The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

Don’t miss going to the big January doings in Big Sandy, the Gun and Ammo show next weekend. This is a huge event and is filled with much more for sale than just guns and ammo.

I remember when Jean and Vance Butler put on their first Gun and Ammo show, several years ago, I called them to ask if they wanted to do a news story about the show. Vance was shocked as he thought I probably would not do a story about a gun show. I told him I came from a family of hunters and fishermen and had learned most of the good life lessons I have from hanging around hunting and fishing camps when I was young. Besides I loved to eat and those hunting and fishing camps provided wonderful food. On Clear Creek when we were at an old log cabin close to Henderson Creek. Someone would get up early and go out and catch three or four huge 16 to 17 inch brook trout. They would be fried up for breakfast coated with flour and in bacon fat. There would be bacon and sausage cooking for breakfast as well. Maybe there would be scrambled eggs but there were always pancakes made with June berries popping out all over the cakes and of course the syrup for those pancakes would be last year’s choke cherry syrup. At the hunting camps there would be the same fare for breakfast maybe minus the trout.

Speaking of great food, when you are out and about for the Gun and Ammo show, don’t miss what Big Sandy has to offer for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I would go to the Bear Paw Deli for breakfast where his honor, our Mayor, Steve Stiles, will whip you up a wonderful scramble. Here is how you can even make it better. When he asks you whether you want sausage or bacon in it, say “both!” And then say, “ Maybe whip me up a double batch of that scramble and serve it with some good salsa. I am sort of hungry this morning.” You will think you have died and gone to heaven and learn that our Mayor is a very good cook.

For lunch it has to be Peps where Josh has put the finishing touches on some simply wonderful sandwiches, soups and if you want the best pizza in this part of the world, don’t miss Josh’s homemade and very different and delicious varieties of pizza. You will want to trade some with your neighbor as it is hard to order, everything is so good. Best of all is to order for about three or four people family style and share everything at the table. Guaranteed you will not leave hungry.

Saturday night at the Mint, Tammy has prime rib. Now, people that have eaten Tammy’s prime rib for years say that what she is putting out now for Saturday night is as good a prime rib as can be found anywhere in Montana. With a little au jus and some horseradish and maybe some French fries, you just simply can’t do better anywhere. If you are from far away, eating prime rib from the Mint makes you understand why we are so proud to be beef producing country!

Well, if you are not five pounds heavier when you leave the three day Gun and Ammo show it is not because Big Sandy Restaurateurs did not try to put a few pounds on you.

One thing for sure. You will be back for more. The only question is can you wait a year for the next Gun and Ammo show or maybe should you just relocate here and be done with it?