Wine, dine and simply indulge
Shawnee, CO (Jan. 28, 2015) – Today’s Colorado dude and guest ranch experience revolves around a variety of tempting taste bud delicacies ranging from traditional ranch fare to organic and farm grown products to tantalizing gourmet meals served with that perfect glass of wine. You’ll never go hungry at Colorado’s dude and guest ranches. In addition to the traditional cowboy experience, many ranches utilize organic and/or local produce, some employ farm-to-table practices, while others offer culinary weekends, cooking classes, wine tastings and sometimes, even tours to local Colorado Wineries. Of course, horseback riding and the numerous all-inclusive outdoor activities offer by the ranches are available as well.
“Gourmet dining is an integral part of the Colorado ranch experience and is often unexpected by many first-time guests,” said Colorado Dude & Guest Ranch Executive Director Courtney Frazier. “The ranches and chefs take great pride in delivering the finest cuisine to their guests.”
Here’s a sampling of what some of the ranches have to offer:
Vista Verde Ranch (Steamboat, CO)
Their Executive Chef at Visa Verde Ranch has a full staff of trained and experienced chefs that prepare meals ranging from gourmet cookouts to formal plated entrees with wine service. During the week cooking classes and wine tastings are offered. In additional, several ‘formal dinners’ are served where the dress is anything but formal, but the food rivals that of most metropolitan upscale restaurants. These multi-course dinners are events in themselves and are paired with just the right glass of wine from the house or private cellar list. Vista Verde Ranch »
Smith Fork Ranch (Crawford, CO)
Celebrating farm-to-table cuisine is an important part of this luxury ranch. Its farmstead garden cultivates over 80 varieties of herbs, fruits and vegetables without the use of synthetic fertilizers or chemicals. Other special ingredients such as fresh local lamb, beef, poultry, wild game and fish are selected for their signature blend of rustic and sophisticated cuisine. Meals are paired with fine wines from the ranch’s extensive cellar. In addition, the ranch offers culinary weekends where guests can harvest and prepare actual meals and tours to local wineries. Smith Fork Ranch »
Sylvan Dale Ranch (Loveland, CO)
Natural beef has been a tradition at Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch since the mid-60’s when Maurice and Mayme Jessup bought their first herd of Charolais. Over time they developed a unique herd well-suited to the grasslands of the Rocky Mountain foothills. Their cattle free-range on adjacent forest land, as well as their 3,200-acre ranch, over 80% of which is protected by conservation easements. Their beef is locally raised and processed, and served at the ranch as well as sold nationwide. Sylvan Dale Ranch »
4UR Ranch (Creede, CO)
With plenty of opportunities to dine ‘al fresco,’ the Cordon Bleu trained chef at the ranch serves up a host of mouth-watering dishes throughout the week, including dinner menus that feature items such as butternut squash soup with apple salsa, house smoked tenderloin of beef with potato purée, petite green beans, red wine demi-glace, and a banana-ginger spring roll with salted caramel dipping sauce, roasted banana ice cream for dessert. Their most loved tradition by returning guests is their Friday lunch fish fry, with trout fillets cooked streamside and an oh-so-cold beer. 4UR Ranch »
Whatever your taste, their authentic gourmet Colorado cuisine will leave you satisfied. 4UR Ranch The Colorado Dude & Guest Ranch Association (CDGRA) is comprised of 26 certified ranches located throughout the mountains and mesas of Colorado. For more information and/or request your free Colorado Dude & Guest Ranch vacation guide and DVD, visit www.coloradoranch.com.
