Bistro plans bang up 'Fifth of July' event in Absarokee, Montana

BEAT THE HEAT, ENJOY FINE EATS, SHOP, BROWSE AT THE MARKET ON MAIN JULY 5

Head for Absarokee Sunday, July 5, to continue the Fourth of July weekend spirit of fun. It's a barbecue and market.

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS

Rex Anderson, veterinarian by day and night, always wears
a chef's hat and promises delicious smoked barbecue Sunday.

PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER
  

The Itti Bitti Bistro on Absarokee's Main Street will showcase books,
arts, crafts and specialty food and drink in conjunction with the Cook-Off.

Christene Meyers will be on hand
to sign her novel, "Lilian's Last Dance."

Rex and Monica Anderson are combining forces and talents
Sunday at the Absarokee Market and Cook-Off.

SAVE SOME holiday spirit  and your appetite for Sunday!
THE ITTI BITTI Bistro's Saturday market is taking this holiday Saturday off, but will be in full flower the next day, this\ Sunday, July 5.
The market is joining forces with the popular Absarokee Cook-Off.
"IT LOOKED like a good option for us to combine resources Sunday for a really big show," says Monica Anderson, whose enterprising Saturday markets in Absarokee are attracting nice crowds. Chefs and barbecue and smoked meat enthusiasts will convene for the cook-off, which features free live music and a fun time, along with tasty fare. One of its promoters and participants is Monica's husband, Rex Anderson, local veterinarian.
 THE ANNUAL Cook-Off is an Absarokee tradition which always packs the house, or, should we say, the town's main street.
THOUSANDS are expected to Absarokee for the combined event, which Monica says "promises to be the best selling day of the summer for vendors and a good way to beat the heat and enjoy find eats."
When Rex and Monica married, she'd been living near Livingston.  The move to Stillwater County left her in need of an artistic project in Absarokee so the energetic entrepreneur devised the market, inspired by the successful Livingston Farmers Market she'd enjoyed.

The Itti Bitti Bistro is the center of the action Sunday, offering Italian sodas.

SOME OF her Livingston contacts have booths at her market.
The Sunday July 5 event will offer Rex's smoked meats for hunger shoppers as well as delicacies by guest Chef Gunner Hoy from Sheridan, Wyo.. He will create tempting side dishes to accompany Rex's fare. The Itti Bitti Bistro will serve luncheon platters and baked goods from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
BESIDES TASTY barbecue, the Andersons invite browsers to cool off with ice cream, specialty milk shakes, smoothies and Italian sodas.
The market includes: Silks n Such Flowers, Auntee's Herbal Touch, Arqeur Semi Precious Stone Jewelry, photography, organic gardening produce, arts, crafts and this reporter signing her novel, "Lilian's Last Dance."

Looking not unlike a "Star Wars"
character, the Green Egg Mini Smoker
will go home with a Market guest.

Rex's "other business," Finest Flames Stove and Hearth is staging a raffle of 125 tickets sold to win a Green Egg Mini Smoker with tools and accessories. The market is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
"Our goal is to create a community of arts and crafters, gardeners, buyers, sellers, and traders of all shapes and sizes," says Monica. "We're developing a collective effort where we support and encourage one another and create a viable venue to sell our wares and individually earn extra income."

UP NEXT: We return to the Little Bighorn Battlefield to explore the battle aftermath and the way in which the wounded were rescued.  It was by water aboard the Far West steamboat.  The sleek vessel could navigate the narrows and shallows of the river, and undoubtedly saved dozens of lives. Up next: remember to explore, learn and live and catch us Wednesdays and weekends at: www.whereiscookie.com