When sunny California’s skies give way to snow, the hills come alive with ski bums and bunnies from around the globe. World-class terrain deserves world-class cuisine, and where better than the Land of Food and Wine to find a perfect combination of the two?
In Truckee, the primary gateway to Tahoe-area ski resorts, Moody’s Bistro & Lounge boasts 4-diamond chefs, a fierce commitment to local purveyors and producers and guest appearances by A-list musicians like Paul McCartney on its stage. Moody’s keeps up with the locals’ big-mountain mentality and hometown loyalty with hearty dishes like the Big Ass Pork Platter. Gourmet hot spots closer to the lake include Tahoe City’s Wolfdale’s and South Lake Tahoe’s tiny Cafe Fiore, while the hottest après-ski scene can be found at legendary Squaw Valley USA, the site of the famed 1960 Winter Olympics. Locals flock to Le Chamois for pizza and beer on the ski-up patio, while visitors belly up to the bar at The Auld Dubliner for pints of Guinness and steaming plates of shepherd’s pie and Irish stew. Further north, Mount Shasta’s Vivify Japanese restaurant features vegetarian choices and outstanding sushi with a laser focus on sustainably-raised and produced food.
Elsewhere, the dramatic, glacier-carved peaks of Mammoth Mountain are the perfect setting for Restaurant Skadi, named for the Viking goddess of skiing and hunting. Even the names of the dishes at this non-skier destination restaurant summon the cozy atmosphere of winter in the mountains—for example, Roast Maple Leaf Duck with Arctic Lingonberries, Aquavit, and Juniper Berries or Grilled Marinated Medallion and Sausage of Walking Beam Ranch Venison. Nearby, Whiskey Creek Mountain Bistro serves up hearty portions of surf and turf to match the appetites of those who pack its dimly lit dining room. The alpine ambiance, complete with panoramic mountain views, makes it a favorite après-ski happy hour spot for locals.
For a respite from big mountain crowds and an opportunity to visit Yosemite National Park during the off-season, make reservations at the park’s National Historic Landmark-designated Ahwahnee Hotel. After a day on the slopes, the hotel’s magnificent dining room’s sugar pine trestles, wrought iron chandeliers and cavernous fireplace beckon hungry skiers to its hearth, while the 4-diamond kitchen serves up sustainably-grown California cuisine, such as Spice Braised Niman Ranch Lamb Shank and a daily-made charcuterie platter. Dress to match the sophisticated cuisine—fleece and Polartec® are too casual for this fancy locale. Over at the park’s Wawona Hotel, diners nestle under blankets to admire the giant sequoias and unwind with hot buttered rum on the veranda before a traditional pot roast dinner in the dining room.
Down at Big Bear Lake, Bear Mountain flaunts one of the nation’s top snowboarding parks. Hungry riders gather at B’s Backyard Bar-B-Que on the lakefront for homemade potato chips, frosty margaritas, and expertly smoked meats (the owner and his smoker hail from BBQ haven Kansas City). Over at Old Country Inn, the Bavarian décor reflects the menu of German beer on tap, sausage straight from a German butcher, and heaping portions of fresh-made sauerkraut and schnitzel. El Jacalito adds to the area’s international offering with breakfast burritos for pre-ski fuel and whole-fried tilapia and margaritas at the end of the day.
Many of California’s mountain towns are home to historic Gold Country landmarks and buildings. Royal Gorge’s Rainbow Lodge features hand-hewn timber and local granite in its 1920s dining room. Guests can savor hot toddies in the Sierra Cocktail Lounge, or play games by the huge stone fireplace in the guest’s lounge. Over in Jamestown near the Dodge Ridge ski area, the National Hotel (established in 1859) serves up Bon Appetit-lauded cheesecake in its acclaimed dining room. Flickering table lamps and 19th-century clocks at Wrightwood’s Blue Ridge Inn add rustic Gold Rush-era atmosphere to its inviting dining room, where diners nosh on homemade banana bread before their meals. And the Old West is alive and well at Mount Baldy’s Buckhorn Lodge, where the traditional décor complements a menu of beloved burgers and entertainment from local bluegrass bands.
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