The Ore House

Great food is hard to beat, and certainly a popular stop during the holidays and throughout the year is the Ore House on College Drive, a half block east of Main Avenue.

You'll have a fun time with the Ore House gang and it's an ideal spot for a special holiday dinner with family, friends or business acquaintances. Since 1972 the Ore House has been satisfying hungry diners with scrumptious appetizers, tempting salad bar, tasty, tender steaks, delicious seafood selections and more. A full bar, wine list and yummy dessert list, round out the experience.

(Do something nice for someone on your list – give them a gift certificate to the Ore House.)

Cocina Lina

Gourmet, everything-prepared-from-scratch Mexican food from Cocina Linda is the perfect way to enhance the holiday season.

Special Christmas tamales (including sweet ones), plus turkey mole, chile rellenos and lard-free refried beans await hungry shoppers, or can be included in a special holiday get-together. Vegetarians can delight also in the tasty selections! Cocina Linda even grinds the corn to make delicious corn tortillas for the superb dishes. Check out the complete selection or give welcome meals in the form of a gift certificate.

Cocina Linda is adjacent to Liquor World on Camino del Rio and Albertsons on College Drive.

The Mahogany Grille at the Strater Hotel

Here's a delicious idea for a holiday treat for your family, friends or business partners. Head to the Mahogany Grille at the Strater Hotel.

You'll find an exquisite but very friendly atmosphere complete with excellent service and live entertainment nightly. Some of the specialties that have really become dining favorites are Beef Tenderloin Harvest Stew, Pepper Steak Herbert, Pistachio-crusted Halibut and Broiled Elk Tenderloin in a Blackberry Sage Sauce.

Top off the meal with a superb dessert such as Chocolate Avalanche and you have made a holiday memory.You can give a gift certificate to someone special so they too can experience this fine dining.

Sunnyside Farms Market

Gourmet foods are definitely a wonderful addition to a holiday meal, party or as a gift for someone's pantry. Sunnyside Farms Market has got a tempting selection of items in the full-service delicatessen and you'll also find delicious seafood, quality cuts of beef, lamb and pork (most of which is local).

Ask about the pre-made gourmet meals-to-go - all you need to do is order the food, then heat and serve. (What a great idea for this busy time of year when you are entertaining guests!)

Groceries of unusual, exotic foods and spices are part of the store's format and there are also vinegars, olive oils and such.

Gift certificates are available for any of Sunnyside's products and you can even have a scrumptious sandwich to keep you going while you're out doing holiday shopping. Sunnyside Farms Market is located at 1135 South Camino del Rio. It's always advisable to call ahead to place meal and snack tray orders.

Joe's Durango Liquor & Wine Company

Chris Halloran and Joe Leder at Joe's Durango Liquor & Wine Company give the photographer a smile in front of one of the store's displays.

There is a large selection of fine wines, gift-packaged spirits, beers, ales and lagers for holiday gift-giving. Special occasions, such as New Year's Eve, can be topped off with sparkling wines or champagne.

The store is located at 1145 South Camino del Rio.

Liquor World

Have you ever heard of mead? Did you know it's a very old recipe using honey? Mead would make a most unusual gift indeed and you can get it at Liquor World right here in Durango.

If you're headed to any dinner parties during the holidays, you should check out the fine assortment of wines, beers and ales. Attractive holiday packages of spirits also make nice gifts. Some of these packages even have glasses. Toast in the New Year with a bottle of champagne from Liquor World's selection.

Liquor World is located at 695 Camino del Rio.