BY PRIYA HUTNER
As the Tahoe Guide food editor and lover of delectable cuisine, I seek out new, innovative and delicious food in Tahoe. As food prices continue to rise, restaurants are faced with high rents, skyrocketing costs and staffing issues. As consumers we teeter on the precipice to find good dining options for a reasonable value.
Some time ago, I wrote an article lamenting Tahoe’s food scene. I still lament at times. I think some restaurants are stuck in a routine. I would love to see a shift from menus that serve the typical burger, steak and salmon to something groundbreaking. As a personal chef, I know foods can be prepared with flavors that change the flavor profiles of a dish. So, why aren’t more restaurants serving innovative and diverse menu choices, particularly with an influx of visitors from San Francisco and the Bay Area where cuisine is exceptional and diverse?
In my opinion many diners in Tahoe have settled for the mundane.
When I dine out, I rarely announce that I am a food writer unless I am writing a feature article. I’ve been pleasantly surprised and profoundly disappointed. Some standouts restaurants have made it their business to change menus with the seasons, offer unique menu choices and ensure food is delicious. Here are my picks and tips for places that offer a quality dining experience or are a best bet for the value.
I have an opinion on fine dining. I expect it to be exceptional and flavorful. Chris Watkins, chef at Stella in Truckee, hits it out of the park. He’s creative, delightful and makes dining a joy. Stella has a unique menu, and I love the ambiance and open kitchen.
Christy Hill’s new owners Alex and Amanda Looby and chef Luis Vallin are doing great things at this Tahoe City establishment. They invited me to dine with them, and I had a divine dining experience (read the feature in this edition). The food was delicious.
Wolfdale’s chef and owner Douglas Dale is a master. His Asian-influenced menu in Tahoe City goes well beyond Japanese. It’s the perfect place for a lovely dinner and I love his cookbook Pianeta in Truckee offers Italian fusion. I love the carpaccio, salads and seafood risotto.
Soule Domain has been a staple in Kings Beach for more than 30 years
Chef and owner Charlie Soule offers a global fusion menu that is unique and varied.
I’ve enjoyed some wonderful meals with fabulous wine pairings at the Lone Eagle Grille in Incline Village, Nev. Manzanita at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe is also a lovely experience. | stellatruckee.com, christyhill.com, wolfdales.com, pianetarestauranttruckee. com, souledomain.com, loneeaglegrille. com, ritzcarlton.com
Enjoy these restaurants with a laidback vibe that rarely disappoints.
Let’s start with sushi. Drunken Monkey and Maki Ali in Truckee are dine-in sushi restaurants. I enjoy both.
I love the escolar, nigiri and sashimi platter at Drunken Monkey. There is a wide variety of options on the menu. Maki Ali offers some innovative menu items. The Hand Grenade appetizer, Donner Roll and the Dragon Roll are top on my list. Both offer the hamachi collar, which is a favorite. My tip to enjoying a meal at any good sushi restaurant is to arrive early (when the doors open) or go late. It is nearly impossible
to get a table from 5 to 7:30 p.m.
Alternatively, Josh Brown of Cloud Sushi in Truckee offers sushi to go on Wednesdays, and it’s excellent. Anne Artoux, Sales & Marketing Manager for Tahoe Guide, swears by The Naked Fish in South Lake Tahoe.
The Loft in South Lake Tahoe, a fun, interesting place with a great vibe, serves tapas, small bites, shared plates and offers evening magic shows. It’s a unique dining experience in a beautiful setting.
I’m a fan of Moody’s Bistro, Bar & Beats in Truckee. It’s pricey, but I enjoy their burger and truffle fries. The French onion soup and tomato soup en-croute
Some standout restaurants have made it their business to change menus with the seasons, offer unique menu choices and ensure food is delicious.
are excellent. Moody’s is where I can meet friends on the weekend, enjoy a cocktail or a glass of wine and listen to live music.
