Laughing Horse Lodge makes dining an experience

When a guest makes a reservation at a restaurant, the expectation may not be to hurry through dinner. And yet, guests can sometimes still be cheated of a dining experience because of an unspoken rule to dine quickly and let the next party have the table.  

Kathleen Moon, owner and head chef at Laughing Horse Lodge in Swan Lake, has taken a stand against this fast-paced dining culture. In fact, the first question guests are asked upon being seated is “Are you here to eat or dine?” 

“Servers are trained to ask this to see if guests are wanting to get back out on the lake or headed out for an evening hike, so then we can speed things up,” explained Moon. “But if guests are there to dine, we’ll get them a drink, they can relax, and we space out their meal. We want our guests to set the pace. It’s about allowing the people who have made the time and the commitment to come here and ensure they get the absolute experience.”  

Guests can stay as long as they want and have their table for the entirety of their dining experience since reservations are required, though Moon also loves to accommodate the occasional passer-by if a table happens to be open for the evening and will indicate this with signs out front. It is a unique business model, at least in the United States, said Moon. 

“In my travels, I don't like to buy stuff, so I've collected food,” Moon said. “When I'm working out of the country, dining is how you meet people, and how you get into conversation, and see other cultures. And that's what I want here. I want people to walk out of here saying ‘I've never felt so relaxed.’”
Having been influenced from her time abroad, the entree menu features Mango Ahi Steak, Mediterranean Fisherman’s Stew, and Linguine ala Pesto. All meat options, such as the New Zealand Lamb Chops and the Farm Angus Porterhouse, are house-aged and hormone and antibiotic-free. For appetizers, guests can choose between French rolls with chevre butter, Tunisian-style mussels, cremini mushrooms, or cambozola.  

“The number one appetizer is the cambozola with Turkish figs and warm preserves,” said Moon. “Cambozola is a blend of Camembert and Gorgonzola cheese so it's a very stinky, ripe, lovely cheese which is slightly melted. It's very tart and then you put the sweet figs on top and eat it with crostini.” 

Music, birds, butterflies, and a well-landscaped garden create the ambience of the outdoor patio which can be enjoyed both evening and morning. The “Secret Garden Brunch,” a popular private event, features breakfast favorites like wild huckleberry and organic peach pancakes or Provence-style omelets with Alaskan salmon, dill, and creme fraiche.  

While Moon said she started as a cook who could barely flip an egg, she has put in well over 10,000 hours and enjoys being head chef. Though the menu has been the same for the last 20 years, she occasionally adds specials so she can showcase her creative side. 

“Seven or eight years in, I tried to change the menu, but I got so many complaints,” Moon said with a laugh. “This is the food that people like and want, and it’s what they're used to having. So, I have at least three unique specials each evening that make me happy to create. And for someone who likes to change things up, they won’t even open their menu. They just ask, 'What's the special tonight?’” 

Moon hopes to elicit audible “Wows” from guests as soon as she sets down a plate.  

“If I don't get that response when that plate goes down, I haven't done my job,” she said.  

Laughing Horse Lodge is at 22360 Montana 83 in Swan Lake and is open for evening dining from Thursday through Monday. To find out more, or make a reservation, visit laughinghorselodge.com. 

    Kathleen Moon is the owner and head chef at Laughing Horse Lodge in Swan Lake.
  

    The huckleberry peach pie served with ice cream is a feature of the dessert menu at the Laughing Horse Lodge. (Courtesy photo)
  

    Guests at the Laughing Horse Lodge are encouraged to enjoy their meal at their own pace. (Courtesy photo)