Book: Open Range

What makes a great Montana cookbook? Written by Jay Bentley (owner of the Mint in Belgrade) and Patrick Dillon, Open Range: Steaks, Chops & More from Big Sky Country (Running Press, $33) has the right recipe. It starts with nearly 300 pages of hearty recipes covering every meal and variety of meat: starters, fish, beef, wild game, chicken, desserts, and plenty more. Then Jay preps each recipe with a personalized intro—garnished with morsels of Montana history—and finishes with easy step-by-step instructions. Throughout the entire book, he sprinkles in mouthwatering shots of the dishes and two-page spreads of Montana landscapes. By creating an informative cookbook that could even pull double-duty as a coffee-table piece, Bentley’s work will leave you satisfied—but definitely hungry for more.