Good Eats For The Trip – #4

After leaving the Cliff Dwellings of Mesa Verde, we headed north, and landed in Durango for lunch, not far from Mesa Verde at all. We ate a little different today. We had our main meal in the early afternoon and our picnic for dinner (more on that later).

Durango, Colorado gained its fame to claim as a mining town in the days of the Wild, Wild West. Here are 8 fun facts about Durango.

1. It is known as the Hollywood of the Rockies, with over 30 films being shot here, ranging from Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid to National Lampoon’s Vacation and Ticket to Tomahawk.
2. It is a culinary haven. Once known as the city with more per capita restaurants than San Francisco, Durango has always served as a foodie’s paradise.
3. It is a headquarters location for a lot of professional athletes. Beginning in 1915, professional fighter Jack Dempsey became the heavy weight champion after defeating Andy Malloy.  Today, Durango attracts world-class athletes to competitions like the Iron Horse bike race and the Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Race.
4. THE HAPPIEST (AND WORST DRESSED) WINTER TOWN IN AMERICA – the Snowdown Celebration, hosted annually at the end of every January, is one of the best and largest winter festivals in the state. The massive costume party, now more than 41 years old, is meant to lift the spirits of locals and visitors alike. It may be part of the reason USA Today named Durango the “Worst Dressed Town in America” back in the ’90s, but that’s a badge worn with honor.
5. Durango has hosted a number of famous artists and writers over the years as they worked.
6. Durango is a fisherman’s paradise.
7. It is a historical hotspot. With more than 2,500 preserved archeological sites, four nearby National Monuments, 13 historic sites, 2 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and one National Park, Durango boasts unbeatable access to our nation’s best-preserved history. You could spend months solely focused on exploring the ancient history around the southwest, with still so much more to see. Spend a day at Mesa Verde National Park, tour the Chaco Canyon UNESCO site, and make a point to escape into the Weminuche Wilderness for some intimate outdoor time.
8. Durango is home to the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway that transported over $300,000,000 worth of precious metals that were mined from the area.

None of these fun facts were known to us when we stopped in Durango for lunch. But we can certainly vouch for #2 on the list. We stopped at a little Italian bistro named Primi, where we dined al fresco on their beautiful patio that was a window to the town.

PRIMI, meaning first course in Italian, refers to the many types of pasta found on restaurant menus across Italy. Perfectly al dente noodles are often handmade and accompanied with simple and flavorful sauces. Our inspiration is drawn from the many humble restaurants in Italy that use a few high quality ingredients to create mouthwatering dishes.

As you would expect by their mission statement, everything is home made fresh in house everyday, including all their desserts and gelatos. When they run out, they run out. Fortunately for us, they did not run out of anything, yet.

We started lunch off with some rosemary focaccia for the table and cool, refreshing drinks. Some of us had wine, others did not. I bet you know which option I chose. 🙂

Then it was time for our lunches to arrive. We all sampled different pasta dishes. Everything was fresh and delicious, and they all disappeared quickly.

There was one container of lemon gelato left, that was on sale, so we “forced” ourselves upon it and and helped them out so they could make another batch. It was cool and refreshing and just hit the spot. There was just enough for the 6 of each us to enjoy a little bit, and that little bit was all we needed.

Primi is located at 1201 main Street, Durango, CO.

After lunch, we were all very full and needed to walk around a bit, so we strolled down towards the Animas River and enjoyed the sights. It was a beautiful day and a perfect way to enjoy the day after lunch.

Since it was Memorial Day, Durango honored its fallen in a very patriotic way.

The day’s adventures did not stop here, but I am going to leave it here for now. You’ll just have to trust me. There is method to my madness, or at least most of the time. 🙂 There are still more adventures on the way. Stay tuned.

Have a great day and make everyday great. Stay safe and stay well. ‘Til next time.