blog @ laughing horse lodge

A Special Evening with a Girl and Her Guitar – Charlotte Thistle Performs at the Horse

Chef Kathleen — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 19:07:27 +0000

Take a glass of bourbon, pour in a little Buffy Sainte Marie, add a dash of Ani DiFranco and blend in some very original storytelling and you have Charlotte Thistle. Her music and vocals sneak into your heart and grab it, not letting go until the last note drifts out the door. Thistle brings her unique gift to the intimate atmosphere of the Horse on Tuesday, September 14 for a special concert evening beginning at 7pm. A $10 cover includes a glass of wine or beer and a delicious selection of appetizers created by Kathleen. Reservations are required, call 406-886-2080.

Winkota Baskets by Local Artist Presented at Laughing Horse

Chef Kathleen — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 15:05:38 +0000

Avid flyfisherman and local craftsman, Steve Wingard, is presenting several of his artisan Winkota baskets at the lodge this fall. Beautifully crafted from local Swan Valley materials, each basket is a replica of an original used for centuries by local Indian tribes. Blending White Birch bark, black Spruce root and white cedar (along with several other wildcrafted and collected materials) Wingard begins the slow and thoughtful process of bending and molding to create each unique piece, many taking days to complete. The baskets are available to discerning collectors. View the art pieces at Laughing Horse Lodge or at www.stevewingard.com.

Chef Kate Selected as Chef for 2011 Taste of Montana

Chef Kathleen — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 01:17:17 +0000

If “location, location,location” is the mantra for real estate, then ‘consistency, consistency, consistency’ is the phrase for restaurants. As the Horse finishes it’s eleventh year, consistency is what Kathleen attributes to her successful run as chef/owner of the small boutique restaurant and bed and breakfast in Swan Lake, Montana. Although her menu changes almost weekly, she and her small staff consistently provide a fresh and appealing approach to food.
And it is this approach that has led Kathleen to be selected as the featured chef next April for Taste of Montana hosted by University of Great Falls . The annual event takes place at the private university located in downtown Great Falls and will feature a three to four course meal for 125 donors.

“This is a wonderful honor and recognition of our hard work,” says Kathleen. “We’ve been involved with several state events including the Montana ARTBEAT’s Chef’s Tour in Helena, but to be selected by UGF for their signature event tops them all.” Kathleen will be drawing upon her world travels to create a unique and delicious menu for the spring event.

Exceptional “Date Night” at the Horse with our second Chef’s Tasting and Wine Dinner!

Chef Kathleen — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 19:45:23 +0000

Join us Tuesday, July 13th, 6:30pm for our Chef’s Eastern Mediterranean Tasting and Wine Dinner. Last month’s event sold out and everyone had a brilliant time with some fab food and unique wine discoveries. This month we’re featuring the cuisine of Turkey, Cyprus and the Eastern Med. Check out the menu and the wine pours and give us a call. Limited seating!

Our Menu

Borek with Ezme – Delicate phyllo rolls filled with organic spinach and Feta floating in a chunky roasted tomato and bell pepper sauce. The Pour: Lachini Rose of Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon

Salad of Watermelon, Chevre, and Organic Blueberries in Kafir Lime and Mint Vinaigrette. The Pour: Domaine de La Greffiere Macon Charnay, France

Roasted Baby Eggplant with Lebni – Organic eggplant stuffed with charred vegetable salad drizzled with a yogurt, garlic and walnut sauce. The Pour: St. Innocent “Zenith” Pinot Noir, Mark Vlossak, Willamette Valley, Oregon

Veal Manti – tender veal dumplings in roasted garlic and butter sauce. The Pour: Domaine DuSeigneur Lirac “Antares”, France

Char grilled Minted Lamb Kebab with Cypriot Rice Pilaf. The Pour: Carlisle “Pelkan Ranch” Syrah, Mike Officer, Sonoma, California

Traditional Baklava and Almonde Chocolate Pistache with Chilled Honey Pistachio Soup. The Pour: Turkish Coffee

$109 per couple, Limited Seating, Secured Reservations Call Kathleen 406-886-2080 x 3 Laughing Horse Lodge, MM 71.5 Hwy 83, Swan Lake

Al Fresco Dining in the Horse’s Spectacular Garden!

