April 25, 2021
It was a busy night at Adolph’s, the legendary gathering place for the ski racing world in Park City. Atomic’s table had grown from six to 20 as revelers came together to toast Daron Rahlves.
“Oh, we are going to have a party tonight,” said Adolph with that trademark pensive look on his staid Swiss face. The veteran restaurateur was nervous as he left the kitchen to rearrange his dining room. But underlying that nervousness was this heartfelt joy of being the centerpiece of ski racing in the world.
Swiss-native Adoph Imboden made the tough decision this month to close the doors after 47 years – the longest-standing fine dining restaurant in Park City. With his lease ending and an extension too complex, the 78-year old chef decided it was time. He’ll slide the last schnitzel onto a plate at the end of April.
Tanzi Propst/Park Record
Adolph Imboden for decades offered a classic dish as an answer to a classic winter day in Park City.
In an homage to his Swiss upbringing, the namesake Adolph’s Restaurant specializes in fondue. The comfort food and other Swiss dishes are the specialty of the Kearns Boulevard restaurant, long a popular destination for Parkites looking for a high-quality option off Main Street.
“Fondue first, because it’s an experience,” Imboden said on Monday, describing the dish as something that visitors to mountain resorts seek, and adding, “It’s something you have in a ski resort.”