Old Town Tap is a Truckee favorite of mine. The vibe is easy, the pizza and small bites are delicious, and I love the gem salad. Great value for good food. Bite in Incline Village offers interesting bites and small plates. The menu offers unique items like a warm farro with arugula, stuffed Spanish piquillo peppers, ricotta gnudi and curry dishes that are flavorful and fun to share. If I find myself at Northstar I enjoy swinging by Petra. | drunkenmonkeysushi.com, makiali.com, cloudsushitruckee.com, thenakedfish.com, thelofttahoe.com, moodysbistro.com, oldtowntaptruckee.com, bitetahoe.com, uncorkedtahoe.com
Lunch
Larry Abney, chef and owner of Red Truck, does an outstanding job. I love the global fusion menu. I had fish tacos a few weeks ago, and they were delicious. Red Truck is the place to go for lunch in Truckee and it’s an excellent value.
Golden Rotisserie has the best chili relleno burrito around and I love the lime rotisserie chicken. Located in Truckee, they are a great place if you have a yen for Mexican. | redtrucktahoe. com, goldenrotisserie.net
Sweets
Check out Sierra Bake House at Pioneer Trail in Truckee on Fridays.
Daniella Rinaldi and Kristy DePaoli
Kirsch are baking some delicious sweet and savory pastries and crusty artisan loaves of bread. Grab a sweet and head next door to Pacific Crest Coffee. They have the most delicious Mochagandha, a mocha latte coffee with reishi mushroom and ashwagandha.
Cornerstone Bakery in Truckee has outstanding bakery items. Their lemon cake is to die for. Sugar Pine Cakery & Cafe in Tahoe City is lovely for a sweet or a croissant and coffee. Enjoy their offerings while sitting by the lake. |
sierrabakehouse.com, pacificcrestcoffee. com, truckeecornerstonebakery.square. site, sugarpinecakery.com
Cedar House Pub at Granlibakken, one of Tahoe’s hidden gems, has a great menu with delicious food including excellent vegetarian options. The local ski culture vibe is a plus. There is a locals’ night (with I.D.) and happy hour.
Spindleshanks in Kings Beach offers a Martini Monday and Thursday happy hour. Lanza’s Restaurant, also in Kings Beach, offers an early bird special before 6 p.m.
The Lodge in Tahoe Donner offers early dining drink and food discounts and the delightful Ozzy Nate is one of the best bartenders around. He makes the dining experience here fun. The fish tacos and burgers are my picks.
Alibi Ale, in Incline Village and Truckee, offers a great happy hour on beer and selected menu items.
Glass Wine Bar in Incline Village provides a happy hour and a ladies’ night.
The Dog and Bear Tavern in Tahoma offers a Happy Hour from 4 to 5 p.m. | granlibakken.com, spindleshankstahoe. com, lanzastahoe.com, tahoedonner. com, alibialeworks.com, glasseswinebar.com, thedogandbear.com
Special offers and discounts also help. Check out the Dining for Schools card The program offers half off an entrée at participating restaurants through the Excellence in Education Foundation. | exined.org n
Do you offer an industry night, special for locals, two-for-one deal or happy hour? Are you a new restaurant in town? If your business would like to be featured in the Tahoe Guide invite me to dine with you. | priya@yourtahoeguide.com
Editor’s Note: Priya will be focusing her next picks and tips in our Spring Taste Guide on the South Shore. Reach out to her at priya@yourtahoeguide. com
In an area with a concentration of ski resorts, all have their unique personalities, topography and cocktails. After a season of ski lodge bar crawling at many of Tahoe’s resorts, these are my favorite ski-in places to enjoy an alcoholic beverage. Find a list of local ski resort opening dates in this edition or at YourTahoeGuide.com/ski
Alpine
At The Chalet, a mid-mountain German beer garden, try a mulled wine or stomach-warming Chalet Cider made with rum. | palisadestahoe.com
After a day on the slopes, imbibe in interesting mezcal concoctions like The Smoky Chocolate at Wild Pine Kitchen and Bar or one across the way at Bourbon Pub. | northstarcalifornia.com
Tahoe
The Bloody Mary served in the lodge is a must-try since the bartenders make their own mix and pair it with a burger. | tahoedonner.com
Heavenly
You can literally spend an entire day bar crawling across the mountain between the Umbrella Bar, Sky Deck, Tamarack Lodge and several others. Be sure to stop at Stagecoach Lodge for a Hot Apple Pie. | skiheavenly.com
Homewood
Overlooking a panoramic scene of Lake Tahoe, sit back in an Adirondack chair between turns and sip on the tequila-based Love in a Cup at Homewood Mountain Resort’s Big Blue View Bar. | skihomewood.com
Nestled in the heart of Tahoe City, perched above Lake Tahoe, is Christy Hill, a restaurant that transcends the dining experience.
