During our glamping adventure, we decided to experience a Chuck Wagon dinner. Clayton was a little apprehensive, but we went with it and we’re so glad we did. Paws Up typically has weekly Chuck Wagon dinners, but this one was extra special. As part of their Cookbook Live series, we were able to experience their usual giant Tomahawk ribeyes and bison, plus succulent maple-brined pork chops, and juicy seared duck breast served with bourbon cherry sauce prepared by James Beard Award winning chefs, Greg Denton and Gabrielle Quiñónez Denton. Not only did we get to enjoy their amazing food, but we also had the privilege of hanging out and eating with them in their outdoor “kitchen.”
The Chuck Wagon experience is a step back in time in the Montana wilderness. Typically, everything is cooked over a “live” fire. However, because of the wildfires in Montana, open fires aren’t currently allowed, so everything was cooked on gas grills. According to Greg, they chose wilderness-friendly dishes, able to be served at room temperature. Fortunately, the Dentons were willing to share their recipes, which you can find here, here, and here. We fell in love with their cuisine and their book and you will too! For even more grilling tips and recipes, check out their cookbook, Around the Fire. Also check out their tips on how to grill salmon.
After dinner, we caught up with the horses and a third generation teamster cowboy from Idaho. He was true cowboy, and we were all captivated by his incredible personality and his cowboy poetry. Rather than singing (since not all cowboys can sing), cowboy poetry was a way of entertaining and telling stories to each other while out on a cattle drive or in the ranch house. We heard everything from stories about his hat and first horse to what it’s like being married to a cowboy.
To end the night, we caught a glimpse of the majestic sunset and headed back to our camp. We relaxed with a gin and tonic by the fireplace in our camp’s dining pavilion. We got to know our butler, Quinn, and some of our glamping neighbors, and there were plenty of s’mores to go around. Thank you to The Resort at Paws Up for hosting us.