Bozeman Magazine

The Pickle Barrel

Angie Ripple

When I moved to Bozeman 31 years ago, I lived less than half a mile from the Pickle Barrel for my first year at MSU. My palate was as naive as I was, my wallet was thin, and I didn’t explore the Bozeman food scene much.    …

Top 10 Locally Owned Coffee Drive-Thru Spots

Angie Ripple

Coffee, no parking required. We skipped the national chains and rounded up 10 local drive-thru and drive-up favorites worth knowing about. Some are tiny coffee huts. Some are full cafés with a window. A few are just outside town but are…

The Bay Bar and Grille

Katie Thomas

"Would you like to go to the prom with me?” read the note sticking out of my 10th grade locker. It was signed with a first name and a phone number. With my luck, the family of the guy who left me that note is reading this article, so I…

Bozeman Chef Takes Another Shot at Food Network Glory

Angie Ripple

Most restaurant kitchens are loud enough without television cameras. Add bright studio lights, a live audience, celebrity judges, a mystery ingredient, and a countdown clock that somehow moves twice as fast as every other clock in the world, and…

Hooked Sushi

Katie Thomas

When my dad opened his own law practice in 1984, he moved into the historic 1888 Nevitt building at 109 East Main in downtown Bozeman. I have vivid memories of climbing out of his east-facing, second-story window and onto the roof next door. It was…

KT’S Homemade Summer Pizza

Katie Thomas

Once the vegetables of summer start rolling in, I go crazy for the abundance of brightly colored, crispy, flavorful produce found at our amazing farmer’s markets, friends’ gardens, and my own garden (sometimes). I use these fresh veggies…

Cheers to Bozeman’s Finest Service Industry Workers Keep the Summer Going

Abby Knobel

Lockhorn CiderAs golden sunsets fill the echoes of cold spring nights, and leaves rustle gently on limbs that were skeletal only a few short months ago, it can only mean one thing: summer is here. The town shifts its ways of living, eating, and…

Tutti Bene

Katie Thomas

The other day I eagerly plunked myself down at the bar of Tutti Bene, Bozeman’s new Italian restaurant in the historic downtown 1918 Range building. As I waited for my companion to arrive, I examined the unusual décor and breathed in the…

For The Love Of Salsas

Katie Thomas

The first time I knowingly put fresh cilantro in my mouth, I didn’t like it. It tasted like another country, with its strong, weird tang that I couldn’t identify. I was 19 and working in a Thai restaurant north of Seattle, where cilantro…

Yellow House Barbeque

Katie Thomas

The question of whether or not Bozeman has good barbeque is a hotly debated one. “Good” is subjective; it’s different from “authentic,” and we don’t all agree on which is more important. It’s like one’s…

National Geographic’s National Parks Cookbook

Katie Thomas

What foods do you associate with Yellowstone National Park? Dining is generally not the goal of a park trip, but after some geyser-watching, hiking, and wildlife viewing, you’re likely to become a little peckish. For many folks who have been…

Aurore French Bakery

Katie Thomas

The boulangerie. I never thought we would get a French bakery in Bozeman, much less one run by a native Parisian. If you’ve ever been lucky enough to experience the tiny corner bakeries of Paris, you know why I’m thrilled about Aurore…

Junk Pile Recipe

Katie Thomas

The time has come; I can put it off no longer. I feel culturally obligated to share the following recipe with you. It is called Junk Pile and, you guessed it – I got it from the same dear auntie who brought us Scroutch. Never in my life have I…

Local Resources for Bozeman Gardeners

Josi Hinds

As the weather gets warmer and the buds start to appear, everyone from birds to Bozemanites recognizes it’s time to plan for more sunshine. For many people in the valley, that means browsing for seeds, designing garden beds and tilling soil for…

Bozeman’s Bumper Crops: Local Produce and 3 Fiddles Farm

Topher Sedlak

Before the Second World War, Montana produced 77% of its food. This was apples and onions, honey and butter, poultry and pork, dried beans and salad greens, not just the beef, wheat, barley, and cherries well-known today. Our valley was famous for…

Seven Sushi

Katie Thomas

I’m going to go get a spider roll—you want anything?” my husband hollered down the hall of our little house on South Rouse one day. I knew exactly where he was going, and no, I did not. Besides, what was a spider roll? Sushi made of…

The Colophon Cure

AKA KT’s Spicy Chicken Lemon Ginger Garlic Chili Paste Soup

Katie Thomas

As a kid, when I had to stay home from school with a cold or the flu, my parents fed me Lipton’s chicken noodle soup and Saltines. If I was lucky, there would also be a glass of ginger ale and a VCR/video delivery from Video Rodeo. Michael…

