CAFE KANDAHAR AND KANDAHAR THE LODGE

We love this place so much we had to write about it... again!

There are many, many choices for dining in and around Glacier National Park. Here's a suggestion for that special evening, one where you want to feel the intimacy of your surroundings, taste food that will become the fodder of your vacation stories to family and friends, and enjoy service that will leave you feeling relaxed and pampered.

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Along the road to Big Mountain perches Cafe Kandahar, a not-to-be-missed dining experience for those in search of a truly memorable adventure in flavor.

Serving 'Modern American Cuisine with Classical French and Traditional Louisiana Influences,' Cafe Kandahar offers breakfast and dinner to tempt and delight, making the scenic drive up Big Mountain Road well worth the trip.

The dinner menu changes nightly, and features chef's favorites along with seasonal dishes showcasing locally grown produce and meats.

Each summer we look forward to celebrating the warm months with Executive Chef Andy Blanton's incredible wine dinners. The summer of 2007 opened with 'The Rebirth of New Orleans', which is close to Chef Andy's heart, as a portion of his upbringing was spent in New Orleans, and his culinary education has roots in Baton Rouge, where he attended the Culinary Arts Institute of Louisiana.

The early evening of June 26th was balmy, with boats dotting Whitefish Lake as we drove up to Big Mountain for a return to one of our favorite dining spots.

Kandahar the Lodge is a cozy, Scandinavian-influenced structure, with Cafe Kandahar nuzzled right inside. The walls tell stories in crowded black-and-white-photos of Big Mountain's beginnings- the early days of snow ghosts, wooden skis and daredevil antics on pristine slopes.

The venue is perfect for intimate dining, and we were warmly greeted into a room of linen, crystal, and an anticipation of a terrific evening.

One of the best things about wine dinners at Cafe Kandahar (besides the food and wine, of course) is the glimpse into the conceptual process both Chef Andy and his accompanying Sommelier, Renee Nadon, bring to the creation of the evening's parings. Like taking a guided tour at a museum, Chef Andy and Renee tell the stories behind the paintings for our taste buds, thus bringing depth to the dish and the grape that complete the picture, making the experience fuller and more meaningful. For example, we learned that in the spirit of aiding in the rebirth of post-Katrina New Orleans, Chef Andy deliberately chose products from the area, such as shrimp flown in that afternoon from a shrimping family who were devastated by the storm.

The camaraderie between Chef Andy and Renee is apparent, and their mutual understanding manifests in pairings which create flavors not achieved by the food or the wine alone. Chef Andy masterfully layers complex flavors, and Renee know just what pairing will bring out the highlights and transition the experience to another level.

With twenty-five years of experience behind her, Sommelier Renee Nadon's career in wine was the result of her passion for it, and she describes her tenure in the industry as offering the opportunity to taste wines in her youth she could never afford now. Her insight and industry experience mean visitors to Cafe Kandahar's wine dinners are in for a real treat.

For a full review of the flavorful exhibit that was the evening's menu, see the column to the left. We can't tell you which dish was our favorite, they all truly were amazing.

We almost forgot to mention the service, primarily because it was transparent and seamless!

THE CHEF'S TABLE, A BACK STAGE PASS TO ALL THINGS CAFE KANDAHAR

The ultimate? An evening at the Chef's Table, where with three days' notice Chef Andy will prepare tastes just for you, based on your preferences and dietary restrictions - all right before your eyes!

We cannot encourage you enough to make Cafe Kandahar one of your top priorities while visiting the area, we promise you won't be disappointed.

Click here for more information on Cafe Kandahar's upcoming Wine Dinners





 

Read More About Chef Andy and Cafe Kandahar by visiting the below links:

Montana Living Magazine

Mountain Living Magazine

Whitefish Pilot

Big Mountain / Glacier Adventure.com