Roasted half-chicken.
It has been a little over a year since Carlos Solorzano-Smith and the Aspen Hospitality Group took the reins at Duemani, the luxury eatery just off Aspen’s restaurant row. And now, after refurbishing and reimagining the restaurant, it has reemerged as a local gem serving the soul-satisfying cuisine of the Mediterranean. “You have to serve what you love, and I love the healthy, fresh foods of the Med,” says Solorzano-Smith about the recalibrated menu.
Exterior of Duemani in Aspen
In the kitchen, executive chef Jesus Alvarado, who was raised in Aspen and came to Duemani after nearly a decade at Matsuhisa, has crafted dishes that reflect the foods of the sun. A trio of crudos is built on the freshest of fish and enhanced by the chef’s intriguing creativity. Try the scallop with piquillo pepper vinaigrette, dehydrated Kalamata olives and red onion. From the land, lamb chops with a black lime labneh (a creamy Greek condiment) are carnivoreworthy and, from the seas, a Chilean sea bass is as powerful as the Pacific with a fennel puree and lemon capers.
The menu offers a variety of Mediterranean dishes including bone-in ribeye.
Bar manager Philip Choi oversees an elevated drink menu that features the finest spirits from around the globe (the tequila and Japanese whisky selections are world class) and, as would be expected from Solorzano-Smith, one of Aspen’s most astute sommeliers, the wine list is stellar. The best Bordeaux and Barolo populate the offerings, and there is an exceptional selection of Burgundy that pairs perfectly with the cuisine.
Espresso martini from the cocktail menu
Diners can go casual at the bar, dine in the subterranean private wine room surrounded by top labels from the best appellations (oh, and the flat-screen video can be tuned to the game of the night in the 26-seat room) or conspire with Aspen favorite, Duemani’s general manager Darko Petkov, to arrange for a romantic two-top in the dining room.
Duemani offers an extensive wine list
“It is all about the people, the team you put together that makes it work,” Solorzano-Smith says with pride. “At Duemani we have brought a great local team together.” 216 S. Monarch St., duemaniaspen.com
Photography by: PHOTO COURTESY OF DUEMANI