Anne Nelson and I are seated by the window with a beautiful lake view. Our server, the delightful Carston Chapin, welcomes us along with new proprietor Alex Looby.
With owners Alex and Amanda Looby at the helm, the concept of Christy Hill is shifting in small ways while retaining the reputation the restaurant has established over its many years.
Executive chef Luis Vallin was brought on board to create new and innovative menu choices. Long-time server JB Bundy curates the wine list; each wine Chapin pairs with our meal has Bundy’s imprint.
The first bite to arrive is what the staff calls a palate primer. The small bite is opah, one of my favorite types of fish, topped with yuzu aioli, chopped pineapple and microgreens. The taste of the fish and the sauce is unbelievably delectable, light, fresh and a touch tangy from the yuzu; it’s like a bite of summer.
Looby suggests the venison tartar appetizer. It arrives with a quail egg, caper berries, pickled mustard seed and house-made focaccia. Nelson and I savor every bite while sipping a lovely rosé.
Christy Hill’s bibb salad is our next course. Served with a tarragon buttermilk foam, bleu cheese, candied pecans and peach radishes, it is delightful. The chef carefully prepared the plate with the lettuce on top of the dressing which kept the greens crisp and fresh.
Chapin arrives at the table with the next course, a porcini agnolotti, prepared with stracciatella cheese in a parmigianino soubise paired with a lovely pinot noir. It is light, earthy and delicious. The homemade pasta is perfect. Nelson looks at me across the table and says, “This is heaven.” I agree.
Looby suggests I try the Berkshire pork duet, one of chef’s additions to the menu. Nelson orders the Alaskan halibut with forbidden rice rainbow cauliflower and an orange vadouvan glaze. The main course arrives along with a glass of Cotes Du Rhone. I don’t usually eat pork but tonight, I go with Looby’s recommendation, and it’s beyond delicious. Nelson’s halibut is also cooked to perfection.
The chef is kind enough to come to the table amid a bustling dinner hour to present a dessert sampling. Each is delicious in every way and the lemon panna cotta won my heart. My tastebuds burst with creamy, lemony goodness.
Looby and Vallin are creating an exceptional and thoughtfully curated menu and dining experience that people will love and enjoy. The menu showcases a fusion of flavors and a deep commitment to fine dining. If you haven’t been to Christy Hill in a while, I highly recommend making a reservation. | christyhill.com n
If you haven’t been to Christy Hill in a while, I highly recommend making a reservation.
Embark on a delectable journey through the world of fine dining and gastronomic adventures with a bevy of culinary food festivals, wine and beer tastings, chocolate festivals and more to indulge in the coming months.
Downtown Wine Walk
1st Saturday | Carson City, Nev.
Downtown Wine Walk is held the first Saturday of every month. Participants receive a commemorative wine glass and endless reasons to stroll through downtown sipping and tasting the afternoon away. | downtowncarson.org
Third Thursday Wine Walk
3rd Thursday | Main Street | Gardnerville, Nev.
From 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., experience all that Gardnerville has to offer through October. This year beer vendors have been added to the walk. | mainstreetgardnerville.org
Wine Walk
3rd Saturday | Riverwalk District | Reno, Nev.
The Wine Walk along the Truckee River is from 2 to 5 p.m. on every third Saturday of the month. | renoriver.org
Tahoe Club Crawl
Every Saturday | Hard Rock Lake Tahoe | Stateline, Nev.
