Get Cultured in the Rugged West at Rainbow Ranch Lodge

Gallatin Gateway, Montana— Rainbow Ranch Lodge, an intimate 21-room hotel located on the banks of the Gallatin River in Big Sky, Montana, has partnered with Amaltheia Organic Dairy to provide guests an exclusive culinary opportunity. On Wednesdays in September and October 2012, guests of the Lodge are invited to partake in cheesemaking classes and a tour of the organic dairy farm, which is otherwise not open to the public.

“The culinary team at Rainbow Ranch Lodge is very fortunate to be able to partner with local ranchers, producers and purveyors that take painstaking pride in their products in order to provide our guests the ranch-to-table cuisine for which our restaurant is known,” said Mollie Eckman, general manager at Rainbow Ranch Lodge. “We’re thrilled to partner with Amaltheia to share this hands-on opportunity, inviting aspiring cheese mongers to get their hands dirty and learn from the experts before returning back for a little R&R at the Rainbow Ranch.”

Led by Amaltheia Cheesemaker Nathan Brown, son of Almatheia Organic Dairy Owners Melvin and Sue Brown, the classes will teach guests how to make a variety goat cheeses from start to finish. The dairy’s most popular cheeses include feta and plain chèvre, as well as some custom selections like the Bozemano, which is a gouda style cheese that was just released six months ago but is quickly becoming one of the most popular offerings.  Highlights of the class include the basics of pasteurization, along with how to add cultures, release the whey and use cheese molds. A hands-on experience from start to finish, the class includes a farm tour to meet and greet with the farm animals – more than 430 goats and 200 organic pigs. Guests will leave with a sample of Amaltheia cheese to take home.
 
Rainbow Ranch Lodge’s “Get Cultured” package includes a two-night stay, a bottle of wine and Amaltheia cheese plate upon arrival, a full-day excursion with transportation to Amaltheia for the cheesemaking class and farm tour. Rates start at $730 for two guests excluding tax and gratuity. The package is available for Tuesday arrivals in September and October 2012, and the cheesemaking class and farm tour are only available on Wednesdays. For more information or to make a reservation call 1-800-937-4132, email reservations@rainbowranchbigsky.com or visit www.rainbowranchbigsky.com.
 
About Rainbow Ranch Lodge
Rainbow Ranch Lodge is an intimate, 21-room hotel and gourmet restaurant located on the banks of the Gallatin River in Big Sky, Montana. Nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains in southwest Montana, the Rainbow Ranch Lodge is a place where guests can experience rugged outdoor adventure by day and savor the luxurious comforts of the award-winning lodge by night. At this all-season destination guests enjoy easy access to Yellowstone Park, Big Sky Mountain resort, world-famous fly-fishing and much more. The Rainbow Ranch Lodge Restaurant, led by Chef Matthew (Matt) Fritz, offers world-class Montana ranch-to-table cuisine sourced from the highest-quality, locally grown and conscientiously raised products from local growers and ranchers. For more information or to make a reservation call 1-800-937-4132, email reservations@rainbowranchbigsky.com or visit www.rainbowranchbigsky.com.
About Columbia Hospitality
Columbia Hospitality, Inc. (Columbia), a Seattle-based hospitality management and consulting firm, was founded in 1995 by John Oppenheimer. Columbia’s growing portfolio of premier properties, including the award-winning boutique hotels of the Columbia Collection, conference centers, and distinctive venues offer world-class service in memorable destinations. Columbia creates exceptional experiences for guests and team members while achieving phenomenal results for owners. The company’s continued success has led to an international expansion of the consulting division and more than 100 hospitality projects worldwide. For more information about Columbia and a full list of properties visit www.columbiahospitality.com.

Written by Charles Koh

Founded EatSeattle, and has continued to use his expertise as editor-in-chief to guide the website’s growth over the last five years. Koh’s experience focuses on digital marketing and social media, and has been a part of several companies, some of which he created, specializing in both areas over the course of his career. Koh was previously with Google and Zagat where he helped expand and grow communities worldwide.

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