Mike and I just got back from a trip out west to Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks (more on Glacier later). We went to Yellowstone for the opportunity to see the world's largest concentration of geothermal features and the largest intact ecosystem in the lower 48 states. On the food front, I was prepared for four days of eating mediocre cheese pizza in the park's quick service restaurants. Luckily, the food in Yellowstone was much better than I expected:
- We ate at two of Yellowstone's cafeterias (the Lake Lodge Cafeteria and the Old Faithful Lodge Cafeteria) and found them to have decent food at reasonable prices. Both have a wide selection of sandwiches, salads, and hot entrees, with a few vegetarian options. At the Lake Lodge Cafeteria, try the tasty Asian-inspired Ginger Noodle Salad: a cold noodle salad with a light sesame oil and ginger dressing, topped with fresh vegetables. The Old Faithful Lodge Cafeteria has both vegetarian lasagne and chili, but if you're not a complete vegetarian, go with the bison meatloaf. The meatloaf is lightly seasoned, allowing the distinct flavor of bison to shine (however, be sure to get some gravy--the meatloaf is on the dry side). Bonus: since the Old Faithful Lodge Cafeteria faces Old Faithful, with a little planning you can eat dinner while watching a geyser erupt.
- Our favorite restaurant meal was at the Mammoth Hotel Dining Room. The atmosphere is casually elegant, not stuffy, and the menu features a wide variety of inventive appetizers, salads, small plates, and entrees, many of which are made with local or sustainable ingredients. If you're in the mood for something classic, the French onion soup is bursting with the flavor of caramelized onions and a hint of wine, and the house-made huckleberry vinaigrette salad dressing is the perfect balance of sweetness and acidity (order it with the house salad). If you want something a little out of the ordinary, try the warm goat cheese salad: it's an unexpectedly harmonious blend of sesame-encrusted fried goat cheese, pine nuts, crumbled bacon, and Dijon dressing atop a bed of crisp greens.
Other Yellowstone tips:
- Bring a cooler stocked with food! Yellowstone is over two million acres, and you may find yourself miles from any dining options when hunger strikes. If you're flying rather than driving, pick up a cheap Styrofoam cooler and groceries outside the park. We stopped at Smith's in Jackson, Wyoming and bought a cooler, ice, and enough groceries for a week's worth of breakfasts, lunches, and snacks for $50.
- We had the best luck spotting bison in the Hayden Valley in the early morning and late evening.
- The Pioneer Cabins at Lake Lodge Cabins are an excellent value. They feature a private bathroom with a shower, toilet, and sink, and a double bed and small writing desk. Although the cabins are small, the Lake Lodge is only a short walk away; one of the highlights of our trip was spending the evenings in the cozy chairs in front of the fireplace there.
