MOUNTAIN Bounty

by Beth Hawkins

Summer rewards us with our favorite fruit—the prized huckleberry. And while the actual process of picking huckleberries in the mountains is a pastime enjoyed by many, the opportunity to taste its unique flavor is open to everyone who visits Sandpoint area restaurants.

Chefs and brewmasters alike incorporate Idaho’s official fruit and its tart flavor in concocting savory dishes, sweet treats, and refreshing libations that are one-of-a-kind to their clientele.

Catching breakfast at the Pack River Store, 1587 Rapid Lightning Rd., has always been a great decision. Try pairing that country scramble or eggs Benedict with a huckleberry mimosa. And the Floating Restaurant, 47392 Highway 200 in Hope, wows Sunday brunch-goers with a delicious helping of buttermilk huckleberry pancakes served with orange butter … perhaps the perfect hearty start before a huckleberry-picking outing of your own.

Pastry and pies are the royalty of the huckleberry food world, and for some of the best it’s worth the drive to Clark Fork Pantry, 204 E. 4th Street in Clark Fork. The family-owned bakery is known for its use of fresh, natural ingredients in all its food (it’s all 100 percent GMO free, with no artificial flavors