West Yellowstone, MT

“Today was our last day of the season. Why don’t you stop on by tomorrow - we’ve got plenty of food to get rid of.” - Mr. Swanson

While going for a jog, in West Yellowstone, MT, on rendezvous trail, I rendezvoused with a lovely family at a junction and we chatted for a bit. In the era of COVID it felt weird to talk to strangers again - it’s been so long! Turns out the father was born in West Yellowstone and helped build the trails we were all using. They also owned a restaurant in town called Old Town Cafe. He said, “Today was our last day of the season. Why don’t you stop on by tomorrow - we’ve got plenty of food to get rid of.” Country folk are so hospitable! He also raved about their special buttermilk syrup that I HAD to try.

We came by for lunch and his wife made my boyfriend and I huckleberry pancakes, eggs, bacon and apple juice. Boy was that syrup to die for. I’ve only had maple syrup, but this was thick like caramel and sweet like doughnuts. The flavor is so unique and unlike any syrup I’ve ever tried...game changer. They gave us 4 bottles for the road, oranges, lemons, full tummies and happy hearts. I’ll never forget this experience or this lovely family.

Side note: we bought two boxes of pancake mix and eggs that night.