We call it the off-season shuffle, the biannual phenomenon of restaurants and retail shops opening, closing, or moving locations between the summer and winter high seasons. This season seems to be particularly busy with new arrivals, especially in Aspen's dense, dynamic commercial core. In an effort to highlight what's new and noteworthy in the last several months, here's the not-necessarily-comprehensive rundown on this season's crop of restaurants and retailers in Aspen, Snowmass, and Basalt - along with some of our recommendations.

New Aspen Restaurants

Try them before they're gone: Two Aspen restaurants are here for the winter only. Hao House has a home in the Jimmy's Bodega space on the Mill Street Mall through March 31, 2019. Open for acres-ski and dinner, this pop-up eatery from chefs David Wang and Kiyong Kim offers a rotating menu of street food from Taiwan, Korea, Japan, and China, plus sake, Asian beer, and globally inspired cocktails. Operations Director Alan Luu says: "The Banchan Trio is delicious; the kimchi and smashed cucumbers are standouts. Definitely a must-have as an app or side dish."

EMP Winter House is taking over the Chef's Club space in the St. Regis Aspen through early April. A winter pop-up version of award-winning Eleven Madison Park's summer outpost in East Hampton (dubbed EMP Summer House, of course), the restaurant's seasonal menu draws inspiration from the mountains, both Aspen's and those of chef Daniel Humm's native Switzerland. But bring cash, unless you're an American Express cardholder - the AmEx partnership also means that only cardholders can make reservations, which includes large-format meals (think fondue) in the unique yurt village in the St. Regis courtyard.

The co-owners of Bonito, a restaurant on St. Barth's, opened Betula in December, in the former second-floor BB's space on Cooper Ave. Open for dinner only, the menu features a blend of French and Pan American cuisine, crafted by chef Laurent Cantineaux, a Parisian with more than 20 years cooking experience in the Americas. Says Operations Assistant Lauren Anderson: "Wow! The amount of detail and flavor that goes into every dish creates an experience like no other. ... My personal favorite [starter] was the Fois Gras Raviolo. The pumpkin purée and the toasted hazelnut left me wanting more after we finished."

Scarlett's is a brand new eatery in the old Aspen Kitchen space, upstairs on the corner of Hopkins and Galena. Under the same ownership as Bootsy Bellows, the recently relocated nightclub downstairs, it's open from brunch until late night. Anderson recommendations a few interesting items from the brunch menu: breakfast pizza, chicken and waffles, and huevos rancheros. "All excellent!" she says.

The Biscuit Food Truck (without the truck) offers a breakfast and lunch menu featuring, yep, biscuits, from 8 am to 1 pm during the Winter Market, every Saturday inside Grey Lady Aspen's heated tent on the Mill Street Mall. The Biscuit was a popular stop for commuters in the Movieland parking lot in El Jebel this past fall.

Benedict XVII Café is another new breakfast and lunch spot, located in the little brick Victorian house at the corner of Hopkins and Monarch on the end of Restaurant Row. Specializing in eggs benedict and healthy bowls, it's open from 8 am to 3 pm and offers wine and brunch-friendly beverages. Otherwise, the Cottage, where Benedict XVII is located, opened this past summer as a cozy venue for private dinners, special events, and the occasional public meals. A sister property of Rustique and the Cooking School of Aspen next door, The Cottage hosted a prix-fixe farm-to-table series in late summer, and an affordable holiday buffet over Christmas week. Visit the Cooking School's website for upcoming events or to reserve the space for a private event.

Aspen gained a handful of other noteworthy eateries this past summer. Aspen Public House operates in the coveted Wheeler Opera House corner spot formerly home to Justice Snow's and Bentley's. Led by the owner of Capitol Creek Brewery in Willits, this modern gastropub features Colorado-inspired comfort food and serves from breakfast through late night. Blog writer Catherine Lutz enthuses: "Everything on the menu is creative and tantalizing. Try the pastrami-smoked duck reuben and don't miss the porchetta poutine after some time on the slopes. This is the best iteration of the Wheeler space yet."

