4UR Ranch’s Executive Chef Wray Warner

4UR’s Executive Chef Wray Warner

The phrase “Colorado dude ranch vacation” doesn’t naturally trigger mental images of gourmet food – but after a stay at 4UR Ranch, you might find your perception in this area altered, to say the least.

Executive Chef Wray Warner has always had a fascination for food and it shows in the kinds of meals he prepares and the care he uses to prepare them.

Wray attended Paul Smith’s College in the Adirondacks to learn his trade and began working in the kitchen of Lake Placid Lodge while still a student. Thereafter he traveled to Burgundy, France to work at L’Espérance, in Vézelay, with renowned Chef Marc Meneau. Returning home to graduate, he then moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to start cooking at The Red Rock Ranch; a family-owned dude ranch. After some time there and The Four Seasons nearby, he joined the 4UR team as sous chef in 2005 and, in just two years, clambered his way on up to executive chef here – we couldn’t be prouder of him.

Wray’s food is uncomplicated and absolutely delicious with a focus on both seasonal and local ingredients. It’s a tough job keeping a menu fresh and satisfying day in and day out, three meals a day at an all inclusive dude ranch but Wray and his amazing crew of sous chef, pastry chef, breakfast cook, and line cook, somehow makes it look easy – and oh, the food!

Wray enjoys mixing up regional cuisines and flavors to come up with mouth-watering combinations such as buffalo flanks with ancho chile sauce and black bean and chorizo sausage or artichoke cannelloni with artichoke hearts, goat cheese, truffle béchamel, parmesan. Just take a look at our sample menu.

How’s that for “Colorado dude ranch vacation” fare? And here I’ll bet you were picturing hamburgers and hot dogs.

Wray and his crew can make anything – and make it delicious, too! I was joking about hamburgers and hot dogs a moment ago but there’s nothing wrong with comfort food and Wray can grill up a mean wiener, let me tell you. Chuckwagon breakfast in the meadow? Check. Fresh-fried trout with beer? Check. Fajitas or homemade ice cream? Check. Wray and his team know their way around it all and, once you’ve tasted their food, you’ll wonder how you got this far in life without knowing it could be this good.