Feast Whitefish begins with annual Distiller's Fest

Foodies can enjoy the best of Whitefish’s dining scene at Feast Whitefish — a week-long celebration of local food and drink.

The Feast kicks-off on Friday, May 11 with the 3rd annual Distiller’s Fest, an opening night cocktail party at Grouse Mountain Lodge featuring specialty cocktails and spirits from 10 different Montana micro-distilleries and an all-star line-up of appetizers from Whitefish eateries. Distillers will be competing for top honors in various categories, including the prestigious People’s Choice Award for best specially cocktail.

Distillers who will be pouring at this year’s event include: Whitefish’s own Spotted Bear Spirits, Glacier Distilling Company, Whistling Andy, Willie’s Distillery out of Ennis, Bozeman Spirits Distillery, Headframe Spirits from Butte, the Bozeman-based Dry Hills Distillery along with Montgomery Distillery and the Montana Distillery, of Missoula.

Tickets for the Distillers Fest are $30 per person.

Feast Restaurant Week will follow from May 14-18 where local restauranteurs will present a special, fixed-price Feast Week dinner menu. Indah Sushi is offering a $20 bento box special while Firebrand Hotel is offering special prices on some of their most popular appetizers including duck sliders and a wedge salad. Tickets and restaurant menus are available at www.feastwhitefish.com.

On Tuesday, May 15 the Feast Grand Gala will take place at the Last Chair Kitchen and Bar. Six local chefs will collaborate to present a six-course dinner paired with award-winning wines from the West Coast and beyond. Tickets are $110 for the meal which includes offerings like banana crusted Hawaiian albacore nigiri, tamarind chili duck confit with kimchi scallion pancake and more.

On Saturday, May 19 the focus shifts from fine wine and food to burgers and beer at the Burger Battle, hosted by Cypress Yard. At least seven local eateries will compete for the honor of Burger-Meister – or Grill Master – of Big Sky Country. Attendees can sample burgers and microbrews at the Burger Battle from 12-3 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person.

“We know that it’s physically impossible to savor all that the Whitefish culinary scene has to offer in just a few days time,” says Whitefish Chamber director Kevin Gartland, “but if you’re dying to try, Feast Whitefish is just the ticket.”

For tickets and more information call the Whitefish Chamber at 862-3501 or visit the event website at www.FeastWhitefish.com.