Courtesy of Deer Valley
Warm, cozy, inviting and delectable are a few of the words that come to mind when describing the ambiance and menu offerings of Fireside Dining at the Empire Canyon Lodge in Deer Valley. Fashioned from a European Alps experience, the raclette’s of cheese are literally flowing as you move from fireplace to fireplace, course to course.
Five beautiful stone fireplaces are distributed throughout the dining area (last year Empire Canyon Lodge’s Executive Chef, Ryan Lloyd, added a second carving station to the rotation to utilize all five in the space). Diners are greeted in the lobby area with the bakery station, complete with chocolate, caramel and white chocolate Grand Marnier fondues to dip your fruits, cookies or pound cake.
The main dining space boasts two raclette stations, where ½ a wheel of cheese on each stand is slowly melting on to waiting plates below. Most evenings diners will consume 100 pounds of this creamy swiss cheese in an evening. A charcuterie station is nearby where guests can stack up a plate of baby potatoes, freshly baked baguette, prosciutto or sopressata before heading for the perfectly melted puddle of cheese.
Make your way to the next fireplace for the alpine favorites. Simmering stews of swiss veal and wild mushroom or a hearty plate of pork osso bucco is one of many entrée options here. Also, new to the menu is almond flour-dusted trout, done to perfection.
Save room for the two carveries. Fire-roasted leg of lamb effectively hung and cooked slow on the hearth is marinated and then basted in lemon and herbs. Craving a different protein, the second carvery will have prime rib or New York’s. To keep things interesting, sauces, carbs, salads and soups change from dinner to dinner. (A children’s menu, as well as vegetarian options, are available).
“There really is no experience like this in Utah,” said exec. Chef Lloyd. “We enjoy the challenge of keeping this dining experience to an (authentic) Alpine theme.”
Courtesy of Deer Valley
As an added bonus, also unique to the Empire Canyon Lodge, enjoy a horse-drawn sleigh ride right outside the doors before or after your dining experience.
Fireside Dining is available February 17th, 18th and 19th.
Adults $75
Children (6-11) $30
Children 5 and under complimentary
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