Best Ski Towns For Food (Slideshow)

Hearty Quebecois grub fuels the skiers in the mountain town of Mont Tremblant. Warm raclettes and fondues are the perfect way to finish the day at La Savoie, or cozy up next to the fireplace with a duck confit tart at the Nansen Lounge. The best crepes in town can be found for breakfast, lunch, or dinner at Creperie Catherine. 

The epic runs aren't the only draw for visitors of the Taos Ski Valley: you'll find everything from fine dining to Southwestern specialties in this wintry getaway. Warm up with goulash and spatzle at the Bavarian Lodge & Restaurant, or try New Mexican staples like posole at the Love Apple. If you can handle ice cream after a day in the snow, the Taos Cow has some of the best around. 

This former destination of the Winter Olympics is home to a host of restaurants serving everything from Pacific Northwest specialties to international cuisine. Splurge on oysters and fish pulled from the cold northern Pacific at Araxi, Whistler's best-known fine dining establishment. Enjoy cocktails paired with truffles or foie gras at Bearfoot Bistro, or reasonably priced Italian at Pasta Lupino. 

Bariloche has more than soaring peaks going for it; this picturesque Patagonian town is also the chocolate capital of Argentina, thanks to its history as an early settlement for Swiss pioneers. If that's not enough of a culinary draw, feast on beef and chorizo at the famed parrilla El Boliche de Alberto or inspired local cuisine at Cassis.

Once an isolated outpost for fur trappers and cowboys, skiers at Jackson Hole can now find a wide variety of excellent food options. Start your day off with waffles topped with brown sugar butter or peanut butter and bacon at Corbet's Cabin. Finish your day at the mountain steakhouse Westbank Grill or landmark Snake River Grill. 

The quaint New England ski village not only has some of the best skiing in the Northeast, but a roster of excellent farm-to-table restaurants. Sample from the local seafood and produce at Blue Moon Café, unassuming Irish pub fare at McCarthy's, or the best of New American cuisine at the Stowe Mountain Lodge. 

There are some powder-chasers who eat to ski, but the philosophy in Zermatt seems to be "ski to eat." Lunch is a serious affair in this mountain town, where skiers dine on hearty Alpine cuisine at favorites like Cervo or Zum See. If a plate of warm melted cheese sounds like the ideal way to finish a day on the slopes, tuck into fondue or raclette at Restaurant Ried or Whymper-Stube.

Vail is further proof that Colorado ski country is no stranger to fine dining. A must-visit is Restaurant Kelly Liken, where chef Liken serves seasonal mountain fare like elk carpaccio, roast duck, or a hearty mushroom ragout. Fuel up after a long day on the slopes with the standout burgers at Bully Ranch, or steaks and seafood at Elway's. 

Courchevel boasts not one but seven Michelin-starred restaurants, making the Alpine ski resort as much of a destination for culinary indulgence as it is for world-renowned slopes. Try the two-starred dining at Hotel Le Chabichou or Le 1947. More affordable regional fare can be had at Le Genépi or Le Bistrot du Praz. 

This glamorous ski town is also a foodie haven. As the home of the annual Food & Wine Classic, Aspen has a wide variety of high-end restaurants, food shops, and casual eateries. Don't miss impeccable Japanese food and sushi at Matsushisa, hearty steaks at Steakhouse No. 316, or local mountain cuisine at Pine Creek Cookhouse, a restaurant accessible by cross-country ski or snowshoe.