Local talent shines as Duemani Aspen unveils Mediterranean makeover
Nik House Media/Courtesy photos
Lana Bistrović’s rise to general manager at coastal Mediterranean seafood restaurant Duemani is a testament to her passion for hospitality and Aspen Hospitality Group’s (AHG) commitment to nurturing in-house talent and promoting from within.
“I’m proud that AHG is moving people forward from hostesses to GMs, dishwashers to line cooks to executive chefs, and from servers to sommeliers,” said founder and managing partner Carlos Solorzano-Smith. “Stories like Lana’s truly showcase the growth and opportunities within our team.”
Born in Croatia, Bistrović credits her childhood travels, love for food, and academic journey for shaping her career in the hospitality industry. In high school, she chose to attend a school focused on tourism and hospitality and went on to study at Vern University. She graduated with a degree in sustainable tourism management, where she focused on making travel and hospitality enjoyable, responsible, and environmentally conscious.
When she could participate in a work and travel program in the United States in 2016, she moved to Aspen for the summer and returned each year. Aspen had become her second home and where she wanted to build her career.
Her experience includes time at Hotel Jerome and Paradise Bakery in Aspen. While she was assistant manager at Paradise Bakery in winter 2023, she took on a second job as a hostess and coat checker at Duemani.
“When I started working there, I was drawn to the company, because of the people and the culture they have,” she said. “And I just knew that I wanted to explore more opportunities with Duemani and Aspen Hospitality Group.”
Bistrović said it didn’t take long before Solorzano-Smith recognized her hard work and asked if she saw herself moving into a management position. By the summer of 2024, she started working as a supervisor and began learning about restaurant operations, everything from front to back of the house.
“I fell in love (with the job) because I had such a great support system. Carlos and Darko, Hannah, Jason, and everyone at Aspen Hospitality Group were so nice and willing to answer all the questions I had,” she said. “That’s how I got here, little bit by a little bit. I started as a hostess, got promoted to a supervisor position, and then, moved up to general manager.”
This type of internal training and promoting staff already on the team is a philosophy and practice Solorzano-Smith believes in since it mimics his own path. Born in Guatemala, Solorzano-Smith immigrated to the U.S. when he was 21 and began his career journey washing dishes. He cut his teeth serving tables at luxury hotels and high-end restaurants from Boston to New Orleans to Park City, Utah, and finally to Aspen’s Little Nell and Matsuhisa. Along the way, he learned every aspect of the hospitality industry.
“We always strive to promote within the company,” Bistrović said. “As Carlos always says, there’s no one better for any position than someone who already has been in the company and knows what we’re about.”
Since 2021, Aspen Hospitality Group has found success with a straightforward business plan that entails buying established local restaurants while keeping the name, culinary concept, and majority of the staff intact.
First, the group acquired Duemani at 216 S. Monarch St. and Acquolina at 415 E. Main St. in a two-restaurant deal. Then in the spring of 2024, they added Casa D’Angelo at 105 Mill St. to their portfolio, which reopened as the newly conceived Angelo’s in June 2024.
To kick off the 2024/25 winter season, Duemani opened its doors after undergoing a thorough renovation. The revamped space leans into its coastal Mediterranean roots with a brighter, more streamlined look.
“It’s so inviting. It’s bright, and you can see the influence of Greece and Italy, coastal Spain, and France. What the food always reflected, now the space is reflecting as well,” she said.
Menu highlights include a raw bar, caviar service, whole fish, grilled seafood, and meats with a Mediterranean influence. Between the decor and the culinary offerings, it’s easy to forget you are dining in a snowy mountain town.
The service is warm and welcoming, unfussy yet professional and attentive. It’s all part of the experience that Bistrović said she and the team want to create for their guests.
“I want guests to leave saying they enjoyed great food and great service,” she continued. “I want them to feel transported to those destinations that our restaurant represents, and tell their friends about what a great place they visited. Because if people walk away with that feeling, It gives us more wind into our sails to do better than what we’re doing right now.”
Duemani is located at 216 S. Monarch St. and is open daily from 5 p.m. to close.
For more information and reservations, visit duemaniaspen.com.
Sarah Girgis is the Arts and Entertainment Editor for The Aspen Times. She can be reached at 970-429-9151 or sgirgis@aspentimes.com.
