blog @ laughing horse lodge » Food Play by Gael Greene

Pacific Rim Cuisine Featured in First ‘Free Fall’ Tuesday Chef’s Tasting & Wine Dinner

Chef Kathleen — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 20:20:29 +0000

Join us for our first ‘Free Fall’ Tuesday on June 14^th as we explore the culinary offerings of the Pacific Rim.

Put your taste for epicurean adventure (say that fast three times!) into our hands for an evening of beautiful food inspired by the great chefs of Singapore, Maui and Kauai, Hong Kong and even San Francisco. We’ll be featuring all natural meats, wild fish, organic cheeses, and, for the first time, organic greens and vegetables from the Horse’s garden! Each course will be matched with a wine selected by Rocky Mountain Wine Distributors.

Our Pacific Rim Menu

Ceviche of Prawns, Scallops and Lobster -in passion fruit citrus over organic spicy micro greens and slivered green papaya

Brie and Mango Quesadilla in Roasted Tomato Tortilla -with cilantro macadamia nut pesto

Roasted Maui Onion and Goat Cheese Salad -organic Tyee spinach and fresh mandarin orange with Haixin basil vinaigrette

Grilled Natural Pork Tenderloin Medallion and Wild Mushroom Polenta -marinade of Makers Mark and fresh pineapple juice with warm pineapple chutney

Chilled Sticky Black Rice Ball Infused with Ginger and Maui Honey -with young coconut ice cream

Secured reservations are limited to 24 people. Dining room opens at 6:30pm, dinner begins at 7:00pm. $65 per person with wine, $39 without wine.

To make your reservations, call Chef Kate at 406-886-2080 or email laughinghorselodge@gmail.com. Laughing Horse Lodge is ranked #1 on TripAdvisor.com.

Where’s Waldo? Or in this case, Where’s Chef Kate?

Chef Kathleen — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 16:31:24 +0000

Winter is quickly loosening its grasp on Swan Lake, although the shadowed snow drifts will probably remain until well into May. But with the temperatures nearing 50, thoughts turn to spring and the inevitable crush of a fun-filled, visitor-packed summer.

While the Horse still slumbers under several feet of snow, and Chef Kate still lingers somewhere near the equator, plans are underway for an exceptional year of good food, music and even better Montana hospitality at Laughing Horse Lodge.

So where exactly is our intrepid hostess? We caught up with Kathleen at a remote 5 star eco-resort on the west coast of Panama where for the past few months she has been guest chef, teacher, student and explorer…a typical winter for this 12 year Montana resident.“I originally came to Panama to build up my Spanish so that I could bring in a South American guest chef for the summer and have a way of communicating in the kitchen,” says Kathleen. But not satisfied to have just one ball in the air, the study trip turned into a temporary gig at one of Panama’s newest luxury resorts, Boutique Hotel Cala Mia located on an isolated Pacific island in the Archipelago Chiriqui.

“This has been an experience in self-sufficiency and creativity,” laughs Moon as she recounts the first trip to Isla Boca Brava…a two hour journey by bus, cab and boat from the nearest town. “ I arrived all jazzed only to discover that there wasn’t a single piece of chocolate on the island and it would be two more weeks before anyone was going shopping back on the mainland.”

Surrounded by troops of howler monkeys, noisy parrots, and a 3’ iguana living in the thatched ceiling of her bungalow, Kathleen went to work (without chocolate) with the property’s Italian owner Vittoria Ghini, establishing a Spanish-language SafeServe-style training program for the kitchen, setting up an on-line reservation system, and giving the island chef a break each week. “It’s been a real struggle in the kitchen being ‘forced’ to work with fresh fish and lobster brought to the dock each afternoon,” Moon quips, a smile in her voice. “I’ve also learned a bit about making artisan cheese…and in Panama of all places.”

Ghini, and her Dutch husband Max, opened the resort 4 years ago and support the dining room at Cala Mia with an extensive organic farm and dairy operation located a few kilometers east on the island. Fresh arugula, herbs, aubergine, peppers, tomatoes and a dry-land rice are produced, as well as organic butter, cream and an outstanding Gouda.

Building and maintaining a luxury eco-resort and an accompanying organic farm with a small but state of the art dairy processing facility would be a challenge even in the US or Europe, but to do so on a remote second-world island with a single car ferry (built by Max) and the feat becomes extraordinary.

“These people are impressive,” states our traveler, “my highest complement to Vittoria and Max would be that with their independence and entrepreneurial abilities remind me of many of the Montanans I’ve befriended over the years.”

Kathleen returns home just in time to participate in the annual Taste of Bigfork on May 1st. She’ll be bringing with her new ideas and a renewed dedication to providing even more organic offerings on her already outstanding menu.

The dining room at Laughing Horse Lodge reopens May 20^th with dinner served Wednesday – Sunday, from 5pm. Reservations are highly suggested.

Howlers in the trees.

A ‘Taste’ for Adventure – Freefall Tuesdays at the Horse!

Chef Kathleen — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:15:09 +0000

Freefall Tuesday’s at the Horse

This summer our popular Chef’s Tasting and Wine Dinners become Freefall Tuesdays, where you put your taste for adventure into the capable hands of Chef Kate and her creative kitchen staff. Freefall is a five course tasting experience loosely inspired by a specific region of the world, with each course paired with wine selected by the chef and a local wine expert. Using only the freshest ingredients available from local farm-to-market growers, organic meats and wild fish, each menu is sure to stimulate and please the most discerning of foodies.

Freefall is limited to 24 guests with secured reservations required. Freefall is $129 per couple with wine, ($34 per person without wine).

