Taste of old France inside roadhouse gem
On a stretch of U.S. 36 between Estes Park and Lyons is one of Colorado’s little-known culinary gems.
La Chaumière may give off a roadhouse vibe from the parking lot, but inside is a portal to old France, with country décor and stellar French staples such as duck liver pate, frog legs and escargot. Maryland-bred owners Vince and Edie Williams offer Maryland crab soup that stands apart with a vegetable base that has won it culinary awards. Lucky is the diner who ventures in when the soft-shell crabs or the Hudson Valley foie gras is on the menu.
We recommend visiting La Chaumière with a group so you can share the must-eats such as the cassoulet with wild duck, garlic sausage, wild game and pork, and the classic sweetbreads, which could rank as the best in the state.
Get there — La Chaumière is closed on Mondays and is located 12 miles from Estes Park and 8 miles from Lyons on U.S. 36. Call 303-823-6521 for reservations.
Got eats? Know a great high-country restaurant/bar/cafe/burrito stand? Send tasty tips to outdoorextremes@denverpost.com.
