PBS food show to feature Whitefish cuisine

The Daily Inter Lake

'Endless Feast' filming is Sept. 1-5

A film crew for Public Broadcasting Service's "Endless Feast" show will be in Whitefish next week shooting footage of local chefs, food and the Farmers Market.

The hourlong special will air on PBS in 2010.

"Endless Feast" travels the continent, bringing together local farmers and food artisans, food lovers and chefs, as the show explores the connection between the Earth and the food people eat. Each episode introduces a different region and features a feast.

The Montana Office of Tourism is investing in the production costs and working with the Whitefish Convention and Visitor Bureau for on-site coordination, according to Lisa Jones, public relations manager for the visitor bureau. Filming will be Sept. 1-5.

The Whitefish episode will take a look into Whitefish's local food system, visiting farms, ranches and farmers markets and speaking with community members who encourage the use of local foods.From huckleberries picked on Big Mountain to wine made with Flathead cherries, Whitefish will get an opportunity to celebrate and promote the diversity of its sustainable food offerings, Jones said.

Local chef Andy Blanton of Caf Kandahar has designed a unique-to-Montana menu, showcasing ingredients from providers throughout the area including Purple Frog Gardens, Terrapin Farms, Spring Brook Ranch, Blacktail Mountain Ranch, Finn Biscuit Bakery, Bee Line Honey Nutty Butter, Great Northern Brewing Co. and other local businesses.

Blanton will collaborate with several local chefs, including Tim Good of the Cuisine Machine, David Lewis of Pescado Blanco and Sally Truscheit of the Rising Sun Bistro, to orchestrate a feast at Whitefish City Beach for the providers and state officials including the director of the Montana Department of Agriculture and the director of the Montana Office of Tourism.

While the beach area will remain open on Sept. 4, the picnic area of City Beach will be temporarily closed to the public during the filming.

For more information, log on to www.endlessfeast.tv.