Page 15 - Flathead Beacon // 2.18.15

FLATHEADBEACON.COM FOOD FEBRUARY 18, 2015 15
Foodie Haven
From fresh fare to signature brews, showcasing the Flathead's food scene
From blue-collar bites to epicurean delights, the Flathead Valley is an unlikely foodie haven featuring a surfeit of palate-pleasing dining options emphasiz-
ing local, seasonal ingredients while fusing traditional Rocky Mountain fare with exotic flair.
The culinary catalog includes budget lunch options at traditional, old-world Italian delis, fine dining at acclaimed restaurants, a panoply of fresh seafood courses, and an abun- dance of appetizers and aperitifs, all of which commix and mingle to make the region an oasis of gustatory glee.
Whether you’re driven by hedonism or just plain hunger, Northwest Montana’s gastronomical glut of haute cuisine, cunning cookery and humble hash houses will sate your din- ing desires, while the emergent craft beer and cocktail scene
will slake your bibulous yen.
The competitive prices will help you avoid eye-popping
sticker shock, while farm-to-market philosophies deliver fresh produce, provincial pork and quality seafood right to your table.
Here again is the Flathead Beacon’s annual “Food Issue,” showcasing the region’s bouchons and breweries, chefs and charcuteries, and featuring recommendations for marquee meals, light noshes and signature suds.
Keep in mind that what follows is a mere snapshot of Northwest Montana’s offerings, a quickening to whet your appetite, arouse your senses and open your eyes to the Flat- head’s first-rate fetes that won’t sink you in debt.
Bon appetite from the Beacon! 
PHOTOS BY GREG LINDSTROM
Elk meat loaf sliders with tabasco onions and low country steak sauce on a brioche bun from Tupelo Grille in Whitefish.