Since closing Restaurant Kelly Liken in May, 2015, chef Kelly Liken has been pretty quiet on the culinary scene, until now. At the end of June she launched Harvest by Kelly Liken, a laid-back, seasonal eatery located right off the Sonnenalp Club's golf course. "Opening Harvest in Edwards seemed like the perfect opportunity to create a multi-generational, community-centric environment that is fun and casual for visitors and locals," says Liken. The chance to partner with the Faessler family, which owns the Sonnenalp Hotel in Vail as well as the club, came about right after she sold her restaurant. Even though she wasn't looking to start anything just then, she says she was "looking for an adventure," and something about this space called to her.
The multi-room indoor/outdoor restaurant boasts killer views of the mountains and the rolling green mounds that make up the golf course. You can find this semi-private club in the sleepy town of Edwards, just twenty minutes outside of Vail and adjacent to Beaver Creek. You need a membership to swim in the pool or hit the links, but anyone can make a reservation to dine at Liken's eatery. On the menu, you'll find a mishmash of comforting American foods peppered with international ingredients and themes. For example, the lamb has a bit of an Indian twist, the chicken an Italian bent, and the grilled octopus tips a hat to Spanish tapas. Liken's dishes also pay homage to the state, so don't be surprised to find Colorado bass, elk carpaccio, Rocky Mountain trout and local crudité.
“I have always been committed to seasonal cuisine," Liken explains. "The food at Harvest is not really all that different from Restaurant Kelly Liken. It is just less fancy, but it still relies on local Colorado produce and great agricultural history in the state." With that said, you can expect the menu to change with the seasons, an occurrence that's as much fun for diners as watching the seasons shift around the restaurant.
Harvest is located at 1265 Berry Creek Road in Edwards. Reservations can be made at 970-477-5353 or on the restaurant's website.