Last summer’s series was a sell-out, so reserve early!

Our epicurean explorations:

June 14 – Polynesia

June 28 – Portugal

July 12 – Tasmania

July 26 – Afghanistan

August 9 – Sri Lanka

August 23 – Guadalajara

September 13 Freefall End of the Season Missoula Farmer’s Market Menu with Guest Chef

For reservations: email Kate at laughinghorselodge@gmail.com

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!

Tuesday’s Tantalizing Travel Tastings at the Horse

Chef Kathleen — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:02:59 +0000

Join Chef Kate and crew every second and fourth Tuesday of the month as we explore various culinary regions of the world. You’ll enjoy a tempting six course tasting menu complete with unique beer or wine pairings in the intimate and fun atmosphere of the Horse’s dining room or garden. We begin June 22 with ‘Down Island’ Cuisine followed by explorations of India, Singapore, Argentina, South Africa, Turkey and Morocco. The evening commences at 6:30pm with a casual presentation of tasty morsels and convivial conversation regarding the region being explored. Bring you travel adventure stories! Dinner begins at 7pm. One seating only, limited to 24. Secured reservations required. $69 per person, $119 per couple. 406-886-2080.

Larry Pattis and His Guitar Back at Laughing Horse Lodge!

Chef Kathleen — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 18:44:08 +0000

The garden concerts at the Horse just keep getting better. The Wilbur Rehmann Jazz Quartet packed them in last weekend with jazz so cool it made the hot evening feel downright tropical. Next up in the garden is guitarist Larry Pattis promising a slightly calmer evening of excellent fingerstyle acoustic music of his own composition. A seasoned performer, Larry was last at the Horse in 2005 just prior to his debut performance on the Millenium Stage at the Kennedy Center. Listeners of NPR will recognize his signature style. The concert begins at 7pm on August 30th, dinner reservations may be made beginning at 5pm. Dinner or a $5 cover. For reservations, call 406-886-2080.

It’s Lobster Ravioli Week at Laughing Horse Lodge!

Chef Kathleen — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:05:04 +0000

A hot summer evening in Bigfork cries out for a light and delectable dinner down the lake. Stop in this week for our cool organic lodge salad followed by Grilled Lobster Ravioli topped with Langostinos and herbed butter. Add a crisp New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and heaven is almost achieved. Oh heck, let’s go for the pearly gates!…and end the evening with a piece of warm-from-the-oven huckleberry peach pie topped with Tillamook Vanilla Bean ice cream.

Reservations are a definite must for this dish, so call today. 406-886-2080.

Not into the delectable crustacean? More of a meat and potatoes type? No worries. Kate’s menu features aged prime cuts of beef that will melt in your mouth. So avoid the theater crush in Bigfork and travel a few minutes down Hwy 83 to the village of Swan Lake and enjoy a dining experience ranked #1 on tripadvisor.com!

Huckleberry Peach Pie and the Swan Lake Huckleberry Festival

Chef Kathleen — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:58:49 +0000

It is that time of year again! Huckleberrys and peaches – a match made in culinary heaven. Barbecuing with friends this summer? Insure your welcome by showing up with a fresh Huckleberry Peach Pie-your hostess will love you and you’ll be on the top of the list for more invitations!

Place your orders by Wednesday at 12 noon by calling 406-886-2080 and your pies will be ready for pickup at 4pm on Friday. Pies serve up to 8 people for $25. In addition to pies, Kathleen can create a sinfully sweet Bavarian Cream Huckleberry Torte for $19.

Come out to the Swan Lake Huckleberry Festival on August 8th at the Swan Lake Day Park and explore the many art vendors. Come early and stop into the Horse for a delicious breakfast of huckleberry peach pancakes or huckleberry & goat cheese stuffed French Toast. The Horse is open for breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday, 8am to 2pm. Looking for more tasty huckleberry treats? Check out Eva Gates Homemade Preserves and Vicki’s Montana Mountain Classics in nearby Bigfork!

Swan Lake’s Laughing Horse Lodge a Welcome Respite for Traveling Vegetarians

Chef Kathleen — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:37:59 +0000

In Montana, beef is royalty, but occasionally even a carnivore craves greens and fish and the kitchen at Laughing Horse Lodge is pleased to oblige. The menu presented by chef/owner Kathleen features many dishes based on organic and natural ingredients that can be stepped up with responsibly harvested fish including sushi-grade Ahi and line-caught Alaskan Salmon.

For a warm summer evening try her signature Polynesian – organic baby farm greens tossed with dried organic cranberries, diced apples and ginger glazed pecans topped with a seared Ahi steak and fresh gorgonzola crumbles drizzled with a zingy wasabi ginger dressing…and that green stuff on the edge of the plate? It’s not guacamole, but freshly made wasabi…sizzling!

Kathleen’s large entrée salads – The Rancher, The Yucatan Stack and the Polynesian – are meals in themselves, but if you are looking for something with a bit more heft, put in an order for the Organic Basil Pesto Linguini brimming with gently sautéed vegetables, or the Mango Ahi served on a bed of organic wehani red rice steaming with the flavors of Thailand.

And so that our carnivore partners don’t feel left out, there’s a 14oz natural Buffalo Ribeye served up with a tantalizing Wild Berry Glaze, natural Angus Sirloin aged to fork-tender perfection, Angus Prime Rib and of course, the famous ½# steak burger served on a homemade foccaccia bun.

Wild Salmon, Savory Black Bean, Natural Chicken or Steak...The Burger is King!

The dining room is open Wednesday through Sunday at 5pm with a public brunch Saturday and Sunday 8am – 2pm.

Reservations definitely suggested…406-886-2080.