As is our habit, we arrived on a late plane to Aspen, getting us in in just enough time to get over to Takah Sushi, but were surprised to find we could get in easily (a Saturday night at 9) as opposed to waits orsitting on the stools as i prior years. The recession finally arrived in Aspen, the horrible weather, or an off-year? Who knows?
In any case we shared some edamame an white wine from Chile while waiting for, in Colette's case, the Viet Namese spring rolls (this year pre- not self-rolled, and mine - the sashimi assortment; both Gold Standard, only lacking some rice and more mint and peanut sauce.
With no desserts or coffees our bill was $99 before tip.
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As Colette and I looked over the eatAspen website's terrific accounting of new places (or chefs) since we were here a year ago, she said, "Let's eat at a new place." "That sounds nice" says she about The Trecento Quindici Decano, where the St. Regis has installed yet-another chef with yet another schtick, this time Thomas Riordan and David Viviano cooking "traditional Italian dishes."
We started off with the clams al forno on a huge bed of kale - the clams had a strange taste (? truffle oil spray) but the kale a terrific dressing; then Colette had a dish of Trentte pasta with thickly diced pancetta and a very spicy chili sauce (to my taste not hers), but my cavatelli were soggy and doughy and the homemade sausage and greens sauce merely ordinary.
With a bottle of Chianti and no desserts or coffee, our bill was $86.35 before tip.
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