The conversation went like this: how we’re sick of most Aspen restaurants, and the eating experience in Basalt these days just seems to be better.

Case in point: Cuvee World Bistro, where the Dogwood Tavern used to be, the second such bistro modeled after the original one in Tucson, Arizona.

I don’t drink, but this is a great place for wine lovers, with a menu that suggests wine pairings with just about everything (including the wine menu). My better half ordered a glass of wine that came in abundant quantity that left some over for later. The best news here is that there were a whole bunch of affordable dishes, including a $9 angus burger ($10 with cheese) that comes wiht either a copious salad or curly fries. A $6 caesar’s salad was filed away for later use as a promising price performer.

We sat at a bar table and took in the leftover part from Dogwood: a cozy, warm atmosphere. Then we gave it the acid test–calimari. Cuvee performed better than good, with the calamari served with local corn and stronger when it came to texture that taste. (Don’t chefs get that calamari has no taste?) It was served with a tomato sauce that was a bit too watery, but overall the experience was satisfying.

The same could be said for the quesadilla cheese concoction ordered by the beautiful woman across from me: high on texture and general satisfaction, but low on taste. Not so my medium-rare Angus Burger, which I requested with gorgonzola cheese. (I’m a huge fan of gornonzola with beef or pork, and I don’t even like blue cheese.) It came with perfect presentation, with tomato, onion, and a big salad on the side, all for $10. Delicious.

When we were done for about $30 total including the wine, I said to that lovely woman that “this could get into the regular rotation.” A restaurant can get no greater praise from the likes of us.