How to Get a Taste of Jackson Hole
From the Food & Wine Winter Fest to Favorite Local Spots
March 4th, 2022
The Jackson Hole Food & Wine Winter Fest is a celebration of how far the culinary community has come along. Now in its fourth year, Winter Fest spotlights local restaurants and culinary talent as well as renowned guest chefs. Although the festival draws guests from around the world, the focus is on giving back and highlighting the community.
The festival kicks off on Thursday, March 10 with the “Big Wines, Small Plates” event where a panel of experts walk through the culinary moments that inspired the tasting menu pairings. “Taste of Teton Village” gives attendees the chance to experience a diverse range of winter-inspired dishes from the West Bank culinary community. The next event, “Pappy Hour,” presents the opportunity to enjoy an exclusive tasting with Preston Van Winkle of Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery, great grandson of iconic bourbon maker Julian P. “Pappy” Van Winkle. The festival concludes with “Wine Dinner at 9,000 Feet.” Guests will start their night with a ride up Bridger Gondola and enjoy stunning winter views from the top of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.
More to discover
If you’re unable to make it to the festival, there are still plenty of great ways to experience the food scene in Jackson Hole. From steak to Lebanese-Mediterranean
spreads, there’s something for everyone.
Renowned for its USDA Prime program and speakeasy ambience, locals know the restaurant at White Buffalo Club in downtown Jackson Hole as the place for incredible steak. But Chef Joel Hammond’s most innovative creations are inspired by clean Japanese flavors and his love of locally sourced vegetables.
The Pearl Street Market on Pearl Avenue may look like a regular grocery story from the outside, but it’s known by locals as a go-to spot to grab house-made soups, sandwiches, salads and more. For a quick sit-down meal, head to the back of the store and order at the counter. When dining in, don’t miss the wine program. Pearl Street Market’s owners are wine buffs and also own West Side Wine & Spirits, one of the Valley’s best wine shops.
Another must-try, grab-and-go spot is Sweet Cheeks Meats, a nose-to-tail butcher shop in Midtown Jackson. Locals pack into this tiny shop all day for the breakfast and lunch specials, to buy cuts of meat from local ranches, and to stock up on pantry staples, such as owner Nick Phillips’ housemade dim sum and bone broths.
It doesn’t take long for visitors to figure out that the Stagecoach Bar in Wilson is the Valley’s hottest nightspot. Street Food, the restaurant inside the bar, is a favorite spot for comfort food. Chefs Marcos Hernandez and Amelia Hatchard opened Street Food after years honing their skills in the Jackson Hole Four Seasons Hotel kitchen. It’s a daily stop for Wilson locals and the backcountry skiers coming home from Teton Pass who crave the Coach burgers, loaded fries and Mexican-native Hernandez’s carne asada tacos.
Figs, the restaurant inside Jackson’s boutique Hotel Jackson, is owned and operated by the Darwiche family, long-time locals famous for their hospitality, Figs offers the most healthful, flavorful and mouth-watering menu in Jackson Hole. Perusing the menu at Figs is like taking a deep dive into the cuisine and culture of Lebanon. There are dozens of small plates designed for sharing with friends — including baba ganoush, five types of hummus, stuffed eggplant and made-to-order pita bread. The entire Figs menu can be made vegetarian, vegan, and/or gluten-free by swapping in fresh vegetables and lettuce cups for scooping.
Be sure to keep an eye on the Winter Fest website for more tickets the week of the event.