Popular Magazine Declares Best BBQ in Montana
I wasn't surprised by Food & Wine Magazine's pick for the best BBQ in Montana but I immediately thought, there are SO MANY good BBQ places in the state that picking just one is next to impossible.
Don't get me wrong, I believe Food & Wine made a very solid choice. Especially since it's in my neck of the woods. But let's be honest, they certainly didn't visit and taste all the great BBQ Montana has to offer and there are some crazy good BBQ joints around here.
For residents of the Paradise Valley south of Livingston, Follow Yer' Nose BBQ is no secret. They've known and enjoyed this funky joint for many years. You'll find it halfway between Livingston and Gardiner, and if you've never taken the time to enjoy a meal there...you are, indeed, missing out. Their food is damned good and worth the trip.
There's a special funkiness to Follow Yer' Nose BBQ that is easy to fall in love with...which Food & Wine didn't even get into. Yes, the food is great, but their style is just as cool. From the smoke shack headquarters to the 1965 Chevy Suburban Carryall and the '55 Pig Rig they use for catering events, they just seem like they're having more fun than most businesses. That's a unique trait in my opinion.
The summer months bring an added hang-out vibe with live music at their smoke shack headquarters. The beauty of the Paradise Valley, crazy-good BBQ, and some of the best live music around? That's sort of how I want to die, really.
You'll also be able to find this crew in the above mentioned portable pig wagons at area street parties, special events, brew fests, and wherever the hell they fell like going. Katabatic Brewing in Livingston during the summer on every last Thursday of the month. They're good like that.
Back to the important stuff: the food. Just wandering over their specials over the last few months, I'd dare any meat eater to stay away:
- "Chopped Pork Rib tossed in our Paradise Valley Gold Mustard Sauce and topped with sweet pickled Jalapeño Coleslaw"
- "Brisket and Burnt Ends for Supper tonight"
- "Pork Tenderloin, and Smoked Turkey Salad tomorrow"
- "Smoked Prime Rib, sautéed onions and peppers, puréed spent pickled peppers and garlic from our table peppa sauce, and yes, cheese wiz piled on our ciabatta bun."
- "Pickle+Cholula Brined Chicken Thigh, rubbed with our Gold Rush- Smoked and topped with pickles and our Mayoli 41. All on the ciabatta bun"
PARADISE VALLEY SHACK (4 OVERLOOK RD, EMIGRANT, MT) phone: (406) 224-2847, GARDINER SMOKE WAGON (375 US 89 SOUTH, GARDINER, MT) phone: (406) 599-7302
OPEN SEASONALLY: EMIGRANT, THURS - MON from 11:30am - 8:00pm. GARDINER, SUN - WED from 11:00am - 8:00pm. These are the most current hours on their official website, but it's best to just FOLLOW Follow Yer' Nose BBQ on Facebook for all their details.