While we were in Aspen at
the Food & Wine Classic, we had the
opportunity to sample a number of excellent
restaurants. By far, our favorite was
Cache Cache. Offering the flavors of
Provence, with the mustard yellow
walled setting to match, Cache Cache (French
for "hide and seek") is a sublime
experience.
Appetizer standouts included
the Potato-Zucchini Cake served with
herbed goat cheese and baby greens.
A wonderful study in rustic ingredients
combined in an imaginative and delicious
dish. Mussel lovers shouldn’t miss
Cache Cache’s version, served in
a Pernod spiked broth studded with tomatoes,
garlic and onions. A potato galette and
a toss of salad greens accompanied the
savory Duck Confit – a relatively
light version of a Confit dish, which
was a nice change of pace.
Ah, we do so appreciate
a menu with a section of Terrines. From
the Fois Gras with fresh berry preserves,
to the Pork or Rabbit classics served
with cornichons, they were all outstanding.
On to main courses –
the Marseille Seafood Stew is garnished
with croutons and aļoli in true Provence
tradition. It was flavorful and chock
full of a variety of fish and shellfish.
Piping hot, this dish would be especially
enjoyable on a cool evening. Cache Cache
offers two rotisserie dishes – a
duck (served with an orange sauce) and
a chicken. Both are good, although we
all agreed that the chicken was the favorite.
Crispy skinned, moist underneath, and
served with respectable pommes frites.
The menu really shines in
the "Meat" section, with several
dishes that are on our "to do"
list for next time! We did sample the
New York Strip, cooked to perfection,
and served with a zesty dijon peppercorn
sauce. It certainly bodes well for
other dishes that caught our eye, like
the Sauteed Calf’s Liver served with
spinach and garlic mashed potatoes, the
Alsatian Spaetzle with Pulled Duck, and
the Osso Bucco in Marsala Sauce.
Vegetarians are well looked
after at Cache Cache, with offerings like
Soft Polenta with a mushroom and red wine
sauce or Couscous with chick peas, mixed
vegetables and pistachios with Harrissa
Sauce.
Desserts shine, if you can
stand it. The D’anjou Pear Crisp
was perfection, served with creamy vanilla
gelato. Ditto the Gran Marnier Chocolate
Torte served with honey orange sauce and
orange-vanilla gelato. Heavenly. There’s
also a Lemon Tart with Fresh Blueberry
Compote, an Almond Genoise with warm ganache,
and a warm Pecan Tart.
The wine list is heavy on
French and Italian selections, many quite
reasonably priced, and all carefully chosen.
All in all, Cache Cache is an intimate,
cozy spot where diners can while away
the hours over an excellent meal. If you
really concentrate, you’d almost
believe you were in a restaurant in Avignon
(though who’d want to escape Aspen?).
(may 2001)
205 South Mill Street
Aspen, CO 81611
Toll Free: 888-511-3835
Fax: 970-544-8248
info@cachecache.com
http://www.cachecache.com/
