This was my view at lunch on New Year’s Eve, on top of Aspen Highlands’ Cloud 9 Bistro… an incredible thrill to sit outside and feast on the gorgeous Maroon Bells.

I’ve skiied at this area a bunch and have always wanted to try this spot, but I do love the old-school lodge so much… today, though, while Johnny hiked up the Highlands Bowl (extreme, extreme, hardcore only), I indulged in an order of free-range coq au vin with a glass of French pinot.

I can’t remember enjoying a more memorable meal on the slopes!

How about you? What did you eat to ring out the old, ring in the new??

You cannot believe the three blizzards we drove through today… crazy! So, so many vehicles off the road, blowing, icy roads… props to Johnny!

We got to Dillon, Colorado, and immediately hit the liquor store for some Kentucky bourbon… then a very good din-din at a retro-funky pub… the Arapahoe… really great New York Sterling Silver strip steak. Thanks for sharing, Johnny… what a guy.

Tomorrow, we plan to conquer Vail… the most expensive ski resort in the world? 85 bucks a pop for a lift ticket! Want to see if it’s worth it, pretty darned high expectations… will report!

As our great nation becomes littered with homogenous chains, it’s not surprising that service stations off the interstate feel the same, whether you’re in Arkansas or Oklahoma or Texas or New Mexico or Colorado… been in all those states in the past week, so I can say it’s so.

Still, I try to search for some local flavor, something edible that’s out of the ordinary.

Just outside Little Rock, I picked up some dill pickle-flavored salt called Twang. In Texas, habernero potato chips, and in New Mexico, I just cannot get over all the flavors of beef jerky. I’ve also squirreled away blue corn flour, all sorts of chili powder and I’m on the hunt for Hatch products: chilis and stews and sauces with quality ingredients, no fillers.

Looks like I’ll have another day to shop… there’s a winter storm dumping a foot of more of snow on the roads we planned to take north. Hubby got stuck on a pass for hours yesterday after skiing at Red River.

… getting seated at one of the worst spots in the house?

We went to lunch at Joseph’s Table in Taos… the host sized us up, and stuck us in a corner in the bar, right by the server’s station… where we did get an insider’s view of the rhythm of the place. Because they acted as if we weren’t right there.

Table 23 needs the check NOW! How do I get this lemon tart to ring up? The host hollered to the bartender, who at various points during our meal flashed some butt crack. Not so classy in a very classy venue.

Yes, we could have asked to move. The place was not full. But sometimes, you just have to suck it up and make the best of things, right?

Good thing the food was wonderful, especially Claire’s choice: flank steak with truffle mashed potatoes and a chipotle cream sauce. We skipped the lemon tart and went on down the road to Dragonfly Bakery for dessert… a chocolate truffle tart spiked with chilis. Mmmmmmm!

Going to check out some of the places suggested by blogster No Sluggo Dave, who knows the territory well.

Looking forward to some true blue blue tortillas and, of course, more chilis. Check back for the spicy report.

We arrived for Christmas with a Cozy Corner smoked turkey in a cooler. It was SO GOOD!! Not sure if those ribs tucked inside the cavity were the not-so-secret ingredient or a little bonus.

My BBQ-loving nephews Brandon and Nick loved them.

Went skiing at Angel Fire in northeast New Mexico, not far from Taos… the hill was pretty tame, but still managed to work up an appetite. Loved the green chili burger, grilled on the deck, at like 10,000 feet elevation.

Not the kind of chili burger that I’m used to, which is a big sloppy mess that requires a fork and knife. The beef and chili are such a great combo, and would have been even better if the cheese wasn’t a processed American slice of goo.

What’s your favorite offbeat burger topping?

Made it to New Mexico in a straight shot… 900-plus miles in 15 hours. Didn’t even stop to eat, had a car full of food, and the highways were crowded with generic chains anyway.

Arrived to homemade enchiladas with verde sauce, and ate more New Mex Mexican today, nothing to shout about, but some good very spicy guacamole.

It is so gorgeous here in Raton, not far from the southeastern Colorado border. We’re skiing tomorrow, and eating a barbecue turkey we brought from Cozy Corner for dinner tonight. Life is good.

Thanks to Simone Wilson for her kind words in this week’s Memphis Flyer. She nailed it!

The closer it gets to leaving town, the sadder I get… I was tearing up at the post office the other day. Blame it on Elvis… hearing “Here Comes Santa Claus” made standing in that long line a real Memphis experience.

Though we’re hitting the road early tomorrow morning, there’s much discussion about where to have our last supper. Likely, it’s going to be Soul Fish Cafe… on my best-of list this year, which runs in Friday’s Memphis Playbook.

Here’s wishing everyone out there in cyberspace — except those nasty spammers — a very Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Kwanza, Hannakah and Peace on Earth!!!

One of the best scenes in one of my favorite holiday movies was when the family had to eat Christmas dinner at a Chinese restaurant because the @#%$%-ing Bumpus dogs ate the family turkey… (trivia question: first person to correctly name that film, I’ll send you a treat…)

Aside from hotels, there aren’t a lot of options for dining out on December 25… Neils will be open from 11 a.m. until 3 the following morning, serving ham, dressing, potatoes & gravy, corn, green beans, English peas, cranberries & rolls all for only $8.95.

Anywhere else serving up the holiday meal?