Vail Village’s La Tour Restaurant’s chef and owner, Paul Ferzacca, is adding a touch of Italy and the mysteries of Southeast Asia to new, grass-roofed Traer Creek Plaza in Avon this summer and fall with the opening of two new restaurants.

The first is ZaccaZa!, which will feature a variety of moderately-priced, family-style, Southern Italian dishes, Ferzacca’s famous Chicago-style deep-dish pizza and Napolitano thin-crust pizza, baked in authentic coal-fired ovens. ZaccaZa! was designed with fun in mind complete with bocce ball courts, a fire pit and an outdoor bar.

In fall comes 5 Spice Asian Bistro, filling a local niche for affordable, authentic Southeast Asian cuisine. Vietnam-born chef and co-owner Thomas Newsted, formerly of Vail’s Game Creek Restaurant and The Lodge at Vail’s Wildflower restaurant, recalls the aromas, flavors and energy that surround authentic Asian cooking. “We wanted something that was fun, full of life and flavor and the cuisine of the Far East has that character,” he explains.

Chef Newsted explains “5 Spice” is the perfect name for the new restaurant concept, as it is a flavor-packed spice mixture popular throughout Southeast Asian Cuisine.

Both restaurants will serve lunch and dinner daily. Please see the Avon section of “Dining Out” (page 136) for more details.

La Tour: French/American, D, RS, $$$, ALL, 122 E. Meadow Dr., 970-476-4403
Chef and owner Paul Ferzacca has a distinctive flair that keeps Vail Village’s legendary La Tour restaurant contemporary, hip and a must on the itinerary of its worldwide legion of fans.

5 Spice Asian Bistro: Southeast Asian, L/D, $, ALL, Traer Creek Plaza, 970-845-1314
Opening in fall 2006, this bistro features an exhibition “work bar,” Vietnamese and Thai noodle dishes, bao steamed buns, Asian barbecue, and much more, all amid an inviting Oriental ambiance.

ZaccaZa!: Southern Italian/Pizza, L/D, $, ALL, Traer Creek Plaza, 970-748-4848
Designed with family fun in mind, this restaurant features great food, bocce ball courts, a fire pit and an outdoor bar, plus memorable views stretching from Vail Mountain’s Game Creek Bowl to Beaver Ceek.

VAIL-BEAVER CREEK MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2006