By JOHN WATERS, Courier News Editor
CRESTONE — Nestled at the foot of the majestic Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the town of Crestone has long been a haven for eccentric and creative people. The food scene is diverse, featuring Italian, Cuban, Thai, Cajun, and other cuisines.
Bob’s Place Diner, located on Galina, across from the Merch Grocery, is ideally located and is the last business in town for those going up to the forest service trailheads to Willow Lake and South Crestone Lake. On a recent visit before hiking, I stopped by Bob’s for a delectable omelet made with fresh spinach and fresh bell peppers.
After breakfast, I sat down with Chef and proprietor Keefe LeRoy and discussed other menu options. LeRoy is originally from New Orleans and brings his decades-long experience as a chef to everything at Bob’s. “We have fresh Yak burgers that are locally sourced, and I mean locally. They are from a ranch just down the T Road, and that is more local than I’ve ever seen.”
“I also do a honey fried chicken that has taken off. The chicken is seasoned with New Orleans spices, and we top it with a honey-rosemary glaze. This takes it to the next level, and people have taken a shine to it. The chicken is one of our most popular items.
“I smoke the entire brisket, including the fat, and I don’t discard the trimmings; instead, I remove all the fat and use it in the burger. If you just put that in the burger, the flavor is in the smoked fat, and it’s just perfect. The smells and tastes of food remind me of being in my grandmother’s kitchen; there’s no comparison. These bring me back to childhood like a flash of something happy, a happy moment. Food is so important for reminiscing.”
“I’m very proud of our food and keeping it at the level we do,” adding, “Crestone reminds me of the heart of New Orleans, it is so diverse.”
Bob’s Place is located at 182 East Galena in Crestone and is open Monday through Friday for breakfast and lunch from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
Also in Crestone is Amore’s Restaurant which offers a blend of Italian and Cuban cuisine. On the menu are traditional Italian dishes, such as an eggplant hoagie, featuring breaded and fried eggplant, marinara sauce, and mozzarella. The menu features a traditional Cuban sandwich, which is made with roasted pork, ham, and Swiss cheese, served on Cuban Bread. The La Frita burger is a Cuban-Italian fusion dish featuring ground beef/chorizo on Cuban bread.
Amore’s has both indoor seating and a spectacular outdoor patio. Currently, no alcoholic beverages are served, and a state license is pending.
The restaurant is owned by Alex Barone, who hails from South Florida, where the Cuban sandwich is a staple. Barone is of Sicilian descent and is proud of his red tomato sauce, a recipe passed down from his “bisnonna,” which translates to great-grandmother in Italian.
Located at the corner of Alder and West Silver Avenue in Crestone, Amore’s is open from Friday to Tuesday and closed on Wednesday and Thursday.
Our Food is Art, has a variety of salads and burgers, including the All-American Burger. Not to be missed is the Big Bacon Blue, featuring bacon, onions, and plenty of blue cheese. Several taco plates are available, including excellent Thai Chicken Tacos and a vegan Jackfruit Thai Taco plate, made from marinated jackfruit, rainbow carrots, cabbage, and pesto Thai sauce. Our Food is Art is located at 121 E. Galena in Crestone and is open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
For those seeking an alcoholic cocktail and food, The Bliss is the answer. Sandwiches, crepes, Thai, and tapas are all on the menu. Open daily and located at 187 W. Silver Avenue. The Bliss recently opened a great outdoor beer garden.
Visiting Crestone and in need of groceries? There are two indispensable options: the Elephant Cloud Market, located at 220 Cottonwood St., and the “Cloud,” as it is locally known, also features a great coffeehouse. The Mercantile Grocery, located at 182 East Galina, has almost everything and is conveniently situated right across the street from Bob’s Place.