The world’s best restaurant – Eleven Madison Park – will open a winter outpost in Aspen
An exclusive first look at the Winter House – and the restaurant’s surprise return to the beach this summer
Europe may be in the midst of the year’s coldest week yet, which is all the more reason to start planning your summer – and next winter, while you’re at it.
On Memorial Day weekend, Eleven Madison Park will bring its popular Summer House back to East Hampton, New York. Later in the year, the crew will take up residence in Aspen, Colorado, to launch the inaugural edition of EMP Winter House.
The return of Summer House is surprising a lot of people, even co-owners Will Guidara and chef Daniel Humm. The Summer House was originally conceived as a way to keep staff employed while the world’s best restaurant was closed for renovations in 2017. Even with its breakout success – there were rumours of booking systems crashing after reservation details were announced, and the place was packed throughout the summer – the duo didn’t intend to reopen the place for an additional season.
“Hiring seasonal staff is too scary. We invest so much in people, they have to be full-time,” Guidara says.
“But it was so successful,” Humm says. “The location wanted us to be there longer. So many people reached out and showed interest.”
He claims he came up with the Aspen House idea, which offered the opportunity to have a year-round restaurant – split between two locations: Colorado and Long Island. He and Guidara won’t commit to the residencies beyond winter, nor will they rule it out.
“We don’t intend to do [either house] again after this winter,” Humm says. “Still, we never thought we’d be back [in the Hamptons] after the first time. So I guess we will wait and see.”
Summer House