Fielding's

Katie Thomas

I have a cousin whose first name is Field. I used to think it was a really weird name, but not as weird as his brother’s name (Cotter). I was worried they would get made fun of on the playground, same as I was for my maiden name (which is…

Lemon Poppyseed Cake with Strawberries

Katie Thomas

As one of my favorite vocalists sings, “The nights are long and cold and scary / Can we live through February?” Sometimes I dislike February; sometimes I don’t. It depends on whether I have to spend two days shoveling snow to get my…

The Carlisle

Katie Thomas

In 1882, a lumber mill was opened at the mouth of Hyalite Canyon. For the convenience of the town’s growing population, a retail store for this lumber was then established on Main Street. In 1889, Squire C. Kenyon purchased the business, which…

GranMary’s Lobby with Herb Bread

Katie Thomas

Winter in southwest Montana. What does it mean to you? For many, it means the chance to recreate in our glorious mountains—skiing, sledding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, hunting, skating, fat-tire biking, ice fishing. Maybe winter motivates you…

Biankini’s The Soup, Salad and Sandwich Market

Katie Thomas

Where is there to go for lunch?” asks the monthly text from my dear mom. She treats me like her personal Google search engine when it comes to restaurants – possibly because I write this column – and fortunately for her, I do keep a…

Sidewinders American Grill

Katie Thomas

A life-sized G.I. Joe greets customers outside Sidewinders American Grill in Bozeman. That’s because this welcoming, family-friendly restaurant was founded by a group of U.S. Marine Veterans, who live by the Marine Corps values of…

Scroutch: Where Montana’s Freezer Meets The 1950s Casserole

Katie Thomas

Do you have a freezer with a bunch of random packs of frozen game? I know I do, and I’m not even a hunter. But I love a lot of hunters, have generous friends, and I prioritize eating sustainably. So every year I end up with a good supply of…

Top 10 Bozeman Soup Spots

Angie Ripple, photos by Casen Ripple

If you’ve ever spent a winter in Bozeman, you know there’s little that can warm you up once Jack Frost assails this quaint town with full force. Whether you’re a “local” or not, one thing we can all agree on is that sometimes the weather…

Dry Fly Saloon

Katie Thomas

Kid’s Eat and Stay Free! screamed the sign, as I approached Bozeman from the east. The billboard for the Holiday Inn sat shamelessly on I-90 for years with that incorrect apostrophe, making my teeth itch. I had been commuting from Livingston to…

Pumpkins and Apples: A Bozeman Fall

Mary Lane

My favorite part about the fall season is the food. Whether it be the harvest, the production process, or consumption, every aspect of fall foods is exciting. The two most dominant flavors that come up (particularly in the sweets category) are apple…

Tres Toros Tacos and Tequila

Emma Lichtwardt

As someone who has spent time in various parts of Mexico and the southern United States, I consider myself a self-appointed taco aficionado. I’ve spent a lot of time exploring Bozeman’s growing number of Mexican restaurants and, recently…

BagelWorks

Emma Lichtwardt

BagelWorks has been serving handmade, New York-style bagels to Bozeman since the 1990s, and their commitment to good food and community is evident the moment I open the door. I am greeted by the delicious scent of fresh bagels, and happy chatter from…

Top 10 BZN Happy Hour Spots

Angie Ripple

                                                                     …

MacKenzie River Pizza

Katie Thomas

Fluffy, perfect pizza crust. This is the first thing that comes to mind when I hear the words “MacKenzie River Pizza.” Today, this restaurant is much more than a pizza place, but when the first and original location of MacKenzie River…

A Christmas Feast in July

Bozeman’s Grand Hotel and its 1891 Christmas Menu

Rachel Phillips

It’s hard to believe, but there are only six months until Christmas. Christmas in July celebrations have roots dating back to the 1930s and include retail sales, a resurgence of Christmas movies, and for some, a revival of holiday food. This…

Top 10 Classic Montana Foods

Jessica Cairoli

The state of Montana is rich in magnificent mountains, spectacular forests, and breathtaking plains. When confronted with the state’s stunning landscape, it’s possible to almost forget about one of its other defining characteristics: its…

Letter From the Editor: Summer Moments

Angie Ripple

There’s something about July that makes Bozeman feel like the soundtrack of summer is finally turned all the way up. It’s in the hum of longer days under our big sky, the shuffle of Chacos and Birkenstocks on warm sidewalks, and the…

It Will Always Be That Way

Katie Thomas

What’s the name of that place again?There’s a very fun, unique little venue hidden in what was once the original pea cannery in, naturally, Bozeman’s Cannery district. It boasts an unusual menu of small plates and cocktails, and its…