, and families from its iconic Main Street location. Known for its hearty breakfasts, welcoming atmosphere, and the kind of community connections that happen over endless cups of coffee, The Smithy has long been considered one of the valley's most beloved gathering places. In 2026, longtime owners Charlie Chacos and Jared Ettelson passed the torch to Samantha and Craig Cordts-Pearce of CP Restaurant Group. While the restaurant enters a new chapter, the goal remains preserving what has made The Smithy special for decades. As Ettelson told The Sopris Sun, the hope was to find owners who wanted to "maintain the history," while giving the restaurant the investment and care it needs for the next fifty years. Chacos echoed that sentiment, saying he felt fortunate to hand it off to "good stewards that will take it to the next level."
GLENWOOD SPRING RESTAURANTS
About 40 miles down valley from Aspen there is a growing mountain town known for its healing waters and friendly business establishments. It's also where many of us travel through on our way to other destinations and it has been a mission of mine to find the treasures to visit while passing through.
Brava Modern Trattoria
Brava Modern Trattoria is a modern Italian restaurant focused on house-made Italian cuisine. When I tell you that I love sharing the treasures I find in my travels, Vinny, Owner of Brava Modern Trattoria, is one of them. With a history of being a Chef at Cache Cache and Pinons in Aspen, Vinny brings vibrancy and charm to Glenwood with his romantic Italian restaurant. Visiting our table and pouring our red wine from a beautiful decanter, Vinny moved with a Latino grace sharing how he moved away from Aspen because he didn't like "the show". What Vinny does love is everything sexy, from the divine food to the pouring of the wine, and his international flare transported me to somewhere more exotic than a Colorado mountain town.
The dishes were so fresh and exciting to the tastebuds, and Vinny's charm and grace were as enticing, but perhaps not as angelic, as the house-made Tiramisu and Crème Brûlée. It is difficult to find any information on Vinny, I guess to know him, you just have to go in there and experience him. With the tagline of, "where friends become family," you will quickly feel as though you have found your home away from home. The atmosphere is one that entices you to sit and talk for hours over wine and traditional dishes like Brasato and Saltimbocca.
CO Ranch House
The owner of CO Ranch House, Krissy Clary, caught my eye as she rode in on her town bike, wisps of blonde hair flying and bright blue eyes speaking many an adventurous tale, she let us know that our table was ready.
With a western-inspired menu including locally sourced beef, Rocky Mountain Trout, sustainable salmon, and local craft beers and spirits decorated with fresh basil pulled from the garden, Krissy served us up everything "House Made" as we sat on the patio enjoying the intimate and private setting. Of course, the Fried Chips with House Made Ranch was set right before me and I delicately devoured all of them, along with Duck Wings and House Smoked Trout Fillet, the perfect fare to enjoy after flyfishing on the gold medal waters all day, or after a long day of horseback riding out in the wilderness.
The restaurant has been around for over 70 years. The previous owner, Tony Rosa, lives upstairs and comes down for coffee every day.
Hotel Colorado
Chef Franz Garcia's Shrimp Bang Bang Tacos and Caprese Chicken Sandwiches. The Executive Chef at Hotel Colorado is Aaron Haga who was Executive Sous Chef at The Broadmoor back in 2015.
Hotel Colorado has rich historical characters who visited in the early 1900s. No doubt it was an exciting time back then with guests staying there like; Teddy Roosevelt, William Taft, and the “Unsinkable” Molly Brown. According to VisitGlenwood.com, the 26th U.S. president ran the country from The Hotel Colorado in the summer of 1905, earning it the nickname, “The Little White House of the United States.” What drew President Roosevelt to Glenwood Springs was the Grizzly Bear hunting (yes, they used to live here). They were overhunted.
Margaret Brown (née Tobin; July 18, 1867 – October 26, 1932), posthumously known as "The Unsinkable Molly Brown", was an American socialite and philanthropist. She unsuccessfully encouraged the crew in Lifeboat No. 6 to return to the debris field of the 1912 sinking of RMS Titanic to look for survivors.[1] During her lifetime, her friends called her "Maggie", but even by her death, obituaries referred to her as the "Unsinkable Molly Brown".
"William Howard Taft (September 15, 1857 – March 8, 1930) was the 27th president of the United States (1909–1913) and the tenth Chief Justice of the United States (1921–1930), the only person to have held both offices.
The locally loved Melville family took over ownership of the Hotel Colorado in 2018, they also owned the Mountain Chalet across from St. Regis Aspen, and the Cristiana Guesthaus bed and breakfast lodge in Crested Butte.
With a great location by the river, Hotel Colorado is in proximity to the historic railroad station as well as to The Glenwood Hot Springs, Iron Mountain Hot Springs, Yampah Spa, and Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park.
Riviera Supper Club & Piano Bar
The Executive Chef and Owner of Riviera Supper Club, Travis Owen, a Glenwood Springs native, has been in the industry since the age of thirteen. Known for his playful culinary techniques we experienced his infusion of cultural flavors, beginning with The French Baked Brie appetizer with house-made orange marmalade, accompanied by a preserved lemon vinaigrette dressed salad and sourdough crostini. The other dishes offered a peek into Owen's love for the mingling of flavors. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the Char Siu (a traditional Chinese BBQ sauce) on pulled pork that had been sauteed with their house Kansas City-style BBQ sauce. On the same plate was a honey-marinated garlic-crusted grilled shrimp with soy, fish sauce, and lime, and the combination was surprisingly incredible.
Our final dish was a play on Franks 'n' Beans with grilled Snake River Wagyu Beef Frankfurters nestled into a bowl of Trav's famous baked beans, accompanied by Wisconsin white cheddar cheese curds and garnished with pickled onions. For someone who tends to stick with light food, my palette was reawakened from my time lived in NYC where I had a more exploratory stance on food.
The live music and theatre at The Riviera Supper Club began with Phantom of the Opera Musical Director Jonathan Gorst. Kyle Jones is the current musical director. Since he is unable to play inside with the social distancing measures, he's been playing under the bridge. I can only imagine the incredibly intimate evenings that transpire in there once they resume their "normal" programming. Riviera Supper Club is on my list to go back and experience the entire production.
