Toss aside the pocket bacon. There are better ways to dine at Colorado’s ski resorts this season — particularly in the Town of Vail. Over the past few months, this destination has welcomed several new restaurants, many of which built their brands in the metro area. They include Tavernetta, one of the best Italian eateries in Denver, and Avanti Food & Beverage which, in turn, brought Boychik and Glo Noodle House to the high country.

None of these Denver-based concepts had previously expanded outside the Front Range. So what made Vail the next target, despite its distance from home base? In many ways, it came down to the restaurants' excellent reputations and partnerships with the powers that be.