Pastry Road Trip: Blissful Huckleberry Bars from a Rest Stop in Montana
Sunday, September 20, 2009 
CakeSpy Note: This month I drove to and from Chicago on a Pastry Road Trip: here's the beginning of several installments detailing the deliciousness I discovered!
A highway rest area isn't generally a spot where one can expect to find delicious baked goods--which made it just that much more delightful to discover these homemade fresh huckleberry crumb bars at a gift shop/rest area off of Interstate 90 in St. Regis, Montana.
The rest area, which was a series of shops connected to the Talking Bird Saloon, had a small bakery case with a selection of cookies and bars which came from wholesalers--but they also had a small section of housemade goods featuring Montana huckleberries (which are serious business in Big Sky Country), including pies and bar cookies.
And I zeroed right in on that Huckleberry Bar.
This bar had the odds stacked in its favor from the beginning, what with the joy of discovery as well as the fact that it was a lot of bar (it must have weighed half a pound--no, really) for a little ($1.95!) investment, and happily it did not disappoint. Exceedingly rich, it had a pleasing moistness which was tempered by a subtle crunch from the crumb topping; the added glaze on the top acted as a pefect foil to the oh-so-slightly tart fruit filling. Of course, if bars aren't your thing, they also had generous homemade huckleberry pie slices for $4.50 each, or entire pies for $25.
This was a delicious find indeed--if you find yourself in the area, why not make it a sweet stop on your journey?
The St. Regis rest area can be found just off of I-90 exit #33 in Montana; the bakery case is in the retail area next to the Talking Bird Saloon.
Cakewalk, montana, pastry road trip
Reader Comments (6)
I'm so excited you mentioned Montana! We have a great state and let me tell you I always look forward to the summer months because of the produce. YAY! Oh this post made me happy. :D Glad you had such a great find! Stop in Missoula sometime and I'll take you to Bernice's for some cake. ;)
Ah, my hopeless quandary! I passed through Missoula 2x but both times it was out of business hours. I was SO bummed out!! I at least got to drive by :-(
I also went to some cool spots in Bozeman--more reporting to come!
What a find!
I love Montana! and huckleberries~
Big Sky area is beautiful, and if you ever go through again, might I recommend stopping thru Bozeman and checking out the CO-OP they have... amazingly delicious homemade treats!!
Delicious looking! I also love the low low price. I think the idea of a pastry road trip is a fantastic idea:)
You can't believe what a nostalgia trip this took me on. I'm from Butte, and spent every summer driving back to there from Seattle. St. Regis is a regular stop on the way. The huckleberry bar sounds like a fab new addition to the pies. You took me back...thanks so much.