Road-trip Restaurant: Avon Bakery & Deli
When skiing at Beaver Creek, we’ve been known to hit up the Avon Bakery & Deli twice a day: First for the decadent egg-and-cheese breakfast sandwich (we order it with ham) and again later for a ciabatta roll piled with smoked turkey, Munster cheese, hummus, lettuce, tomato, and onion. Both items are huge and can easily fuel (and refuel) two. The secret to the Avon Bakery & Deli’s success is the bread, which is baked in-house daily. In fact, artisan bread is the business’ backbone, with the bakery supplying many of the Vail Valley restaurants. They use only certified organic flour (milled in Colorado and Kansas) and bake the loaves in an Italian steam-injected stone hearth oven. It’s worth taking a selection home with you. Our picks: honey whole wheat, ciabatta, and potato dill. 0025 Hurd Lane #4, Avon, 970-949-3354, www.avonbakeryanddeli.com

Breakfast Bites: Under the Umbrella’s Breakfast Burrito
Right in the middle of the Congress Park neighborhood sits Under the Umbrella Cafe and Bakery, a bustling coffee shop that dishes up far more than just a mean cup of joe. The menu is lengthy, ranging from fresh-baked muffins (try the blueberry) and cinnamon rolls, to quiche and chicken Parmesan sandwiches. We have a long list of favorites, but it’s the breakfast burrito that we crave. For $3.50 you get a gargantuan burrito stuffed with egg, cheese, potatoes, and green chiles. To clear the morning cobwebs, we highly recommend ordering the dish smothered in green chile (an additional 75 cents), and a cup of potent coffee. 3504 E. 12th Ave., 303-256-0797, www.undertheumbrellacafe.com

Hot Appetizer: Elway’s Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp
For dinner at Elway‘s last night we ordered the USDA Prime filet mignon and rib-eye, but the meal’s shining moment came in the form of the caramelized bacon-wrapped shrimp appetizer. Though not an original dish, Elway’s take on the salty-sweet combo was decadent and perfect—so much so that the accompanying guacamole and crispy tortilla chips were rendered unnecessary. Next time, we’ll make a meal out of the shrimp, the blue cheese–heavy wedge salad, and a glass of vino. 2500 East First Ave., Unit 101, 303-399-5353, www.elways.com

Due to the Christmas holiday, there will be no Table Talk newsletter on December 25. Thanks for reading, and happy holidays!

—Amanda M. Faison