The crawl schedule is based on the best events each season to the best nightclubs in Northern Nevada. Get a welcome shot at each of the venues visited. | tahoeclubcrawl.com
Foam Fest
Until Oct. 31 | area venues
Join Achieve Tahoe for its 34th annual Foam Fest fundraiser throughout the month of October. Buy a ticket and visit local partner breweries to support Achieve Tahoe’s outdoor recreation programs for people with disabilities. | achievetahoe.org
Until Dec. 21 | Tahoe City
The Tahoe City Farmers’ Market continues at Commons Beach until Oct. 13 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and then moves indoors to the Boatworks Mall on Thursdays from Oct. 26 to Dec. 21 (no market on Thanksgiving) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. | tahoecityfarmersmarket.com
Barktoberfest
Oct. 12 | Pet Network Humane Society | Incline Village, Nev.
This fundraising event for the nonprofit will feature live music by Jacked Up, food, games and beer tastings. Kids can enter free. | Pet Network on Facebook
Market at Markleeville
Oct. 14 | downtown Markleeville
Markleeville wraps up its farmers market for the season on Oct. 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | The Market at Markleeville on Facebook
Truckee Farmers’ Market
Oct. 17 | Truckee River Regional Park
Truckee Certified Farmers Market hosts its final market of the season from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 17. | truckeecertifiedfa.wixsite.com
Grand Sierra Beer & Chili Festival
Oct. 21 | Grand Sierra Resort & Casino | Reno, Nev. Check out the live music and vendors, buy some chili and other cool stuff or get a pass for unlimited beer tasting from 1 to 6 p.m. | grandsierraresort.com
Zombie Crawl
Oct. 21 | The Reno Arch | Reno, Nev. Crawl Reno offers the popular Zombie Crawl is what USA Today called the best costumed Halloween party in the nation. | crawlreno.com
Passport to Dining
Nov. 2 | N. Tahoe Event Center | Kings Beach North Tahoe Business Association brings together 30 restaurants, caterers, breweries and wineries for a night of unlimited tastings to excite the palate, along with a raffle and silent auction. | northtahoebusiness.org
Tahoe Chocolate & Wine Festival
Nov. 3 | Hyatt Regency | Incline Village, Nev. The theme for the 33rd annual Tahoe Chocolate & Wine Festival is Glitter and Gold. Enjoy wine and chocolate tastings with heavy appetizers and live music. Proceeds benefit Sierra Community House. | sierracommunityhouse.org
Golden Gala
Nov. 3 | Tahoe Blue Events Center | Stateline, Nev.
Soroptimist International of South Lake Tahoe hosts its 50th annual Golden Gala fundraiser featuring a food, wine and beer tasting along with a silent auction. | sislt.org
Chemistry of the Cocktail
Nov. 3 | The Discovery | Reno, Nev.
Meet the future at the 11th annual Chemistry of the Cocktail. Sip futuristic craft libations, enjoy innovative fare created by the experts at Blend and take part in activities, all while providing financial support for The Discovery. | nvdm.org
Small Town Big Night Out
Nov. 11 | Truckee Donner Community Recreation Center | Truckee
Rotary Club of Truckee presents Small Town Big Night Out, a fun Western-stye community barbecue, in place of the Cadillac Ball. | smalltownbignightout. com
Fantasies in Chocolate
Nov. 11 | Grand Sierra Resort | Reno, Nev. The formal event features confectioners from around the region as well as a VIP dinner, a DJed music and light exhibition and a silent auction. Guests are treated to unlimited samples as well as unlimited drinks, all centered around the 2023 theme: The Factory Desserted. | fantasiesinchocolate.com
Elegant Affair
Nov. 17 | Boatworks Mall | Tahoe City
Enjoy an evening of tastings inside the Boatworks Mall from 6 to 9 p.m. Details TBA.
Eclipse Release Party
Dec. 7 | FiftyFifty Brewing Company | Truckee
The barrel-aged beer party of the year is returning to its roots. This release party offers unlimited pours of vintage and current Eclipse, charcuterie, passed appetizers, pizza slices, commemorative glass and Eclipse bottle. | fiftyfiftybrewing.com
The Grinch Made Me Do It Saloon Crawl
Dec. 2 | area venues | Virginia City, Nev. Have some fun during the Grinch Made Me Do It Saloon Crawl with festival specialty holiday drinks at featured locations. | visitvirginiacitynv.com
Holiday in the Hills: Lumberjack Christmas
Dec. 3-4 | area venues | Placer County Channel the flannel on a self-guided wine tour and toy drive on the Placer Wine Trail. Visit 20+ wineries in Auburn, Granite Bay, Lincoln, Rocklin and Newcastle dressed in lumberjack attire. Live music, visit from Santa, treats, holiday discounts and new wine releases included. | placerwine.com
Winter Wonderland
Dec. 6 | Atlantis | Reno, Nev.
