Colorado ski resorts elevate on-mountain dining

• Vail's upscale The 10th restaurant, just steps from the top of Gondola One, now offers a two-martini lunch, a market-priced lobster roll and raw West Coast oysters.
• Breckenridge is taking a playful route with hot dog towers, fondue pots and stein-hoisting competitions at Rendezvous Bar. Its Overlook bar at Peak 9 serves a daily sake golden hour from 2-3pm.
• Beaver Creek recently hosted James Beard Award-winning chef Matt Vawter of Rootstalk for a multicourse tasting menu at its Alpine Table.
• Keystone features a roaming snowcat that serves hot dogs and cold drinks at gathering spots directly on the slopes.
• And Steamboat debuted its reimagined Crooked Antler restaurant with "a speakeasy-inspired vibe."

What they're saying: For resorts, it's all about enhancing the guest experience.

• "We spend so much time thinking about the skiing and riding component of our experience … that sometimes we can often overlook how important dining is," Vail CEO Rob Katz said on his podcast. "It's a critical part of the day."