I recently attended a conference in Philadelphia where they had the welcome reception at the Reading Terminal Market. The Market was established in 1893 and has an incredible story of survival over the years through changes and expansion as the city of Philadelphia grew up around it. Inside, over 80 merchants offer everything from fresh baked doughnuts and cookies to authentic gyros or tabbouleh to four varieties of Philadelphia cheesesteak sandwiches, of course! For the welcome reception, conference attendees got to peruse the wonderous aisles and sample the signature item from every vendor in the place! Talk about heaven on earth for a foodie and a great way to mix and mingle at the beginning of a conference. It led me to think about what a unique Montana evening experience would be. The Bozeman area has an ever-growing, vibrant culinary scene and has several options for a unique event like the one I experienced at the Reading Terminal Market.

Food Truck Market. You can now find amazing gourmet food from a wide variety of food trucks all over the country. Bozeman has its own collection of yummy trucks. Create your own market of food trucks where everyone can experience bites from each. Make it a party in the parking lot with some of my favorites:

Tumbleweeds Gourmet lets you pick out your own creation. Choose from tacos, burritos, or bowls then decide on which meat option sounds the best (six to drool over) and finally, pick the style – from Thai, Indian, Carnitas, BBQ, and more. And don’t forget to try the macaroni and cheese. There are four delectable options of gourmet mac and cheese that are simply amazing!

You can’t go wrong with street tacos or smothered fries. The Sauce Food Truck specializes in made from scratch, globally inspired street food utilizing as many local ingredients as possible. Bozeman has a bounty of fresh ingredients supplied by local farmers and ranchers that you can taste at Sauce.

Chef’s Table Food Truck has truly exquisite dishes of comfort food and BBQ. Their slow smoked chicken or brisket are delectable. They have an excellent Philly cheesesteak that rivals the ones I tried at the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia!

Farm-to-Table Dinner. Instead of a Farm to Table dinner in a restaurant, why not take your table to the farm? Amaltheia Organic Dairy is the perfect place for the freshest dinner you can find! Amaltheia is a sustainable, organic company that makes organic goat cheeses along with organic whey-fed pork and organic vegetables. Bring your guests to the dairy for a tour and visit with the owners to learn about their operation. Don’t forget to ask about their three American Cheese Society Competition Award-Winning Cheeses. Then have a local chef prepare an exquisite meal from Amaltheia offerings and serve dinner in the middle of the green fields the goats graze on. You can’t get much more connected than that!

Feel of the Old West.  It’s hard to come to Montana and not want an authentic cowboy experience. Cache Creek Outfitters in Big Sky, MT offers a deluxe backcountry dining experience that is sure to impress and never to be forgotten. Ride in a custom, horse-drawn wagon (or heated sleigh in the winter!) to their remote dining hall.  Then feast on slow roasted prime rib or fresh salmon with all the fixings to go with them. After dinner, gather around the fire and listen to a cowboy poet tell tales of riding the range and sing along to the old cowboy tunes. Enjoy the ride back down the mountain under a sky filled with stars. This is truly a magical experience!

While we may not have the big city excitement of a place like Reading Terminal Market, Montana does have its own fantastic food culture and offers some truly unique and unforgettable experiences. Guests surely will not be disappointed if you are creative with the possibilities we have to offer.
Photos in Header courtesy of Tumbleweeds Montana, Sauce Food Truck and Chef's Table - thank you.

* Price estimated based on website search of availability at time of blog (May 2021)

About the Author:

Genevieve KulaskiBozeman/Yellowstone Destination Manager
Genevieve grew-up in Missoula as a true Montana kid, camping all summer and skiing all winter. Wanting to see the world, she took off after high school. She started out exploring Colorado while attending CU Boulder, studied abroad in Russia, and then continued her travels while serving in the Air Force after college graduation. Continue