Savory Stories

Michelin Recommended Sweet Basil: A 47-Year Institution in Vail Village

Situated in the heart of Vail village, Michelin recommended Sweet Basil is an American fusion restaurant that has been an institution among Vail locals and tourists for over 47 years. Sweet Basil has always been a trailblazer, often being the first to enact change. In 1981, they were the first restaurant in Vail to serve wine by the glass from a bottle versus other restaurants serving boxed options. Later, in 1993 they became the first to become smoke free. And in 2019, they became the first restaurant in Vail to implement the whole house tip sharing system where tips are pooled and shared amongst the front of house staff and kitchen staff.

Introducing "Elegance at Elevation": A Unique Dining Experience

This year marks the first of many where Sweet Basil offers its guests a unique dining experience. Debuting in June of 2024, Wine Director Jeremy Gramling and Chef de Cuisine Will Edwards brought guests an exciting evening; Elegance at Elevation. With a set menu, situated on the wine cellar table, guests experience a one of a kind meal led by Gramling himself. Each menu will have a set number of courses with a curated selection of paired wines or specialty cocktails to accompany. Guests can expect flavors inspired by the current seasonal menu. “This experience has been 3 years in the making,” states Chef de Cuisine Will Edwards. “With countless conversations about food and wine, we decided we needed to create a menu that showcased the best of both.”

Elegance at Elevation Returns in Fall 2024

This fall, Sweet Basil will again be offering another edition of Elegance at Elevation. This experience will be hosted from September 24-28 and October 1-5. Each evening will have one reservation available for the set menu. This menu is a creation of current, seasonal flavors inspired by the current menu, and is accompanied by wine chosen specifically for each dish. Parties ranging in 2-4 guests are able to reserve their spot and secure this once in a lifetime meal.

The Inspiration Behind Elegance at Elevation

Inspiration for this experience started when Wine Director Jeremy Gramling began offering wine pairing meals for the kitchen staff to enjoy and help them gain a better understanding of what makes Sweet Basil great. “There is no great wine program without the kitchen,” states Gramling. He believes that a solid relationship between the chef team and sommelier create an enriched experience for the guests across the board. “A tasting menu, like this one, that is paired with wine or specialty designed cocktails, is the pinnacle of the relationship between the Chef and the sommelier. This type of menu shows how a true collaboration, executed properly, can show the guest what a restaurant can bring to the table.”

Collaboration Between the Kitchen and Sommelier

To a guest of a restaurant, the best hospitality seems almost magical. They don’t see all the planning and effort it takes. Chef Edwards reflects “we are all here to create a memorable experience for our guests.” After sharing the experience with the kitchen team, Chef Edwards and Gramling quickly realized they had something special with the positive buzz being generated. But what was going to make this experience something unique and special for the guest? “I believe that what sets us apart from other restaurants is the collaboration behind everything we serve, and we wanted to really emphasize that on these menus. It all starts with Jeremy, the chef team, and the wine.” Begins Chef Edwards. “We taste and talk a lot about all the details. Sometimes a dish starts with the chef team and me, and other times Jeremy brings us a specific wine that he is excited about, and we design a dish around the wine.” Through the entire process, both departments have collaborated endlessly to bring the best experience to the guest.

What to Expect From This Exclusive Dining Event

What should a guest expect from this dining experience? First, Gramling himself will be leading the entire evening. From the time you arrive, expect to be wined, dined, educated, maybe romanced a little, and taken around the world with each bottle selected. Next, each dish will be presented by at least one of the chefs on the kitchen team, oftentimes with Chef Edwards himself. Last, you will leave feeling like you experienced one of the most unique and one of a kind dining experiences.

A Guest's Perspective: Elegance at Elevation

During the first rendition of Elegance at Elevation, Anne Barnett and her husband excitedly captured one of the limited dining spots. “This was not a tasting menu, it was a dining EXPERIENCE,” states Barnett. When asked what her experience was like she added on, “getting to interact with the sommelier, bartenders and the chefs made this an over-the-top experience. We have dined at Sweet Basil many times but the Elegance at Elevation was a truly unique culinary experience! This experience truly demonstrated the skilled artistry between chefs and the sommelier. Don’t miss this! It was the most outstanding dining experience we have encountered in Vail!”

Custom Plateware by Shea Haddad

During this rendition of Elegance at Elevation, the team is excited to be including custom plateware from Vail valley local Shea Haddad. Chef Edwards shares how special it is to have beautifully designed plateware but with the added function it will provide to the course. When asked what the function is, he smiles and says “I guess you will just have to come dine with us to find out.”

Sweet Basil: A Michelin Recommended Classic

Sweet Basil is a classic in the valley and beloved in Vail village. This year, during Colorado’s Michelin presentation, Sweet Basil maintained a recommendation within the guide as well as winning the 2024 Exceptional Cocktail Award. With an experience like Elegance at Elevation, along with each seasonal menu, it is easy to see why this establishment is so special and so cherished amongst locals and travelers alike.

Details

For reservations and more information on the Elegance at Elevation experience, visit the Sweet Basil website at sweetbasilvail.com

Photo and Media Contact

Sara Ostrand
sara@sweetbasilvail.com

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