Chef Kathleen — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 20:08:08 +0000

The Garden is open for your sipping pleasure!

And what a garden it is this year…so leave your daily stress at the door

and enjoy a delicious glass of wine and an al fresco meal while you bask in

the golden silence of a lovely Swan Lake evening.

To celebrate the arrival (finally!) of summer, this weekend we’re presenting a refreshing Mediterranean Antipasti Plate for two

with two glasses of Gain Bay Cabernet (a Stag’s Leap appellation) for $25. You’ll enjoy freshly char grilled and marinated

vegetables bursting with the flavors of Sardinia, an assortment of Greek olives, hard Italian meats, and yeasty French artisan

bread with rosemary olive oil perfect for dipping.

Reservations: 406-886-2080

PS. Thanks to our many swallows and brown bats, the garden is mostly mosquito-free!

Exquisite New Wines to Discover at Tuesday’s Tantalizing Tasting!

Chef Kathleen — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 15:18:53 +0000

The ladies at Rocky Mountain Wine Distributors have pulled out the stops for our first Tasting on June 22nd! Accompanying the exotic Down Island Caribbean menu created by KS Andrea Wight, is a selection of unique and flavorful wines that just may have you re-evaluating your concepts of rieslings and cotes du Rhones, as well as viogniers.

The Menu!

Carrot Coconut Bisque with Ginger Tuile served with Jansz Rose Brut from Tasmania.

Curried Chicken Roti served with Thomas Labaille Sancerre – A wonderful Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire with elegant mineral and citrus notes and great verve and finishing lift.

Conch Salad with Golden Beets and Lemongrass Aioli served with Gobelsburg Riesling, Austria. BONE DRY Riesling from one of Austria’s top producers. A truly world class wine offering the opportunity to discover the wider, and drier spectrum of Riesling. These wines often win over those who only think of Riesling as sweet.

Jerked Mahi Mahi with Miso Sweet Potato Puree served with Patricia Green Estate Pinot Noir, Oregon 2008: One of Oregon’s finest vintages ever, from a producer known for very limited artisan Pinots. The flavors of warm spices will pair nicely with the bronzed jerk seasoning. Pinot and full-flavored fish is a wonderful summer combo.

Saban Goat Stew with Cruzan Fruit Bread served with Aphillanthes Cotes du Rhone Vielles Vignes 2007: A top 100 WINE SPECTATOR selection. Amazing Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre blend from the South of France. This wine is perfect with lamb and goat and goes well with spice. The fig and anise notes will be ideal with the rum fruit bread. This wine is better than most Chateauneuf du Pape.

Burro Banana Tart with Fruit Salsa served with Esoterica Late Harvest Viognier, Napa California: Rich and decadent, but with clean, balanced acidity.

We’ll have a selection of the wines for home purchase after the Tasting. To reserve your table, call 406-886-2080, limited seating available.

What to do on a rainy afternoon in June….Drink Beer!

Chef Kathleen — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 00:02:18 +0000

Our second annual World Tour of Beer at the Horse was another resounding success, albeit, a more subdued and dignified affair this year with the soothing guitar of local NPR celeb John Floridis and 26 true beer afficianados huddled over their note cards and Angus Sliders. The pros from Rocky Mountain Wine Distributors pulled out some exquisite and hard to find beers from Europe, California, Pennsylvania and South America – 14 in all were served along with a table laden with the efforts of our new “Kitchen Slave”, Andrea Wight.

(Andrea doesn’t like the term chef or cook so we are calling her KS as

This horse loves the Belgian Duvel!

she has been slaving away in the kitchen learning our menu and creating some wonderful new dishes drawing on her recent experiences at Caneel Bay in St. John and Zola’s in State College PA.)

