Lunch at the brand new Kindred Resort in Keystone
Hello, Delicious
My Favorite Bites, Recipes & Restaurants in October
October absolutely flew by. Between mountain weekends, lots of Bay Area visitors, fall & Halloween festivities, and the official return of soup season, it felt like the month where I really leaned all the way into fall cooking.
This month’s favorites include a few restaurants I’m already itching to revisit, recipes that deserve a permanent place in the rotation, and two cookbooks I cannot wait to spend more time cooking through.
And speaking of soup season… I have something new coming.
Let’s dig into October.
Appetizers: Two fun places to add to your list!
Kindred resort + keystone eats
We squeezed in some time in Keystone earlier in the month and got to check out the new Kindred Resort.
Kindred Resort is one of the newest luxury stays in Keystone, and we absolutely loved it. It’s beautiful, and feels upscale without losing that cozy mountain charm.
The location is a huge plus; you’re right by the mountain and River Run Village, with plenty of dining and easy access to everything you’d want for a mountain weekend. If you’re looking for a more elevated stay in Keystone, this is a great one to put on your list. Plus, it’s perfect timing as we are now officially in ski season.
While we were there, we caught the last of leaf-peeping season and the beginning of crisp fall weather.
Where I loved to eat:
The Kindred Resort: You could eat at the resort without having to leave as there are spots that serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. We especially loved Kindred Spirit for bar bites, cocktails and a relaxed atmosphere where you can enjoy cozy fireplace dining and mountain views. Lula’s kitchen was fabulous for a fancier dinner and great breakfast options inside the hotel.
Goodz Tavern: Technically also part of the Kindred Resort, we had lunch here while enjoying the views. We loved the soup and salad options and were impressed by the casual yet seasonally inspired menu.
Steep Brewing & Coffee Company: In my opinion, THE PLACE to stop for coffee, lattes, and one of the best breakfast burritos I’ve had! Warm, filling, flavorful, and exactly what you want before a full day in the mountains.
Mountain Top Cookie Shop: The perfect stop when you need something sweet in the village. Mountain Top Cookie Shop has big, nostalgic cookies that hit especially well after a day outside; easy to grab, fun to share, and exactly the kind of mountain-town treat I’m always looking for.
Next time: Kinji Sushi - One spot still on my Keystone list is Kinji Sushi at Kindred. It wasn’t open during our shoulder-season visit, so we didn’t get a chance to try it this time around but I’m already adding it to our itinerary the next time we’re in Keystone.
Pig + Tiger - even better the second time around
After many visits to the previous food stall at Avanti, this was our second visit to Pig + Tiger’s brick and mortar, and I might have liked it best the second time around.
Their menu changes with the seasons, which gives you a very good excuse to keep going back. This visit included their take on a Fish-O-Filet which was playful, nostalgic, and very delicious, along with a few new dishes we hadn’t tried on our first visit.
But the Jade Fried Rice? I am still thinking about it.
That’s the kind of dish I love: familiar enough to feel comforting, but interesting enough that you immediately start wondering how they made it.
Verdict: Absolutely worth a return visit. Order something new, but if the Jade Fried Rice is on the menu, don’t skip it.
Main Dish: Soup Series Launching Soon!
If summer is for salads, tomatoes, and anything you can throw on the grill, fall and winter are when I want a giant pot simmering on the stove.
So I’m officially starting a new series: Soup Sundays
Every Sunday, I’ll be sharing a new soup recipe; basically the coziest possible way to start the week as the weather gets colder.
And I’m using “soup” pretty loosely here.
We’ll be cooking everything from brothy Asian soups and noodle soups to American classics, Latin American favorites, Italian comfort food, Mexican-inspired soups, stews, chilis, and whatever else sounds good along the way.
Some recipes will come from cookbooks and food writers I love. Some will be recipes I’ve made for years. And some will be my own versions inspired by whatever happens to be in the fridge.
The goal isn’t to make the fanciest soup possible. It’s to build a collection of cozy, flavorful recipes that you’ll actually want to make again.
Episode 1: Lasagna Soup
We’re kicking things off this Sunday with lasagna soup.
All the things I love about lasagna — tomato, Italian sausage, noodles, herbs, and lots of cheese without actually assembling it.
It’s cozy, comforting, and perfect to snuggle up with as you start decorating for the holidays (too soon?) or watch your favorite football team (go Broncos!), and exactly the kind of recipe I want to start this series with.
Follow along every Sunday, and send me the soups you think I need to try next.
Dessert: pepperoncini steak + rice krispie treats
Pepperoncini Steak
If you’re feeding a group anytime soon, bookmark this one.
The pepperoncini steak from NYT Cooking has become one of those recipes I know I can pull out when I want something that feels impressive without making dinner unnecessarily complicated.
It’s savory, tangy, ridiculously flavorful, and especially good for a larger gathering because you can serve it family-style with a few simple sides and let everyone help themselves.
This is exactly the type of recipe I love finding: easy enough that I’ll actually make it again but interesting enough that people remember it.
Verdict: Put this one in your entertaining rotation.
Eric Kim’s Sesame Rice Krispies
Eric Kim’s Sesame Rice Krispies remain a tried-and-true favorite. I’ve made these so many times and they are everything I love in a classic treat but the black sesame gives them a nuttier and more elevated flavor profile!
They’re also incredibly easy to customize for just about any holiday.
My favorite trick is to melt a little chocolate, drizzle it over the top, and finish with seasonal sprinkles or decorations.
Orange + black for Halloween. Red + green for Christmas. Pink for Valentine’s Day. You get the idea.
One reliable recipe, endless excuses to make it.
Verdict: Keep this one bookmarked for holiday treat season.
A Few Last Tidbits: The Cookbooks on My Counter
I’m always saving recipes online, but there is still something about an actual cookbook that makes me want to slow down and cook.
Two books are especially high on my list right now:
By Heart: Recipes to Hold Near & Dear by Hailee Catalano
If you follow Hailee Catalano online, you already know why I’m excited about this one.
Her cooking feels very aligned with the way I like to eat: seasonal, beautiful without being overly precious, and rooted in really good technique.
I also love that so many of her recipes feel restaurant-inspired but still realistic for a home kitchen — exactly the sweet spot I’m usually looking for.
This is the kind of cookbook I want to actually cook through, rather than just flip through once and leave on the shelf.
Taiwanese? by Eric Sze and Elyse Inamine
It explores Taiwanese food through recipes, stories, culture, and travel which is very much my kind of cookbook.
I’m especially interested in the way the book looks at what Taiwanese food actually means today: traditional dishes alongside newer interpretations, personal food memories, and the many influences that have shaped the cuisine.
Between the recipes and the Taiwan travel inspiration, I have a feeling I’m going to spend a lot of time with this one.
And that’s October.
Good restaurants, lots of cozy cooking, the beginning of soup season, and a rapidly growing list of things I want to make next.
November is already shaping up to be a very food-filled month! With Soup Sunday officially underway, there will be plenty more cozy recipes coming.
What was the best thing you ate in October?