Vail Valley dining: 8100 Mountainside Bar and Grill

VAIL, Colorado — If the Vail Valley could taste Colorado, it would taste like 8100's elk loin. The elk is marinated and then fired on the grill, crisping its sage-seasoned edges ever so slightly while leaving the center pink, tender and sweet. The elk is sourced locally from Denver's Lombardi Brothers, a nod to the meat's clean, fresh flavor.

8100 is all about showcasing Colorado's bounty. Every menu selection is proudly flanked by its purveyor, boasting the ingredients' locality and organic quality. The goat cheese that oozes in the potato cake appetizer, for example, is from Haystack Dairy in Longmont. The wine list is studded with local vintages, too, like the organic rose from Jack Rabbit Hill, a perfect sipper for summer.

And it's not just the food that revels in Colorado. Located in the Park Hyatt, the restaurant is blessed with patio seating at the base of Beaver Creek Mountain. Gas lamps warm the alfresco dining so you can enjoy the crisp mountain air all night long.

Fire on the mountain

At the heart of 8100 is its 66-inch wood-burning grill, situated front and center in full view to restaurant diners. The menu is built accordingly, focusing on quality cuts of meat, fish and poultry, prepared simply over an open flame to let their natural flavors shine through. One of the restaurant's signature items is its New York steak, sourced from Colorado Best Beef. Dry aged in house, it's served with smoky bacon-wrapped asparagus.

If it's not enough just to sample what's coming off the grill, on Saturdays diners can learn a few tricks of the trade during free grilling demos, hosted by Park Hyatt Beaver Creek's Executive Chef Pascal Coudouy. Chef Coudouy prepares three to four courses, including a dessert like grilled strawberries, which parlay into the night's dinner specials. Attendees nibble and sample wine pairings, while asking questions on technique. It's an effective teaser, as most people stick around for dinner.

Beginning, middle and end

Start your experience with the buttery sautéed pink prawns, made racy by spicy-hot local chorizo. The accompanying sauce gives 8100's homemade bread a reason for being.

With your entree, choose the crispy hand-cut yukon gold french fries as one of your three sides. Served on a miniature silver tray, calling them the “best fries on the planet” is much more than lip service.

Finally, order the fluffy light beignets, served with three dipping sauces, dark chocolate, whipped cream and creme anglaise. Or add to the richness by ordering a scoop of Boulder Ice Cream, naturally sugar free.

Summer deal

8100 is offering 30 percent off the entire bill for the duration of the summer, making it not only delicious, but affordable, too.