Colorado Review

In my earlier post about Redstone, I mentioned the beautiful fall colors over McClure Pass that peak about the third week of September. Continue following Highway 133 and you’ll find yourself in the small town of Paonia. The dry climate and fertile earth is famed for its fruit-growing capabilities. Orchards, roadside fruit stands and wineries are plentiful in the area.

One must-stop is Orchard Valley Farms, which grows a range of vegetables and fruits, namely apples, cherries, peaches and squash. (Although, there aren’t too many apples this season, due to a freeze in the spring.) For more than a decade the orchard has been growing grapes for area wineries, and in 2005 introduced its own label: Black Bridge Winery. In its tasting room, sample Black Bridge and a number of other local wines.

When my family and I were in Paonia in June, we had a tasty meal at the Flying Fork Cafe. Its name does not befit the restaurant’s sophisticated, Italian menu; “Flying Fork” sounds more like a diner to me. My children liked the thin and crispy, stone-ground, whole-wheat crust pizza. Since we only needed a light meal, my husband and I ordered salads and appetizer-sized plates of pasta. The gemelli with applewood smoked chicken, basil pesto, sun-dried tomatoes and fresh mozzarella was perfect. The Flying Fork is a bakery, too, so accompanying breads are freshly made in house. We sat under a large tree in the spacious outdoor-seating area; reservations are not taken for the enclosed garden, so get there early for dinner.