Enjoy an evening of food and cocktail pairings, craft beer and a silent auction starting at 6 p.m. to benefit Nevada Diabetes Association. | facebook.com/ nevadadiabetes
Reno Santa Crawls
Dec. 9 | Silver Legacy | Reno, Nev. Crawl Reno offers special event crawls such as the Santa Crawl, which has more than 20,000 Santas filling downtown. Costumes are a must. | crawlreno. com
Snowshoe Tour + Chalet Dinner
Dec. 22-March 16 (select dates) | The Chalet | Alpine Meadows
After the mountain closes and the winter moon rises, experience a snowshoe tour to the mid-mountain Chalet for an intimate seated dinner featuring Bavarian-inspired, multi-course cuisine. Must be age 21 and older. | palisadestahoe. com
The top winners in the battle of the bands portion of the popular event were The Nomads, Tim High and the Mighty and Jelly Bread. The Nomad’s lead vocalist, Kandy Xander, has entered three times with three different bands, winning every year she has competed. |tinsweb.org
Rakkan Ramen has opened a Truckee location at 10001 Soaring Way, Unit 160. The ramen shop uses plant-based broth for its dishes and is open Sunday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. | facebook.com/rakkanramenofficial
The Dining for Schools program kicks of this month with restaurant partners through the region.
Purchase a card online or at Mountain Hardware in Truckee; Safeway in Truckee or Kings Beach; or Savemart in Truckee.
Participating restaurants include Bar of America, Wolfdale’s, The Lodge in Tahoe Donner, Jason’s Beachside Grille and others. Purchase a card for $100 and enjoy 50 percent off an individual dinner entrée at participating restaurants. All proceeds benefit schools in Truckee and North Tahoe. | exined.org/ dining-schools
Tangerine, a classic French bistro, will open in downtown Truckee on Oct. 11.
“Tangerine Bistro will transport diners to a realm of gastronomic delight, reminiscent of a classic French Bistro, drawing inspiration from restaurants found throughout Paris and New York,” said Brandon Kirksey, co-founder and executive chief of Great Gold Hospitality Group in an email. The name stems from Led Zeppelin song of the same name, he wrote.
Tangerine Bistro will offer an array of traditional French dishes including duck foie paté with blackberry jam, French onion soup with sherry and gruyere, cassoulet with duck confit, pork shoulder and tarbais beans, and a 24 oz. cote de boeuf steak frites, he said. Tangerine’s wine program will focus exclusively on wines from France and local wines made by those that specialize in using grape varieties that originate from France.
Tangerine is located at 10412 Donner Pass Road. | (530) 386-8594
TINS
PlumpJack Café executive chef Jack Connell took home the prize at the 10th annual Guitar Strings vs. Chicken Wings fundraiser for Tahoe Institute of Natural Science held in September.
As the weather changes, Tahoe City Farmers Market will relocate from Commons Beach to the Boatworks Mall. The final day for the outdoor market at Commons Beach is Oct. 13.
The indoor market featuring seasonal produce and artisan crafts will be held every Thursday from Oct. 26 to Dec. 21 (excluding Thanksgiving) from 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. | tahoecityfarmersmarket.
Burgers are the perfect thing to eat after a long hike, bike ride, skiing, snowboarding or golfing. Burgers can be a hangover cure, gut bomb or protein-packed patty sandwiched between a bun that fuels you through the day. A burger can be so big that it carries you through more meals or something that just hits the spot. There is so much labor that goes into making a burger– from the animal or plant protein, to the chef, to the accompaniments like the sauce, the pickle, the fries. Here’s a recap of the best burgers I’ve enjoyed in Tahoe.
There are so many great burgers in South Lake Tahoe, it’s hard to know where to start.