In the former Little Annie's space, Clark's Oyster Bar is the second location of a popular Austin eatery, serving plenty of seafood, burgers, and more. Says Luu: "This is one of those places that everything one the menu is delicious - from the homemade sourdough to the linguine and clams. You can't go wrong."

The fine-dining supper club 7908 (referring to Aspen's elevation) opened in the long-dark space that previously hosted Finnbar's on the Hyman Avenue Mall. Owned by actor Roger Wilson (of Porky's fame, among other entertainment and culinary industry credits), the eatery's elevated comfort food menu reflects chef-to-the-stars Craig Walker's New Orleans roots - and features one of Aspen's most headline-grabbing items: $120 caviar nachos. "The fried chicken is a must try - it has a subtle modern take, but the chicken is authentic down-home cooking," says Luu.

Named after the wife of original Hotel Jerome owner Jerome B. Wheeler, Bad Harriet (who was actually a good girl) is the latest addition to the hotel's social scene. Lighter on the grub than the libations, the subterranean lounge in the historic Aspen Times building next to the hotel features small plates and craft cocktails named for "strong women in history."

New Aspen Retail

One of the only ski-touring-specific shops in the country, Cripple Creek Backcountry opened an Aspen location in partnership with The Hub in November. Along with selling touring gear, the shop, which has locations in Carbondale and Vail, has a limited rental fleet.

French winter sports brand Rossignol opened a seasonal concept store in the historic Benton building on East Hyman Ave. The Aspen pop-up features the 110-year-old company's ski and casual winter apparel, plus the opportunity to demo ski and snowboard equipment through Atelier Ski by Ski Butlers.

French ski wear is also available at Ogier, a French fashion house with a new store in the Mill Street Plaza that also sells ready to wear, leather goods and accessories.

Also in the Mill Street Plaza is Peruvian Connection, a high-end clothing and accessories store with a focus on alpaca fiber and pima cotton fabrics.

Luxury luggage brand Rimowa opened a pop-up this winter in the Victorian Square building on the corner of Hyman and Hunter, on the same block as the Aspen Art Museum.

Just across Hunter Street in what's known as the Lego building, Forty Five Ten opened its sixth location, selling a luxury collection of men and women's fashion.

Another block and a half west on the Hyman Mall, Olivela has a pop-up boutique for the winter. The retailer, which donates a portion of its proceeds to charity, features an assortment of designer fashion and wellness brands.

Also on the Hyman Mall, local photographer Guadalupe Laiz opened a pop-up gallery showing her Aspen landscapes, Icelandic horses, and African wildlife.

The O2 retail shop has rebranded itself as LIV Aspen. Located in the old McDonald's building on Cooper Avenue across from Wagner Park, the shop features women's fashion and luxury home goods.

And finally, in a nutshell: Only Authentics for vintage bags, the chain J. McLaughlin for classic men's and women's fashion, pop-up Bottega Veneta for Italian luxury apparel and accessories, and The Westside and Everafter, a duo of California-born boutiques for stylish moms and children.

New in Snowmass

In Snowmass, all the focus is on Base Village, where a major portion of the village center was completed for the beginning of the winter season. Surrounding a public plaza dominated by a winter-long ice skating rink are a slew of new businesses that are imbuing this part of Snowmass with a distinct, vibrant vibe.

In the brand new Limelight Hotel Snowmass, the Limelight Lounge serves up a similar menu to its Aspen counterpart: wood-fired pizza and Italian-inspired comfort food. But it's larger footprint also includes a generous bar area, space for frequent live music and dancing, and a kids' game room with plenty to keep the little ones busy.