Andrea spent the afternoon turning out an array of canapes that would make any beer drinker salivate…Beer Battered Mushrooms with Chipotle Dipping Sauce, Angus Sliders with Arugula and Horseradish Cream, Poached Shrimp, Smoked Salmon and Dill Cucumbers, Classic BBQ Wings, Ahi Sashime with Wasabi Ginger Sauce and the piece de resistance…bittersweet chocolate and raspberry truffle squares to accompany the Lindeman’s Frambois (a Belgian raspberry beer that is the nectar of the gods!).

The highlight of the evening was Xingu, a black Brazilian beer that to my pallet tasted like roasted figs…and I love figs.

The Horse added a few of the more popular finds to our Beer Menu for the summer including Victory Prima Pils, Einbecker Pils, Duvel Belgian Golden Ale, Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout and Ayinger Brau-Weisse. On tap for the season are three local beers – Great Northern Brewery’s Wheatfish and Kettlehouse’s Cold Smoke and Double Haul IPA.

If you’re looking for a relaxing escape for a few hours or an evening, take a drive over to the Horse, grab a cold one and set yourself down in our glorious garden…heaven is that close.

Down Island Cuisine Menu for Chef’s Tasting June 22nd

Chef Kathleen — Wed, 12 May 2010 21:26:41 +0000

Tuesday’s Tantalizing Travel Tastings At The Horse Join Chef Kate and crew as we explore various culinary regions of the world. You’ll enjoy a tempting six course tasting menu complete with unique beer and wine pairings in the intimate and fun atmosphere of Horse’s dining room or garden.

Each evening commences at 6:30pm with a casual presentation by a local travel professional, and an offering of tasty morsels and conversation regarding the region being explored. Bring your travel adventure stories!

Dinner begins at 7pm. One seating only, limited to 24. Secured reservations required. $69 per person, $109 per couple.

Down Island Cuisine Menu – June 22nd

Carrot Coconut Bisque with Candied Ginger Tuile

Curried Chicken Roti with Cilantro Crème Fraiche

Golden Beets, Fennel & Bahamian Conch Salad with Lemongrass Aioli

Jerked Mahi Mahi with Grilled Mango and Chile Relish Served with Miso Sweet Potato Puree

Saban Spiced Goat Stew with Cruzan Rum Fruit Bread

Burro Banana Tart with Tropical Fruit Salsa

July 13th, 6:30pm – Cuisine of Turkey

July 27th, 6:30pm Cuisine of Argentina

August 10th, 6:30pm Cuisine of Morocco

August 24th, 6:30pm Cuisine of India

406-886-2080 www.laughinghorselodge.com

Wine Tasting in the Garden Today! Bring a shovel…

Chef Kathleen — Tue, 04 May 2010 17:03:58 +0000

The Horse Serves Up Some Island Fare at 2010 Taste of Bigfork!

Chef Kathleen — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:13:21 +0000

Join Chef Kathleen at this year’s Taste of Bigfork on Sunday, April 25th, 2pm – 4pm as she serves up a little island flavor with Caribbean Lobster and Sweet Potato Mizo Dumplings with Charred Pineapple Relish. The Horse will present at Showthyme as a guest of Blu and Rose. For tickets to this annual ‘fun’ fund raiser, contact the Bigfork Chamber of Commerce at www.bigfork.org.

The dining room at the Horse reopens on Friday, May 7th for another season of simple yet beautiful food featuring organic and natural fare. Summer dining hours are Wednesday – Sunday, 5pm - 10pm for dinner. Brunch served Saturday and Sunday, 8am to 2pm. The dining room is available for private breakfasts and lunches Monday – Friday for groups of 12 or more by reservation. Catering off-site is available for groups up to 150.
Check out the 2010 menu at www.laughinghorselodge.com