Forage Bistro and Lounge [June 2023]

Welcome back to Driggs, Idaho… our favorite summer destination! In our drives around, we kept passing by this beautiful little patio sporting some eye-catching red umbrellas, and one day we stopped in to see what it was. It turned out to be a little bistro, and on a big sign at the front door, they advertised a happy hour nosh board and bottle of wine special. They really had me at bottle of wine, but after I googled what nosh meant, [to eat a snack or light meal] I was all in! LOL!! They were packed with no open tables, so I made a reservation and we went back the next day. Forage Bistro and Lounge quickly became my favorite summer restaurant!!

I feel like one of the things that makes Driggs so charming is its use of old houses. Most of the town's businesses are locally owned and run in old residential houses. Forage Bistro and Lounge is a prime example of a classic house-turned-bistro offering an intimate setting with a front yard and porch, giving it that cozy neighborhood feel. Originally, the restaurant opened in 2008 as a breakfast spot called the Grand Ole Grill. It was owned by Tanya Alexander and managed by chef Christian Hanley, who ran the kitchen. Then in 2015, things came full circle for Christian when he and his wife Lisa purchased the property and transformed it into the Forage Bistro and Lounge.  

I have to say the only downfall to turning these sweet little houses into commercial businesses is that simple one word... “little.” This just means there are not a lot of tables, and you need to make a reservation to get in on any given day. Needless to say, we went back for happy hour so I could feel human again... by this, I mean getting to partake of charcuterie and wine in a town so far removed from everything!! LOL!!  You can see in the above photo how quaint all the special touches just draw you in and make you feel at home, and why this has turned into my favorite place. Not to mention the delicious nosh [now that I know what it means... Haha!!] board and wine!!

We would also frequent Forage Bistro for meals; they had one of my favorite dishes: Bison Short Ribs with black garlic braise and local mushroom risotto. Yes, it was as good, or maybe even better than it sounds!! Then, all of a sudden, it was off the menu. I was planning to go on my 50^th birthday to celebrate and eat this exact meal, and it was off the menu!? What!? Hmmm... how could I get in touch with the owner, I mean, just to ask if maybe... Our server gave me Lisa, the owner's email address, and I contacted her to let her know how much I loved the short ribs and about my birthday and asked if there was any possibility to get it. She responded yes!!

That they would offer the short ribs as the special for the evening of my birthday and make sure that one of the plates would be available only for me, since they often sell out. I actually got to meet Lisa that evening since she personally served me my birthday meal! I will never forget this birthday; I was so touched by their accommodations. Christian and Lisa work well together as a team; she ran the house, and he ran the basement prep area and small kitchen. I follow the Teton Valley Facebook page so I can keep up to date on the goings-on around town. When I read that Forage Bistro was moving to the Driggs-Reed Memorial Airport in 2024, I was kind of sad. They were going to be taking over the Warbirds Café.

I was happy for the Hanleys since they would have so much more room for activities... [iykyk... haha!!] but super sad to lose that beautiful little front porch!! We’ve always kind of thought airport restaurants were really cool, I guess it's that whole aviation thing we got going on. LOL!! Forage Bistro and Lounge is still a special place for me, and we see Lisa almost every time we visit. They have changed up the menu yet again, still offering my favorite nosh board and bottle at happy hour though!! They now have an actual lounge, they can offer private parties while still doing regular dining, and they have a full bar. The views are way different, but they are pretty awesome!!

You are never going to guess what has happened!! Next week, Wine with Wixy has found a real, live, actual winery!! It is over the Teton Mountain Pass in Jackson, and it will be a little drive, but Jackson Hole Winery is worth every mile!!

Cheers to you my wine loving friends, and TTFN!!