Elevation Celebration

10 Years of Food and Fun

Back in his ski bum days, Gunnar Sachs overheard a stranger speaking Swedish at a mogul event at Aspen Highlands. Sachs, who is Swiss, also speaks Swedish, and decided to say hello. The stranger introduced himself as Tommy Tollesson, and the two became fast friends. So much so that on Dec. 11, 2000, they joined to open the restaurant Elevation, and the rest, as they say, is history.
    “I can’t remember a time before the restaurant was open,” says Tollesson. “The day we opened, I was full of energy and excitement. Ten years later, I still have that, plus a lot more experience.”
    While the owners have seen a lot of change over the past decade, the key to success seems to be in what has remained the same. “We started as a place for all our friends to come, serving ‘New American Cuisine’ before that idea took off,” explains Sachs. “For a while, we turned into a borderline nightclub, with mad rave parties to pay the rent. As time moved on, we grew. The restaurant grew with us and became more refined.” 
    New this season is the addition of chef Chris Hall, from sister restaurant Social, which closed in the fall. He will be adding some enticing, seasonal dishes such as elk shoulder tenderloin and lobster Bolognese to longtime favorites.
Of the future, Tollesson says: “We’re looking forward to another 10 or 20 exciting years.” Stop in for dinner or a cocktail, and wish them well.