Summer brings longer and warmer days to the mountains and offers countless occasions to congregate at the Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater for a long season of outdoor concerts. If you happen to be around Park City at this time of the year, Deer Valley is the perfect venue to spend a late afternoon and early evening. You may want to make up for a long day at work, escape the valley heat, or just slow down a bit after hours of hiking, miles of mountain biking, a round of golf or following a fly-fishing outing…

The gradual slope that serves beginner skiers so well in winter provides the perfect, natural amphitheater, framed by Deer Valley’s trademark ski runs and its verdant slopes with meadows, aspens and fir trees. Last Friday was no exception with the return of the Utah Symphony’s Deer Valley Music Festival and a sold-out concert. This wasn’t the first outdoor performance of the summer, as the musical season began in earnest late June, with the local Grand Valley Bank community concert series, a large number of performances by the Utah Symphony and a few concerts from the St. Regis Big Stars, Bright Nights series.

Of course there is still a long way to go until Labor Day and the end of the summer season, with plenty of wonderful opportunities to enjoy many cool, musical nights facing the Snow Park Lodge and its summer stage, while enjoying an al fresco dinner!

Fine food tradition and Deer Valley’s passion for excellence are so intertwined that is it’s almost impossible to think about one without the other. The synergy created by refined dining and superb skiing carries on the rest of the year and becomes the link that unites summer outdoor concerts and Deer Valley’s peerless hospitality. No matter the season, the scenery or the view points, these two elements cannot be dissociated.

Even though I can hardly call myself a “foodie,” summer concerts are much more than just music and company of all the friendly people that gather outdoors to hear it. Quite as importantly, it’s also about the food that accompanies this relaxed and festive atmosphere. Almost everyone eats dinner at these concerts and what a great opportunity to harmonize what’s on the plate with the surrounding sounds and sights.

One option is to bring a picnic, as many spectators do, but that always entails a lot of work, not just to prepare it but to carry it to the mountain, and then once there, somehow, there’s almost always something missing! Sure, it’s possible to run for the Deer Valley concession stand and find whatever was forgotten or plan on burgers, hot dogs and other great Deer Valley’s classic fares that are available for purchase.

Another option and by far my favorite – is to order a Deer Valley’s Gourmet Picnic Basket accompanied by a bottle of wine that will be waiting for me at the concert. All I have to do is place my order by 5 p.m. the day before and then pick it up when I get to the concert at Snow Park.

These wonderful baskets are filled with delectable goodies, but also come with plenty of options, like a choice of salmon or beef entree and new this year, an offering of vegetarian, gluten-free and vegan entrees.

I personally go for the smoked salmon with cucumber and aioli sauce preceded by a generous platter of antipasto of artisan salami, arugula, tomatoes and olives. These fine little delicacies never fail to bring back memories of my Deer Valley ski lunches that will soon return in a few months!

I usually am a fast eater and don’t spend enough time at the dinner table; however, at the concert the tantalizing choices contained in that richly garnished basket slow me down, make me savor and appreciate every single bite.

Also included in the basket is a fresh baked baguette that goes hand-in-hand with a melting, French brie that is a rarity on this side of the Atlantic. Finally, at the very moment the sun sets over Success ski run, there is still some room left for a few grapes, perhaps a slice of lemon pound cake, but definitely enough for the truffle tartlets!

Now, time to get on my feet, the concert is almost over!

To order your own gourmet picnic basket, head over to signatures.deervalley.com/gpb. For more information about upcoming concerts, please visit deervalley.com for our schedule of events.