The Resort at Paws Up Day Three – Contributing Writer Jen Bianco

Last night was so much fun. 40 guests gathered on a warm Montana summer night for Resident Guest Chef Dale Levitski’s Last Best Supper.

All of the produce served was bought at the Farmers Markets in Missoula and came from within a 50 mile radius of Paws Up. Seeing (and tasting) the ingredients I saw Dale buy was such a treat.

The five course meal came with a few wine pairings.

After an amuse salad which included petals from the lillies Dale bought the day before, our first course was a savory Big Sky Pie (leek, cheddar and cauliflower crème fraîche and Montana mystery pair) served with Jean-Luc Joillot Cremanant de  Bourgogne.  The intriguing “mystery pair” was a variety that the farmer was unsure of which of his trees grew it. Dale has since figured it out, but decided to keep the mystery pair mystique alive.

For the second course we were served a Surf N Surf- scallop lump crab and late summer tomato served with kale, potato, fennel in a tomato herb broth. This course was paired with a lovely 2009 Durigutti Reserva Malbec. Yum!

The 7 Things Twice & a Radish was my favorite dish of the night. It was rabbit and homemade pasta (filled with rabbit )served with sweet peas, bacon, ricotta, strawberries and mint.  A 2011 Chateau Saint Michelle & Dr. Loosen Eroica Riesling was paired with this course.

The Dry Aged Picnic of ribeye, served with a sweet corn cake and HuckleQ sauce with rainbow chard and pickle went seriously next level when married with the 2005 Joseph Phelps Insignia Bordeaux-style blend, which was the standout wine for me.

After a pre-dessert of two bites of chocolate and coffee mouse, Summer Steals a Base was served for dessert. The combination of fresh peach, blueberry, basil and pistachio cream was served with a Peach rosé spritzer, which was a nice Montana ode to the Aperol Spritz. Homemade petit fours and mignardises- including an scrumptious peanut butter cookie, finished off the meal.

Much fun was had by all. Now I need to hit the cardio equipment in Spa Town to work it off.

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