If you think Western guest ranch vacations serve "franks and beans" for dinner then you will be pleasantly surprised. Depending on which Western guest ranch you select, the cuisine you receive at the ranch can range from casual ranch fare to swanky gourmet meals prepared by world class trained chefs. Some guest ranches even offer organic meals and a vast wine list.
If you are health conscious you will be pleased to know that many Western guest ranches now have their own organic gardens and even raise their own beef. In addition, guest ranches will, in most cases, cater to any special dietary needs that you may have. Just be sure to check with them in advance.
So what will you be eating and drinking on your western guest ranch vacation? Below are some sample menus from some of our guest ranches to give you a better idea of what to expect on your next ranch vacation. We have also added some of our ranches’ chef’s bios for those of you who are true foodies at heart.
Bon Appetit!
White Stallion Guest Ranch, Tuscson, Arizona
At the White Stallion Guest Ranch, we offer a continental breakfast buffet with juice, fresh fruit, pastry, oatmeal, cold cereal including a homemade granola, and yogurt from 7:30am to 10:00am. There is also a cooked to order breakfast from 8:00am to 9:00am. You may order eggs any style, pancakes, French toast, bacon, sausage plus there is always a daily special such as: steak and eggs, huevos rancheros, oatmeal pancakes, etc.
Lunch is served buffet style with a main entrée plus a large green salad, assorted salad bar with a selection of cottage cheese, egg salad, tuna salad, three bean salad, cold marinated steak salad, mixed fruit and others. The main entrée might be French Dip sandwiches and Caesar salad with grilled chicken breast. Frequently there is either a hot soup or a chilled soup, like chilled raspberry soup. Homemade cookies are always the dessert...
An example of our buffet dinner might be the typically Thursday steak cookout Marinated Sirloin steak cooked to perfection, sautéed mushrooms, peppercorn sauce and a béarnaise sauce, baked potatoes with all the trimmings, French green beans, garlic bread, green salad and apple pie with homemade cinnamon ice cream.
Our Chef, Judy Bellini has been with the gueset ranch for 36 years. Her entire cooking career has been with the White Stallion Guest Ranch. Many of our recipes are her creations and are genuine home-cooked meals. We feel very fortunate to have such continuity in our kitchen.
Ranch 4 Saison Guest Ranch, Quebec, Canada
Meals at the Ranch 4 Saisons will not disappoint you! You can look forward to tastefully prepared fresh meats, seafood, fruit and vegetables with creative homemade desserts.
Breakfast features fresh fruits, eggs, bacon, beef sausages, fresh ham, roasted potatoes, pate, baked beans, home-made jams, cheese, croissant, toast, coffee, tea and hot chocolate.
Lunch includes hot homemade soups accompanied by, cheese pie, lemon dill cucumber salad, smoked meats, homemade French fries, BBQ cookouts and more.
Dinner features fresh soups ranging from scallop bisque to French onion and many more. Try a starter Parmesan fondue to tease your palate or maybe the giant tiger shrimp cocktails. There is also the coquille St-Jacques, escargot and stuffed mushrooms to name a few more appetizers.
Mains feature salmon served with a velvet lemon-dill sauce, BBQ chicken breast served with vegetable and saffron rice last but not least western beef such as prime rib, filet mignon and New York cut steak.
As for desserts, you must have an upside down strawberry cake with fresh cream, chocolate mousse, date squares, rice pudding with Quebec maple syrup, apple pie, lemon chiffon, maple sugar, and coconut cream.
Rancho De La Osa Guest Ranch, Tucson/Sasbe, Arizona
Breakfast at Ranch De La Osa may start off with fresh fruit, a green chile casserole with crispy bacon on platters and freshly baked blueberry cornbread coffee cake accompanies your coffee, tea and juice.
Lunch may consist of a short rib sandwich on Foccacio bread with a creamy horseradish sauce accompanied by a warm potato salad or grilled tilapia fish served on flatbread with mixed greens, passila sauce and grilled red and yellow bell peppers. For dessert refreshing lemon bars.
Dinner may consist of mixed green with a rosemary vinaigrette and marinated flank steak accompanied by roasted red potatoes and oven roasted asparagus with a lovely tangerine semifreddo with almond brittle.
