Cooke City
July 12, 2011
After spending a morning driving 11,000 ft above sea level through the winding roads of Beartooth Highway through Montana and Wyoming, we stopped for lunch in Cooke City. A tourist destination for those traveling to Yellowstone National Park, there’s nothing more than a few restaurants, cafes and souvenir shops, but it’s certainly full of character with a picture perfect backdrop.
Cooke City General Store
Chicken and tomato wrap from the Ore House Saloon at Soda Butte Lodge
Burger & Fries
The Juicy Lucy Burger stuffed with cheese and peppers
Paws Up
July 9, 2011
One doesn’t often combine the words luxury and camping into one sentence, but that’s exactly what you get from Paws Up, a ranch resort about 30 miles outside Missoula. Stopping through for an evening, I was treated with impeccable service from the strawberry lemonade upon arrival through my next morning’s breakfast wrap with fresh produce. These chefs have the fine rustic cuisine down to perfection as they prepared some of their specialty dishes including Elk Loin and Quail Breast.
Aside from the dining, the resort offers anything you could possibly imagine to make your Montana holiday fulfilling. Due to my time constraints, I didn’t participate in their endless list of activities, but I certainly wouldn’t hesitate venturing back for another visit. Who could complain about waking up in an outdoor luxury tent, followed by a hot air balloon ride at sunrise and an afternoon horseback riding in the mountains? And of course you can’t forget ending your evening with their infamous rustic ranch cuisine.
Seared Quail Breast, Huckleberry Bread Pudding, Roasted Baby Turnip, Sautéed Spinach, Pan Jus
The dining room at Pomp
Pan Seared Ono, Cauliflower Salad, Fava Leaves, Baby Squash, Mint Oil
The terrace at Pomp
Iron Seared Elk Loin, Fregola-Mushroom Stew, Baby Fennel, Asparagus, Black Currant Puree
Outdoor dining and camp fire pit
Moulard Duck Breast, Potato Croquette, Orange Braised Fennel, Asparagus
Huckletini; 44 North Huckleberry Vodka, Huckleberry Syrup, Turbinado Sugar Rim
Homemade infused liquors
Village Entrance
Morning Hot Air Balloon Ride
Montana Breakfast Wrap, Scrambled Eggs, Yukon Gold Potatoes, Bacon, Peperzella Cheese
Sunrise Scrambler, Ham, Scrambled Eggs, Crisp Potato Croquette, Brewer's Grain Toast
Breakfast at Tank & Trough
Babcock & Miles
July 6, 2011
Tucked around the corner from Red Lodge’s Main Street, Babcock & Miles is a quaint specialty food shop that boasts fine wines, herbs and pastas to contribute excellent flavor to any gathering or dinner party. I could have very easily spent all afternoon sitting on their front patio soaking up the sun. A perfect place for souvenir shopping, I picked up dried basil and hibiscus flowers for a true taste of Montana luxury to share with friends back in New York. I’ve been looking up fun recipes to make summer cocktails and desserts with the dried hibiscus, so will be sure to share what we come up with soon!
Dried organic basil
Storefront
Happy Fourth of July!
July 4, 2011
I could not think of a better way to celebrate the American holiday weekend than an outdoor breakfast at East Rosebud Lake in the middle of Montana’s wilderness. An hour of dirt roads finally opened up to a beautiful lake surrounded by mountains and we popped up the grill for pancakes with berries, bacon and coffee. I couldn’t resist including some of my other Fourth of July shots from this weekend. Quite possibly one of the most patriotic small towns I’ve been too, these folk in Red Lodge know how to celebrate America with their famous 3 day rodeo and parade. Hope everyone has a safe and wonderful holiday!
Blueberry, strawberry, banana and chocolate chip pancakes from the grill
Fresh fruit
Cooking the bacon
Red Lodge Fourth of July Parade
Red Lodge Rodeo and parade
Dreaming of That Big Montana Sky
June 27, 2011
I’m escaping the city for a much needed week of fresh country air with family out in the mountains. I can’t wait to share the amazing rustic ranch cuisines and small town local dishes that I’ve heard so much about. Be back soon! x
Roasted Peanuts & Apples
Cupcakes & Birds
June 26, 2011
My girlfriends and I reunited back in Syracuse yesterday afternoon for a bake off to prep for a baby shower. Leave it to Martha Stewart for some inspiration for these bird cupcakes with toasted coconut flakes as the nest and hand piped buttercream frosting for the birds. A lot of laughs, frosting covered elbows and 195 piped birds later, we had one adorable dessert.
Semi sweet chocolate chips and vanilla cupcakes
Toasted coconut flakes
Whipping up buttercream frosting and topping the cupcakes
Adding frosted birds
The finished cupcakes
Tarry Market
June 24, 2011
One of Mario Batali’s many creations, this Euro-style gourmet market in Port Chester has the freshest in pastas, meats, cheese and breads. Crossing off some of our grocery list here last weekend, we grabbed mozzarella and pasta to contribute to the Father’s Day family barbeque at my friend’s parent’s home.
Pasta
Pesto Pasta dish
Fresh mozzarella and tomato
A Summer Solstice Salad
June 23, 2011
To celebrate the official start of summer, a couple friends and I threw together a salad with one of the season’s iconic fruits: watermelon. Tossing it with some feta cheese and fresh basil from the garden, and topping with some olive oil and balsamic vinegar, it’s a quick and light refreshing salad.
Feta, Watermelon & Basil
Salad
The Kneaded Bread
June 20, 2011
Quite possibly one of the best places around to get fresh bread, this local spot is a must stop for anyone driving through Port Chester. My friend, Leslie, who happens to be a long time favorite customer at Kneaded Bread, brings me by here every time we’re in town, and I end up spending the days following loading up on carbs. They also have great pastries and sandwiches.
Fresh bread
Provolone Bread
Country and Provolone bread
An assortment of breads
Homespun Foods
June 16, 2011
Gazing out my office window at the sunshine, I desperately want to rewind back to my relaxing weekend lunch in the back garden at Homespun Foods in Beacon. A quaint little dining retreat in town, the staff was welcoming and the food produced locally including cage-free eggs from Feather Ridge Farm, grass-fed beef from Bittersweet Farm, Wallkill smoked salmon and Murray’s poultry. Top on my list was most likely the cheddar cheese sandwich with cranberry apple chutney, definitely easy enough to repeat at home, and the baba ganoosh had me going back for seconds as well.
Pita bread and dressing
Cheddar and Chutney Sandwich: sharp cheddar cheese with cranberry apple chutney
Mac & Cheese
Middle Eastern Platter: Hummus, baba ganoosh, tabouli, feta, olives, cucumbers and tomatoes with pita bread
Salad
Mac & Cheese with a colorful salad
Southampton IPA
a camera in the kitchen 