Element 47, the much-anticipated new restaurant at Aspen’s The Little Nell, opens its doors December 5. The moniker refers to silver’s position on the periodic table — a nod to the city’s history as a mining camp during Colorado’s silver boom in the 1880s.
The restaurant replaces the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotel’s famed Montagna, and aims to be a bit more approachable in its décor and cuisine. With regards to the former, warm, contemporary interiors highlight natural elements such as rich leather, stone and wood.
As for the menu, its focus is à la carte — unlike the prix fixe format of its predecessor. (Though if you want a multicourse affair, there is also a six-course market menu with optional wine pairings available.) The new menu encourages sharing, with plates categorized under “Small,” “Medium” and “Large.” Chef Robert McCormick introduces new, locally sourced dishes like Wagyu tartare with Gruyère, purple mustard, pastrami spice and quail egg; sorrel-cured Atlantic fluke with blood orange, petite lettuce and green olive; Colorado lamb shank with smoked pasta, turnips, date and thyme; and local Anjou pear agnolotti with Wagyu bresaola, celeriac and pickled chanterelles.
The Aspen restaurant also will also serve breakfast and lunch. Start the day with a steak omelet with braised short ribs, Gruyère and potato hash, or lemon soufflé pancakes topped with raspberry syrup and toasted pine nuts. Though save room for drinks like a chilled toddy (cold brewed coffee with Baileys Irish Cream) or The Little Nell’s rich signature hot chocolate (made with chocolate ganache). Lunch mimics the dinnertime format with dishes like herbed wild mushroom tortellini and Quinault River steelhead with brussels sprouts, lardons and chestnuts.
One element the new dining spot did bring over from Montagna is an appreciation for fine wine. The collection is shown off brilliantly here by a glass wine wall. Of course, if you’re looking to toast the opening of Aspen’s newest restaurant in another way, Element 47 is pouring plenty of Colorado-brewed beer as well.
Photo Courtesy of The Little Nell
