The Lost Cajun

Four tables and an eight-person counter: This makes up the seating at Lost Cajun in Frisco, Colorado. You would not think this would be enough to support a restaurant, but Lost Cajun makes it work. Like all successful restaurants, it has unique things going for it. Mostly, it has character and great beignets, the French version of a donut. Lost Cajun is located on Main Street, Frisco, in a small shack-like building on the south side of the street. As you enter, there is a small display to the left, four tables on the right wall, a tall counter with seating on both sides, and the kitchen on the far side of the room. That’s it!  You are greeted by cheerful and often exuberant waitresses (yes, with only four tables, there is always more than one person working the front of the house). This is the reason you visit Frisco — to get away from the rigors of city life and enjoy the character and flavor of Summit County.

Joy, Ashley, and Melissa! The best staff ever!

At Lost Cajun, you often have to wait, but the wait is painless as they offer samples of everything on the menu. Once seated, you’ll find that the menu is short and reliable with nothing but Louisiana staples listed: gumbo, jambalaya, etouffee, fried fish and my favorite, red beans and rice. I have not had the fried fish, but the gumbo and etouffee have been reliable, and the red beans and rice is always fantastic. Orders are placed with the waitress who immediately yells at the top of her lungs, “One gumbo and one beans and rice!”  In response, the cooks yell back the same. At first it becomes a little unsettling, but you get used to it. If nothing else, there is a certain efficiency to the process that is mesmerizing. With the tight proximity to your neighboring diners and the exuberance of the staff, conversations inevitably start up. Your small group of two or four quickly becomes a group of 16 chatting away.

We like the food and enjoy dining at Lost Cajun for a quick, comfortable home-style place to eat, but more than not, we simply love the beignets. I have had beignets in Paris, New York, San Franciscoand, most importantly, at Café du Monde in New Orleans. The beignets at Lost Cajun definitely hold up, which is rather impressive for a local spot in the high country. There are two basic types of beignets; those that are dense and cake-like, and those that are airy and balloon-like. Lost Cajun lands on the side of “airy fluffy.”  They serve them hot — really hot!  They come out of the fryer with a mound of powdered sugar on top, which is all it takes to make me happy. Please, please do not breath in when taking your first bite, as you may find yourself inhaling this powdered sugar delight, and sitting in anguish for minutes trying to breath. I learned the hard way, and I felt like an amateur!

Beignets

The beignets are the perfect end to a cold winter day when eaten inside, but they are best eaten when walking Main Street on a warm summer evening, leaving a trail of white sugar down the sidewalk. Our dining experience at Lost Cajun leaves us walking out the door feeling full and relaxed — the restaurant is a perfect real-life metaphor.

Angels Hollow Logo

Just a block off Main Street is one of Breckenridge’s best kept secret treasures: An old Hell’s Angels biker bar and hangout turned gourmet restaurant. On a Saturday night when the rest of the town’s restaurants are quoting you and your family 45 minutes to 2 hour waits, Angel’s Hollow welcomes.

The restaurant itself is a little off the beaten path, but the food is some of the best in Breckenridge. But probably the best part about Angel’s Hollow are the owners: Lee and Debbie are exceptional characters. Lee doubles (or quadruples rather) as the host, bartender, waiter, and chef. You’ll often find him walking around the restaurant singing and screaming to the music, refilling drinks without you having to ask for another (be careful) and bossing his waiters around. Lee’s antics are completely ridiculous, but at the same time totally welcoming.

Angel's Hollow Restaurant

His wife Debbie fills the well-organized and calmer role at the restaurant. You can often find her at the bar pouring drinks and chatting up a storm. As crazy as Lee can get in the dining room, don’t be fooled. The chef graduated from the Culinary Institute of America, one of the most prestigious culinary schools in the country. His food has a downhome/southwestern/refined feel to it. The dishes are well thought out and the portions are gigantic; you most definitely won’t go home hungry.

If you’re the adventurous kind, you should certainly order one of Lee’s famous margaritas. I’ve never been sure what’s in them, but I know there’s at least 4-5 different liquors, and it’s made with fresh limes; no sweet and sour here.  The dining experience at Angel’s Hollow is fun, funny, and completely out of the ordinary, but not to be missed. So, if you’re okay with a little bit of craziness, some crudeness, and some delicious foods and spirits, get yourself to Angel’s Hollow!

Lee and Debbie

As you exit Hwy 70 in Frisco and head toward Breckenridge, you pass a not-so-attractive strip mall with Safeway on one end and Walmart on the other. But this nondescript strip mall holds the key to the best 5-star food in Summit County!

Open Family Style Dining Room

Halfway between Safeway and Walmart is a sign “Café” in red letters. The restaurant’s name is “Food Hedz,” although you only know this because it says it in small letters on the glass entry. You walk in and find 10 or so small tables and a counter at the front.  The interior is decorated with pictures and murals celebrating the French countryside.  To order, go to the front counter. On one side is the cash register and wines, in the middle is the selection of daily made soups and to the right is the chef and kitchen. Dave, the owner/chef, is always cooking and willing to answer questions, take requests (we’ll get to this later) and just chat. At the cash register, Patti, his wife, waits graciously to help you through your choices. Once you’ve ordered, find a table and the rest of the bustling staff will serve you.

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