The buffalo sauce and sheer amount of meat in a Frank’s Burger at The Getaway Café is the thing to get after a day of mountain biking at Kirkwood Mountain Resort. The Western Bacon Burger at Casey’s in Zephyr Cove is a nice way to enjoy a meal, watch a sports game on one of its big screen TVs and meet people. Or get a whiff of nostalgia with a local’s favorite Tahoe burger at Sno-Flake Drive In, on Highway 50.
I’ve enjoyed the Caprese burger at California Burger Co., substituting the beef patty with a chicken breast and not only does everything on the menu look incredible but the place always seems to be going off with live music. I’ve also indulged in the burgers at Lucky Beaver and the Desert Burger at Burger Lounge, a black bean patty with a hearty piece of cactus nestled in a bun.
Izzy’s Burger Spa is one of those places that always has smoke coming out of the flue and a hint of what South Shore was like in the 1980s. Big Daddy’s Burgers is a place where you can get a good burger at a decent price, which is probably why it is packed with blue collar workers at lunchtime. | tahoegetawaycafe.com, caseystahoe.net, facebook.com/snoflakedriveIn, californiaburgerco.godaddysites.com, luckybeaver.com, burgerloungeintahoe.com, izzysburgerspatahoe.com, bigdaddysburgerstahoe.com
Char-Pit in Kings Beach is another burger joint with smoke coming out of the top whipping up 30-plus combinations of burgers, and the Western burger at Spindleshanks is incredible with its big fat onion ring and barbecue sauce sharing space with the patty and inside a thick bun. The Grid Bar & Grill in Kings Beach also has a full menu of burger selections; I recommend the Southwest version.
Inclined Burger, with Tahoe locations in Incline Village and Northstar, has a unique process for cooking patties. Jim Kelley’s Tahoe Nugget Awful Awful Burger gained notoriety years ago. The Village Pub’s burgers are well-known among locals. One of my good friends regularly drives up from San Diego to have a Village Pub burger.
In Tahoe City, the 2-inch tall lamb burger at Fat Cat Bar &
Grill and the elk burger with its blueberry barbecue sauce at Bridgetender are memorable.
In Truckee, The Dirty Bird at Burger Me! and the Cajun Blackened Burger at Jax at the Tracks are favorites.
The turkey burger at CB’s Bistro in Carnelian Bay is hearty and healthy, especially with a nice side salad. | fatcatrestaurants.com, tahoebridgetender.com, burgermeusa.com, jaxtruckee.com, cbsbistro.com
From bluebird powder days at Palisades Tahoe to snowy fresh powder days at Tahoe Donner, biting into a scrumptious burger makes it instantly obvious why a burger is one of the top selling items at Tahoe ski resorts.
I love biting into a signature Rocker burger with its brioche bun and rosemary aioli after the lifts close at the Village at Palisades Tahoe or hiding out in the Ski Grill + Bar at Tahoe Donner with a traditional cheeseburger in the middle of a snowstorm. The vegetarian burger at 22 Bistro in Olympic Valley is worth mentioning, too.
The burgers at Donner Ski Ranch and Boreal are tall and full of toppings and served at lodges overlooking the slopes. And the Wagyu burger at Bourbon Pub at the Village at Northstar? Woo wee, my mouth waters just thinking about it. | palisadestahoe.com, tahoedonner.com, 22bistro.com, donnerskiranch.com, rideboreal.com, northstarcalifornia.com
Over the last five years, I’ve tasted a lot of burgers and people are always suggesting new burgers to try.
Tahoe Guide Food & Well Being Editor Priya Hutner raves about Cult Burger on the West Shore and I want to eat one of the burgers at Classic Cue Sports Bar & Grill in South Shore simply because everything else on the menu is so delicious.
I’ve always been a fan of Chef Smitty’s recipes that were published in Tahoe Guide for many years and like to follow his Juicy Burgers recipe to make my own (available at YourTahoeGuide.com).
It’s comforting to think that as much as the Tahoe Sierra has changed over the years, you can always find a good burger. | eatcultburger.com, tahoeclassiccue.com n
Have a favorite burger we should feature? Email editor@ yourtahoeguide.com or tag us @TahoeGuide.
It’s comforting to think that as much as the Tahoe Sierra has changed over the years, you can always find a good burger.