The Culinary Scoop

Explore Big Sky Country’s culinary offerings through food, brews and spirits

When it comes to Montana, one of the most underrated elements of the state is its culinary scene. While it may not be top of mind when it comes to planning a summer vacation, Montana’s food and drink options are vibrant, mouthwatering and sure to complement any trip. Plus, with the state’s rich agricultural industry, there are plenty of ways to taste the flavors of Montana—such as huckleberries, Flathead cherries and bison—in the form of locally grown products and Montana-made dishes, desserts and drinks.

There are several culinary hotspots found throughout Montana, with anchors that include Billings, Bozeman, Missoula and Whitefish.

Montana’s largest city, Billings has a robust food and drink scene, with several restaurants that showcase some of the best in dining, from steakhouses to seafood and locally sourced entrees and spirits. It’s also home to the state’s only self-guided, walkable brewery district. The 1.5-mile-long brewery route is in downtown Billings and includes six breweries, two distilleries and a cider house. 

Cover Story Narrates Actor’s Investment in the Super Premium Whiskey and His Own Family History With the Spirit

Bourbon+, the quarterly publication telling stories from the heart of bourbon and beyond, announces the launch of its summer 2019 issue with Jeffrey Wright, Emmy Award-winning actor and investor inUncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, the first spirit in history to commemorate an African-American, on its cover. The occasion marks the first time a celebrity has been featured on the cover of the publication since its inception. The latest issue hits newsstands on July 1.

The 10-page cover story, A Taste of History: With Investment in Uncle Nearest, Actor Jeffrey Wright Joins a Whiskey Movement, written by Bourbon+ Editor-In-Chief Fred Minnick, is Wright’s debut interview about his investment in the rapidly growing brand. Wright first learned about Nathan “Nearest” Green’s story in 2016 after reading a New York Timesstory that unveiled the whiskey-maker’s profound contributions to Tennessee Whiskey history. A year later, Wright read another story — this time highlighting Fawn Weaver, CEO, Co-Founder and Chief Historian of Uncle Nearest Whiskey, and her pursuit to bring the contributions of Nearest Green, the first known African-American master distiller, to light. With a similar passion and drive for illuminating great black innovators in history, Wright had already been recounting the story of Green’s legacy in every bar he went to and to everyone he met. To take it one step further and make his storytelling official, Wright had his team reach out to Weaver to ask how he could be part of the movement.

1881 Napa Showcases Napa Valley Wines and History in Historic Victorian Home Adjacent to the Oakville Grocery

1881 Napa, Napa Valley’s first wine history museum and tasting salon, is now open. Jean-Charles Boisset, proprietor of Boisset Collection, has created an homage to Napa Valley, with a tasting room that showcases wines from Napa Valley’s distinct sub-appellations, a museum where guests can explore Napa’s rich wine history, an extensive collection of historic wine relics from Europe and the United States and original artifacts from the Early California Wine Trade Archive. 1881 Napa is located in a historic Victorian home built in 1874 next to Oakville Grocery (founded in 1881) in Oakville, California, both of which were purchased by Boisset Collection at the beginning of the year.

“Napa Valley has a powerful place in American wine history and 1881 Napa puts the region in perspective on the world stage,” said Boisset, who grew up in Burgundy, France imbued with a passion for wine and learning as the son of vintners and the grandson of educators. “An extraordinary amount has been accomplished in this enclave in a short amount of time and we want to create a destination that celebrates Napa’s long history and its pioneering founders while exploring Napa’s incredibly diverse terroir in one destination.” 

The Culinary School Welcomes Food Luminaries to Inspire the Next Generation of Chefs to Find Their Culinary Voices

The Institute of Culinary Education (ICE) announced today that celebrity chefs Kelvin Fernandez, Rory Macdonald, Palak Patel, Chris Scott and Adriana Urbina will be joining the school’s roster of industry experts. The diverse group of food experts will share their insights and experiences with the next generation of ICE students.

The new wave of ICE talent will work on culinary development and research and host workshops, demonstrations and events. “We couldn’t be more thrilled to have this accomplished group of chefs become a part of the ICE community. They will inspire our students with their diverse backgrounds and stories, and we can’t wait to see what they bring to the table,” said Rick Smilow, ICE’s president and CEO.

