Hosting inspiration, entertaining ideas, and a peek behind the scenes at our Montana table.

Whether you're looking for a new recipe, hosting inspiration, or a little encouragement in the kitchen, you're in the right place. We write about what we know — elegant food made simple, the joy of feeding people well, and the occasional peek at life here in the Bitterroot Valley.

Pull up a chair and stay a while.

I'm Not a Chef. Can I Really Make This Food?

Let me guess. You've looked at a beautifully plated dinner, or a gorgeous table set for a party, and thought: that's not for people like me. That's for people who went to culinary school, or grew up in a kitchen that smelled like something wonderful every single night. People who just know things about food that you never quite learned.

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June Series, Culinary Tips, Entertaining Tips Michele A. Cole June Series, Culinary Tips, Entertaining Tips Michele A. Cole

Ice with Style: Turning Your Summer Sips into Garden Gems

We’ve all been there: you’ve prepared a beautiful meal, the patio table is set, and the sun is shining. But then, you plop a few cloudy, cracked ice cubes into a glass of sparkling water, and the "wow factor" vanishes.

If you want to truly elevate your summer hosting, the secret is in the simplest of details. Today, we’re talking about Ice with Style

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The Perfect Summer Salad: Peaches, Goat Cheese & Butter Lettuce

If June had a flavor, it would be a perfectly ripe, sun-warmed peach. While I love a peach cobbler as much as the next person, there is something sophisticated about bringing that sweetness into the savory course.

This week, we’re moving from our Flash Fried Spinach into a salad that looks like a work of art but takes minutes to assemble: Butter Lettuce with Peaches and Goat Cheese Medallions.

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