Klondike Guest Ranch, Buffalo, Wyoming
Klondike Guest Ranch has an Italian chef that you will just love. You can expect one steak dinner, lots of beef, a little chicken and maybe a little pork on occasion. We raise our own vegetables including tomatoes, corn, squash, etc. so the salads can’t get any fresher. And some of the best homemade bread we have ever tasted. We don’t have menus though. Whatever he cooks is what’s to eat. Then again, we are a working ranch. He even does special requests. If you want something special or can’t eat something particular, he will make sure you are taken care of.
Chilcotin Holidays Guest Ranch, Gold Bridge, British Columbia
A sample menu at Chilcotin Holidays Guest Ranch
Breakfast: Fruit Salad, Yoghurt, Granola, Blueberry Pancakes, Toast, Fried Eggs, Orange Juice and Coffee.
Lunch: Black Bean Soup, Ham or Salami Sandwiches, Raw Vegetables with Dip and Cookies.
Supper: Turkey and Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Spaghetti Squash, Salad, Cranberry Sauce and Rhubarb Crisp.
Our recipes are developed over the last 20 years. We offer classic home made food.
Elk Mountain Guest Ranch, Buena Vista, Colorado
Here is a sampling of your meals at Elk Mountain Guest ranch:
Breakfast: Brandied French Toast with orange slices, syrup and bacon.Fruit kabobs with yoghurt, cereal, milk, juice, and coffee.
Lunch: Marinated chicken and steak strips, Spanish rice, tortillas, refried beans, assorted sautéed peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, guacamole, chees, blacl olives, sour cream, pico de gallo, chips and salsa, fruit punch, and cowboy cookies.
Appetizers: Hot Artichoke Dip with Shepherds bread
Dinner: Steak with Sautéed Mushrooms and onions, cheesy potatoes, corn on the cob, grilled garlic bread and spahettios, lemonade and ice-tea
Dessert: Cream Cheese Pound Cake with strawberries.
Vista Verde Guest Ranch, Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Here is a sample menu from Vista Verde Guest Ranch:
Breakfast:
Continental: Fresh fruit, seasonal berries, home-made baked pastries and baked breads, cold cereal, ranch granola, bagels, toast, English muffins, fresh orange juice, grapefruit juice, apple juice, cranberry juice and V-8
Hot Items: All entrees are served with ranch potatoes and choice of apple smoked bacon or breakfast sausage
French Toast: Home made French bread dipped in a Frangelico-espresso-flavored batter topped with sweetened mascarpone cheese served with real Vermont syrup.
Chef’s Eggs Benedict: Two poached eggs served over crispy roasted potatoes stopped with in house smoked salmon finished with hollandaise sauce.
Eggs and style: Two eggs served any style with ranch potatoes choice of apple smoked bacon or breakfast sausage.
Lunch:
Off the grill: Grilled Beef Sirloin, herb marinated chicken, marinated swordfish.
Salads: Israeli Couscous salad, black bean hummus with grilled flat bread, mixed green salad tossed in raspberry vinaigrette. Tossed mixed green salad, fruit salad
Dessert: Blondies
Dinner:
Appetizer: Potato masa boats with shredded chicken, avocados, goat cheese and finished with a fire roasted salsa.
Entrees: Jumbo sea scallops accompanied by a jalapeno-corn salad chipotle polenta cake and finished with a cilantro-green chile sauce
Lighter side: Risotto served with wild mushrooms, asparagus tips, herbs and topped with shaved parmesan
Comfort Food: Herb-crusted rack of lamb accompanied by twice-baked potatoes, sautéed squash and finished with a thyme demi.
Dessert: Chocolate Mousse with mixed berries.
Select wines are also served.
Echo Valley Ranch & Spa, Clinton, British Columbia
Here is a sample menu from Echo Valley Ranch & Spa:
Breakfast: Egg’s, fresh baked bread’s and pastries, fresh fruit salad, ranch beef sausages, potatoes, low sodium bacon, assorted cereals, assorted yoghurt, assorted juices, assorted jams, coffee and tea.
Lunch: Home made soup, assorted breads, organic garden salad, tomato and cucumber, homemade dressings. Chicken Provencal, sautéed ranch beef, poached Norwegian sea bass, roasted leg of lamb, and pasta alfredo. Apple pie
Dinner: Onion shitaki mushroom soup, rack of lamb provincial with seasonal vegetables or poached salmon filet with butter sauce and rice. Fresh baked bread.
Dessert: BC Blueberry short cake
Coffee and tea.Wine and beer for sale.
After reading all those menus aren't you hungry?? When you are ready to finally plan your guest ranch vacation, access Ranchseeker's guest ranch database for free.
