#403 Stein Eriksen Lodge OR The $100 12-pack OR The Best Bed I Ever Slept In

Next Sunday, August 15, MT and I will celebrate our 17th wedding anniversary. We decided to take advantage of the fact that T is out of town with his grandparents and celebrate our anniversary early. MT came up with the idea of going out of town and after a little internet research, we settled on going to Stein Eriksen Lodge in Park City.

We dropped Osi off at her doggie daycare and headed up the mountain. It took about an hour to get to the Lodge, which is actually in the Deer Valley Ski Resort. We were greeted by a valet as we pulled onto the property. The valet took our bags into the reception area where we were quickly and efficiently checked in, then a bellman took our bags and escorted us to our room. We had a luxury room with two queen beds and a private hot tub on the deck. There was also a beautiful stone fireplace in the room and Corona beers on ice waiting for our arrival. (When we were making the reservation, MT requested that the mini-fridge be full of beer.)


The place is deluxe! I felt like a kid who was totally in a place she shouldn't have been. I ran all around the room. I leapt on the bed (so soft! so wonderful!); I examined the bathroom (huge! all tile! separate shower! jacuzzi tub! separate toilet room! double sinks! robes and slippers!) I went out on the deck (big hot tub! beautiful view!) I cracked open a beer, turned on the fire (it was a little chilly up there!) and we clinked our bottles together to congratulate ourselves on our fine taste in spouses and hotels.





We drank a couple of beers and talked, then decided to go have some dinner. We were seated in the Troll Hallen Lounge. There was a musical trio singing songs mostly from the late 60s but with a few surprises. Who knew that the Outkast hit "Hey Yeah" could be made into an easy-listening, harmonic trio number?

We ordered the bleu cheese spinach appetizer and we each ordered the Stein Burger. (I had my eye on the Stein Burger from the start and MT made fun of me, but then he ended up ordering one as well.) The appetizer came out and it was divine. It was a hot dip, so the cheese was all melted and the spinach was tender and wilted. You spread it on a toasted baguette and sprinkled herbed walnuts on top. My mouth is watering just describing it. The bad part? Our burgers came out almost simultaneously as the appetizer. Very disappointing. We only had a chance to eat one piece of toast before our burgers came out, and we were all about the hot delicious burger! I went ahead and slathered some of the dip on my burger. I AM A GENIUS! It was incredible! The burger was monstrously thick and juicy. It was topped with aged white cheddar and crispy onion straws, then with the dip - perfection!

I did tell our server that we were bummed that the appetizer came out at the same time as the main course. They comped the appetizer. Was it wrong of me to complain a bit even though I ate the crap out of the dip on my burger? I think that when you are eating at a five-star restaurant, the timing of the appetizer and the meal should be correct.

We also had some dessert, which we shared. The pastry chef there is a master chocolatier and there was a dessert plate that featured five chocolates. I was expecting something Godiva-like, but that's not what we got. I can't remember all the flavors, but our favorite was the passion fruit and our least favorite was the curry. MT wanted to spit out the curry! (He didn't) They were chocolates to be savored and admired, but I'll stick with Godiva or even See's. :-)

After dinner we wandered back to our room. Ok, we didn't wander. It was freakin' chilly up there and we were wearing clothes that were more appropriate for the 90 degree heat of the valley. When we got to the room, we turned on the fireplace. We drank a beer, and when it got dark, we sat out in the hot tub and watched the stars come out. What happened after that is none of your damn business!!

I will say, though, that the bed in that room was seriously the most decadently comfortable bed I've ever slept in. The sheets were soft, the down comforter was fluffy, the pillows were great. I am not usually a big fan of down pillows, but these were terrific. I slept like a log. So did MT.

In the morning, when I finally woke up, I took a nice hot shower and ordered a diet coke from room service, then we went to the brunch. They serve a phenomenal brunch there on Sunday. The only bad thing was that we weren't told that we needed to have a reservation, so we just strolled in like we owned the place. We were quickly seated in the Lounge again, which was perfectly fine. It was a great view and it's comfortable and we were happy. This morning there was a musical trio again, but no vocals.

The food was delicious! MT is much more adventurous than I am: he had sushi and drunken chicken and eggs benedict and I don't know what else. I had an amazing lobster bisque, Caesar salad, brie and crackers, perfectly seasoned and cooked potatoes, thick sweet and smoky bacon, blackened catfish, a bit of pork tenderloin and a parsnip/potato puree that was superb. Then we hit the dessert table. I had a taste of banana and walnut bread pudding, a sliver of key lime pie (so light!), a bite of blonde brownie and a sour cream/cranberry bar that was absolutely fantastic. Needless to say, I certainly wasn't watching my Points values this weekend! MT and I agreed we would love to go back for the brunch another time, and maybe bring some loved ones with us. The scenery was spectacular and the food was incredible.

The Kimball Arts Festival was being held in Park City this weekend. It's held every year, but we've never been to it before, so we decided to stop by. It's really cool! It's held on Main Street, which is closed to traffic and runs the length of the entire street. There are some amazing artists of all types there: photographers (which made me just want to hang up my camera and never attempt to take another picture), painters, sculptors, jewelers, metal sculptors, potters, glass blowers...you name it. There was even a didgeridoo maker. We had a wonderful time wandering around looking at every booth.

I have to tell you about a couple of my favorite things. I love the folk art. I like the colors and the whimsy. This display won the Best of Sculpture prize. I like this big chicken. I don't want the big chicken in my yard, but I liked it.


Along the walk, there were musicians playing violins and cellos or singing and playing acoustic guitars. I like this picture because it looks like the bear is just hanging out listening to the guy with the fiddle. (Or is it a violin?)


Finally, look at this sculpture. This is a permanent piece in Park City, and it's right next to an art store where you can buy a smaller version of this piece for probably $16,000 or so. It's called "When the Hunter Becomes the Hunted" by Vic Payne. This photo doesn't do it justice at all. Please click on the link so you can see how wonderful it is.


What a great weekend and a wonderful celebration of our anniversary! We feel so fortunate to be able to splurge on ourselves to stay at such a magnificent hotel and then to walk around the Arts Festival was a real treat.