On the other side of the plaza, the Crêpe Shack by Mawa's Kitchen may be operating in a much smaller space, but it packs a big punch. Proprietress Mawa McQueen, who hails from the Ivory Coast, was raised in Paris, and has eateries in Basalt and at the ABC as well as a catering business, has perfected the art of the crepe, both sweet and savory. "An unbelievable menu of crepe options, from breakfast to dinner, healthy to decadent," says BJ Adams. "Best is the option to order a custom crepe, filled with the ingredients you like. The lemon souffle is also tasty, not too sweet. Tip: If you're going there just to pick up a quick bite, use the 30-minute parking lot outside the Treehouse and avoid the parking garage."

Indulge in one or more of the 100 different doughnuts CODough Bar makes on a rotating basis, to start or end your ski day. Located in a food cart on the patio by the ice rink, this indulgent eatery, which has locations in Glenwood Springs and Carbondale (known as Sweet Coloradough) also serves some savory options, such as the Bad Ass Breakfast Burrito, and a variety of wines and craft beers.

On the Snowmass Mall, Grub Thai opened in the former Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory space this winter. Its proprietors are a husband-and-wife team who combine extensive experience in Snowmass restaurants and southern Thai heritage. The menu includes a variety of noodle and rice bowls, curries, soups, and more.

On the retail side, Aspen-born Strafe Outerwear opened a second storefront on the Snowmass Mall this winter. The technical skiwear venture by brothers and adventure athletes John and Pete Gaston started at Highlands in 2009, and has grown to include some 150 stores in seven countries where Strafe goods can be found.

Back in Base Village, the Collective Snowmass is a new hub for public events such as films, yoga classes, and kids' activities - and can be rented out for private events. A restaurant is slated to open in the space later this year. Meanwhile, Four Mountain Sports has a new location in the new part of Base Village.

New in Basalt

Many remember Cecilia Gonzalez as their favorite barista at Zélé Café and then Peaches. In August 2018, Gonzalez, a native of Mexico, opened CC's Café on Midland Avenue where Saxy's used to be. The cafe, open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch, and afternoon coffee or tea, features locally roasted coffee and local fresh pastries, plus a full breakfast menu, paninis, sandwiches and salads. Says broker Kristen Maley: "CC's Café is absolutely rocking the coffee house offerings in Basalt with contagiously happy service."

Longtime Aspen institution the Wienerstube, closed and demolished in January 2011, was reincarnated at Willits Town Center in September 2018. It's co-owned by Vladan Djordjevic, a native of Serbia (not too far from Austria and the Tyrolean Alps, from where the Wienerstube's culinary inspiration is drawn), whose first job in Aspen was at the original Wienerstube. Djordjevic also co-owns Grub Thai in Snowmass; he and partner Maja Ilic also have the Little Mammoth Steakhouse in Snowmass. The Willits Wienerstube serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner - and it has a community table as well as several elements of the decor from the Aspen restaurant.

Incidentally, as of next summer the Stube will be one of four eateries with upvalley roots to open in Willits. Zane's Tavern, a longtime Snowmass pub that added an Aspen location in 2006, is slated to fill a new commercial building near the entrance - joining Mawa's Kitchen (which started at the ABC and now has a Snowmass Village location) and Mezzaluna, a downtown Aspen staple.

Mod's Thai House opened in the spring of 2018, in the green building set back from the western side of Midland Avenue where Hot Mama's operated for decades. Co-owners Mod and Manny Diaz serve a range of authentic Thai noodle bowls, curries, and other dishes for lunch and dinner every day except Tuesday. Mod is from Bangkok and Manny was the head chef at Jimmy's for 10 years.

On the retail side, Hot Mama's has moved next door into the Midland Mall and been rebranded as the Bleu Door Boutique. Owner Dawn Cleveland, who also has a Bleu Door in Glenwood Springs, creates her own jewelry, which she sells along with other hand-crafted jewelry, plus women's accessories, clothing, and gifts.

Former Basalt Middle School teacher Jessica Lahey opened the Wren's Nest in August 2018. Another Midland Avenue storefront, Wren's Nest is an art studio for kids and adults, available for art-making (specifically, repurposed cut glass on canvas) with or without an appointment, or through classes, programs, or private parties.