Guests of America’s favorite casual-dining restaurant can help grant life-changing wishes for children battling critical illnesses

Now through Aug. 7, Maggiano’s Little Italy^® is hosting its 16^th annual Eat-A-Dish for Make-A-Wish^® campaign. Guests are invited to help the restaurant reach its goal of raising $1,000,000 to grant transformative wishes for children battling critical illnesses.

Guests can help grant wishes in one (or more) of the following ways:

• Enjoy a chef-featured item through Aug. 7 – Guests can choose from dishes such as Angel Hair Saffron Langostino Lobster or Amalfi Lemon Chicken in June and Pesto Perlini Mozzarella Pasta or Salmon with Crispy Calabrian Shrimp in July. For every select featured menu item ordered, $1 will be donated to Make-A-Wish. And for every glass of Wish or Summer Lemonade ordered, 50 cents will also be donated.
• Savor each bite of fluffy chef-featured pancakes during brunch or order the chef-featured dessert and $1 will be donated to Make-A-Wish year-round. During the campaign, Guests can look forward to enjoying decadent Banana Split or Chocolate Cannoli Pancakes, Banana Split Cheesecake or six layers of Chocolate Cannoli Cake.
• Order the Create Your Own Pasta carryout package between June 10-June 21 or June 27-July 8 and $3 will be donated to Make-A-Wish.
• Get social by sharing a photo of their experience at Maggiano’s on Twitter and/or Instagram using #EatADish4MAW.

Iconic Fashion Retailer to Partner with Seattle-Based Chefs Ethan Stowell and Tom Douglas

Nordstrom, Inc., the Seattle-based fashion retailer, is launching six unique food and beverage offerings within the highly-anticipated opening of its first flagship store in New York City on October 24, 2019. Located near Columbus Circle, the store will provide the most robust selection of culinary choices of any store it operates.

The renowned fashion retailer will partner with esteemed Seattle-based Chefs Ethan Stowell, a James Beard Award nominee and one of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs in America, and Tom Douglas, a James Beard Award recipient for Best Chef Northwest and Best Restaurateur.

“We are incredibly excited to collaborate with culinary greats, Chefs Ethan Stowell and Tom Douglas, with the opening of our NYC flagship store. They are well-regarded for creating innovative menus and dining experiences, and we feel they’ll be a great complement to our already strong restaurant portfolio,” said Jamie Nordstrom, President of Stores at Nordstrom.

The Pamplin School of Business will present “Wine, Beer & Spirits: Portland’s Past, Present & Future” on Wednesday, July 24 from 4-7 p.m. at Cerulean Winery (1439 NW Marshall St). The event is sponsored by the Bauccio Lecture series. 

The line-up features a keynote presentation and interactive panel speaking on Portland’s current landscape and will provide an overview on current and anticipated market trends. General Admission is $35 and includes tastings, drinks, appetizers, and digital badge.

Participants include experts in the wine, beer and spirits industries:

• Kevin O’Brien, senior vice president, Zepponi & Company
• Steve Waters, CEO, Backwoods Brewing
• Jessie Sheeran, brand manager, SakéOne
• Ryan Magarian, co-founder, Aviation American Gin and co-founder, Oven and Shaker Pizza and Bar
• Moderated by: Sam Holloway, associate professor, University of Portland and president, Crafting A Strategy 

To register for the event, please visit http://bit.ly/2VDmH2T 

For more information, please contact Lilia Grundy at grundy@up.edu

Grit Bxng, Opening Mid-Summer, Introduces Full Bar Service

GRIT BXNG no longer makes you choose between a workout class and happy hour, now you can do both in one place. After all, life is about balance. The full service bar at GRIT BXNG offers a luxurious post-workout hang where guests can enjoy a variety of beverages and cocktails. The bar program complements GRIT’s community vibe by providing guests a space to mingle and unwind post-workout.

GRIT’s bar menu offers healthy hand-crafted cocktails or mocktails made with fresh, organic ingredients and top-shelf liquor.  Premium Voli 305 vodka founded by GRIT BXNG investor Pitbull will be featured in many of the cocktails.

GRIT BXNG has also partnered with Dr. Mushroom, the newest energy recovery tea for it’s “late night” Signature Drink, Dr. Mushroom and Mezcal, called DR. M&M.