I recently took a road trip to Telluride to meet some friends for lunch at the new Van Atta restaurant and bar.
It is a beautiful drive, and it took me a little over two hours to get there. I haven’t been to Telluride in a long time, and I loved seeing the stunning the mountains.
Van Atta is tucked away at 101 W. Colorado Avenue in Telluride, within an historic building built in 1886. Originally, it was the Van Atta Dry Goods and Clothing store and has been various businesses over the years.
When we entered, I was impressed with the décor and atmosphere. It was decorated in a lush, almost speakeasy sort of way with dark wood, plush seating and chandeliers. The place was humming with business, and they recommend making reservations.
Van Atta has a daytime menu and a nighttime menu. Many of the items overlap and are on both menus. You can view the menus on its website: thevanatta.com. There is a selection of coffees, teas and creative nonalcoholic beverages in addition to the cocktail, beer and wine menu. Some of the cocktails are a nod to the mining history of Telluride with names such as Tomboy Bride, Miner’s Union and Boom Town.
The house-made potato chips were not only delicious, but served elegantly.
CHRISTINE GALLAGHER/Special to the Sentinel
I had fun trying the Little Hawaii cocktail. It featured two types of rum, macadamia nuts, lime and orange curaçao with a passionfruit honey foam on top. It was tropical and paired well with the foods I ordered.
We tried a lot of different items — it is always enjoyable to dine with friends who like to share. (I know this is a controversial subject, but I am definitely one of those sharing types. I think it is wonderful to get a few bites of each dish instead of just eating one thing. But I know many who prefer to order their own food and eat it all themselves.)
The menu had a variety of creative options. Be sure to get an order of the house-made potato chips. They were yummy!
One of my friend’s favorite dishes was the VA Continental plate cooked to perfection.
CHRISTINE GALLAGHER/Special to the Sentinel
One of the favorites of our group was a breakfast plate called the VA Continental. It featured a kabocha squash and potato hash topped with a perfectly cooked fried egg, a skewer of hot coppa (spicy, dry-cured Italian pork), arugula, olives and a smokey salted butter with fresh bread.
We also liked a frittata with local mushrooms, house ricotta and rosemary. My favorite dish was the Market Greens salad. I usually find many salads fairly uninspiring, but this was one exceptional. It had fennel, pomegranate arils, feta, radishes, pepitas, Romanesco and other deliciousness served with an herb and black garlic vinaigrette.
We decided to order the olive oil cake for dessert and it was moist, filled with fig jam, and topped with candied sage. So lovely!
To go with it, I tried the digestif cynar (pronounced chee-NAR) for the first time. It is an Italian liqueur that is somewhat bitter and its secret recipe is infused with a variety of herbs and plants including artichoke leaves. It’s a distinctive taste, but one I enjoyed.
The flavor combination of the delicious Market Greens salad was terrific.
CHRISTINE GALLAGHER/Special to the Sentinel
On the way home from Telluride, a place in Delta caught my eye. It is called The Tipsy Trout Taproom, 1064 Main St. It shares the lot with a chicken food truck named El Pollo and opened last year.
There was a delightful outdoor space for eating, and I saw many people sitting outside, relaxing in the sunshine. We didn’t stop, but I made a note of it for future visits.
Passing through Delta, I was soooo tempted to swing into the yummy A&M Creations, 305 Main St., but I was full from our delicious meal at Van Atta, and it was starting to get dark so we just kept driving.
I look forward to going back to Delta and Montrose and exploring when I have more time.
On a side note: I just learned the Long John Silver’s in Montrose by the airport has closed! I was sad to find this out as Long John Silver’s was a special treat with lots of memories from my childhood in a different town, and I would sometimes bop down there to get some fried fish and hush puppies.
I’m also very curious to try Honey Rock Landing, 2444 Dominguez Canyon Road, about 16 miles outside of Delta. It plans to host monthly “Harvest Celebrations” showcasing what is growing in its orchard.
A Spring Harvest Festival will be April 25 and a Peach Festival on July 11 will feature chef Kaye Davis from Grand Junction’s 7th St. Community Cafe. There is even going to be a Falling for Pears dinner in the fall.
You can learn about Honey Rock and its Harvest Celebrations at honeyrocklanding.com. It also has some interesting-looking cave hotel suites and camping options, too.
I love day trips exploring delicious and beautiful places in western Colorado, and seeing what these different towns have to offer.
Please let me know if you have any new food recommendations within a three-hour drive of Grand Junction. Thanks!
Email Christine Gallagher at allthingsfoodchristine@gmail.com.
Dining and Cooking