An obscure resort town in the Rocky Mountains — whose name is traditionally associated with a prominent New York deli dish — is poised to put itself on the culinary map, at least that’s what renowned chef Todd English hopes.
Whitefish, a fast-growing town in northwest Montana, is filled with one-percenters and celebrities looking to escape the pretentious atmosphere of glamorous ski areas like Aspen.
Last week, The English welcomed some of the country’s best emerging chefs. He inaugurated the Whitefish Food and Wine Festival in a beautiful village about 30 minutes from Glacier National Park, where he invited food and drink lovers.
“There’s a real food culture here,” English, a four-time James Beard Award winner, tells Side Dish.
“The chef comes here after working for Jean-Georges [Vongerichten]Daniel [Boulud] And Eric Ripert.”
Boulud and Ripert will visit Whitefish in November, where they will lead separate events that are part of the “Modernist Dinner Series” hosted by the Culinary Institute of Montana at Flathead Valley Community College.
Ripert's dinner is scheduled for Nov. 1, while Boulud's will take place on Nov. 15.
The fact that chef royalty like Ripert and Boulud “are coming here, it's amazing. I love these guys. They're always giving back,” English said, adding that he also plans to teach some classes at the culinary school.
Whitefish gained popularity during the pandemic Wealthy people, especially from California and Texas, have purchased second homes in the area. Seasonal residents include singer John Mayer, comedian Dave Chappelle and NFL legend Drew Brees.
One of Whitefish's attractions is that “you don't see a lot of corporate entities here,” said Culinary Institute executive chef Andy Blanton, who also attended the Whitefish Festival.
“There are a lot of locally owned restaurants here. It's a resort destination in the summer and winter, and more people are discovering its charms, including legitimate chefs and restaurant operations that have diversified and expanded.”
Blanton made his name with the renowned restaurant Kandahar at the top of Big Mountain in Whitefish — where he was chef for 24 years and owner for 17. The restaurant is currently for sale.
English — the restaurateur behind the Olives brand, who participated in the early days of food festivals in Aspen, South Beach and Nantucket — partnered with Access Entertainment’s Ryan Heil and Whitefish-based entrepreneur Joe Hess for the new event.
“I had been going to the Aspen Food and Wine Festival for a number of years and thought we needed something like that here,” Hayes said.
The festival was held at Haskill Creek Farms, and included a “grand tasting” event and a trip to Big Mountain. Many of the dishes included the famous huckleberry, an edible fruit found on bushes that grow in Montana.
“It's truly a superberry,” Blanton said. “It's tart like a raspberry, but with the texture of a blueberry and has no seeds. It's remarkably versatile and can be used in sweet or savory recipes.”
Locals and visitors pick their own berries on Big Mountain — but they have to bring their own bear spray, or else they could become a meal for the bear cubs that roam the area.
English said planning for next year’s festival has already begun, and an increased budget means more top chefs will participate.
“We really need to foster young culinary talent, and that's what places like this are all about,” he said.
