Five-star dining doesn't have to mean traveling to the city and finding a Michelin-starred or Forbes-listed restaurant. In fact, head a little further out into the wild west and you'll find fine dining in remote wilderness at some of Top50's ranches. What better way to enjoy exquisite cuisine than on a dude ranch vacation? Here are just some of the Top50 ranches boasting five-star dining...
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One of Triple Creek Ranch's sweet offerings
Red Horse Mountain Ranch in Idaho, USA, offers the ultimate in variety with a special 7-course dining option, where guests can feast on simple yet diverse dishes designed to please all appetites.
Montana dude ranches offer some of the best fine dining around, not least when it comes to Triple Creek Ranch. The luxury dude ranch cooks up world-class, contemporary cuisine at the Triple Creek Restaurant, with gourmet dinners offering wine pairings from the Montana dude ranch's showcase cellar. On a ranch vacation here you can expect a culinary and visual feast of fresh foods, fine wines and global influences - from traditional French dishes to innovative southwestern, West Indies, Central American and other international blendings. Think balsam-grilled venison loin with beech mushrooms and huckleberry gastrique, or grilled Alaskan Spot prawns with trout roe creme fraiche and biscuit crouton. Meals are served up in the romantic dining room, complete with dramatic views of the Bitterroot Mountains - or choose five-star dining in the comfort of your room, in a private setting or out on the patio. You can even take a seat at the Chef's Table for a unique "insider's view" of Triple Creek's kitchen.
Montana's The Ranch at Rock Creek serves up cuisine that reflects its pure surroundings - prime organic beef, elk and bison, free-range chicken, organic eggs, fresh fish, seasonal local fruits, vegetables and fresh herbs, all enhanced by an inspired wine list. You can almost taste Chef Josh Drage's skills and attention to detail in his five-star menu items, which include Montana elk ribeye with flathead cherry demi-glace and a watermelon and fennel salad, finished off with devilishly decadent white chocolate macadamia nut brownies.
Then there's The Resort at Paws Up, another Montana dude ranch to boast five-star dining in Pomp, one of the luxury dude ranch'es two on-property restaurants. Feast on refined rustic dishes that blend the most sophisticated culinary techniques with the freshest meats, produce and ingredients available. Or enjoy the chef's culinary innovations in your room or in a private setting - ideal for couples and romantic dining.
Formal dining is what Alisal Ranch, in California, does best. Dinners are a time to dress up and enjoy Chef Godé's distinguished California fresh cuisine classics, which often come with a western flair. Think entree selections such as thick steaks, chicken, or ribs, grilled over Alisal oak; locally caught fish-of-the-day, pastas and other favorites are served with innovative, mouthwatering sauces and locally-sourced vegetables.
The Hideout Guest Ranch in Wyoming is another luxury dude ranch specializing in five-star dining, with its elegant, western-style gourmet food with wine to match. Although guests dine together in the main lodge - complete with spectacular views - you can request to dine in a more intimate setting and there's also the option of private dining at The Trapper Restaurant, where ranch guests receive a special discount.
Cuisine at Siwash Lake Ranch in BC, Canada, rivals fine city dining with its delicious, designer food - simple, clean, not overly intricate, and most certainly light, healthy and nourishing. Your five-star dining experience at the luxury Canada guest ranch is enhanced withwith edible flowers, herbs and wild berries harvested from the local woods. Take your dude ranch vacation here and expect to dine on regional British Columbia cuisine featuring wild trout, salmon and venison, paired with award-winning wines from BC cottage vintners Also offering in-room dining and private dinners, Siwash Lake serves up its delectable meny in the cozy 20-seat main dining room. Or why not dine alfresco in the meadow or on a private balcony?
Clayoquot Wilderness Resort is another BC guest ranch to offer five-star dining. Executive Chef Ryan Orr's critically acclaimed “modern natural” cuisine is fresh and whole-food-oriented, and always sourced from local suppliers. Dine on a sumptuous 5 course menu with local wine pairings in the formal dining room, or ask for private dinners for a little more privacy. With such clean, simple and fresh food, it's no wonder guests return year after year for Siwash Lake's five-star dining.
For more information on all five-star dining ranches, visit Top50Ranches.com