Something Tasty: Where to Eat in Great Falls, Montana

Since I spend a lot of time on the road, I like to profile different places along the way. My hope is that our travels will overlap and you will have some good recommendations to take with you. For today's, "Something Tasty" we head to Great Falls, Montana. You might travel here for the C. M. Russell Art Auction in March (a world class event), if you are following the Lewis and Clark trail, if you are fond of bird hunting or fishing, or maybe on your way to Glacier National Park.

Great Falls is not known for its dining options. I would call it the mecca of chain restaurants. The best place to eat in town is my boyfriend's sister's house. Followed closely by the produce aisle at the natural foods store. (One of my biggest concerns about the possibility of living in Great Falls has been the food.) That being said, there are a few diamonds in the rough. Suki Cafe offers darn good asian food. (I am excited about their new steak and seafood restaurant.)



A real find is Wines by Wednesday. You can order discount wine online and pick it up in the store. They also have fab olive oils, cheeses, crackers, pastas, beer, and local beef. A picnic (either indoors or out) from Wines by Wednesday might give my boyfriend's sister a run for her money.



Last week we went to try Crooked Tree Coffee and Bakery for breakfast. They had a nice herbed biscuit with salami for a savory option and the latte looked like it was straight out of Seattle with a cute leaf design. (And coffee from Seattle's Herkimer Coffee.)



They did a great job with the decor and they are downtown, which I love! With a few more grab and go food options for breakfast and lunch and they will be set.



And today we are going to try out Faster Basset which sounds fantastic. Savory and sweet crepes and Stumptown Coffee. They used to run their business out of a food cart and now they have a cute, cute, cute brick building over by the river. Um, yes please.



If someone could just open up a decent dinner place, I could live here. Anyone? Anyone...

Next time you are in Great Falls, check these places out.

Bagels on the Boat

One of the best things (and there are many) about joining 6 Par Farmer's family at their lake house is the array of wonderful food. 6 Par's sister is a fantastic cook, recipe developer, and food writer. We often find ourselves enjoying meals that will later appear in newspapers and magazine. Spoiled!



This morning was "Bagels on the Boat." Fresh herbed cream cheeses, smoked salmon, bacon, turkey, avocado, cucumbers, chives, sunflower seeds, melon skewers, mini bagels, and a little morning bubbly. (Are you drooling yet?)



All of this, plus being out on the boat in calm waters. Like I said, spoiled!



Here is the chef herself and our trusty captain.



And the lucky guests.



Enjoying some morning sunshine.



And each other. I can't think of anything better.

Van's Burger (But more importantly, the corn dog)

It is Sunday morning. It is raining outside. Yesterday, I wanted to go to Van's Burger for a corn dog and a milkshake. (For those of you who have never been to Van's, it is like eating bliss on a stick or a bun, depending on whether you go for the hand dipped corn dogs or the never frozen hamburgers.) Van's has weird hours. And they are only open seasonally. I didn't have time to go yesterday, because I had an afternoon trunk show, but I was pretty confident they were open on Sundays, and I would be able to get my hand dipped corn dog and fresh hot fudge banana shake fix on the sabbath.

I have been drooling about it since last night. We went to a fun auction with mediocre food. I drooled about it then. I came home and had a fig newton and a chai. I drooled about it then. And I woke up this morning wondering if I could forego breakfast so I could add the tater tots to my corn dog/milkshake "breakfast" order.

6 Par Farmer was so kind to set up my wireless internet yesterday. (I am a tech idiot.) So I decided I would grab the laptop and check Van's hours to see what time I needed to arrive to be the first in line to get my delicious "breakfast." Van's is closing for the winter next week and we are heading to Scottsdale, so this is my very last opportunity to enjoy this unbelievable, calorie laden delight. So, I get on the computer, but as per usual, I have to look at Rue La La, Gilt Groupe, Ideeli, Facebook, and Gmail before I can possibly do anything else. (I figure I have time, because the earliest I can imagine Van's Burger being open is 10:30.)

I finally logged on to check Van's hours. And a bomb is dropped. Not like a little cherry bomb. We are talking Hiroshima up in here. Van's is not open on Sunday. WTF! No corn dog? No hand dipped shake? No tater tots? I almost started to cry. Then my lovely boyfriend, 6 Par Farmer informed me that the burger he had yesterday at Van's (insert profanity) was quite delicious. They put just the right amount of special sauce and it was cooked to perfection. I quickly looked for a blunt object.

So to the millions of people who read my blog religiously everyday, you now know, Van's is not open on Sundays. I hope I can prevent you from feeling the same earth shattering disappointment I felt on this rainy Sunday. You also know, 6 Par Farmer has no heart. (6 Par Farmer says he does have a heart, he just likes burgers. Mmmm.) I will be eating something with much fewer calories this morning. It will be much less satisfying. Next year Van's corn dog. Next year.

http://www.vansburger.com