Last week, in my world at least, Facebook rose to the occasion. I spied a coupon for a free appetizer at Trail Creek Cabin (they are also currently featuring sensibly priced 2 for $20 entrees!) and snagged it immediately. And thus my on-going love-hate relationship with Facebook tipped the scales in the direction of love for a brief moment. So last weekend, Peter and I set off in the direction of dinner at Trail Creek Cabin. We’ve never dined there and were excited to experience a slice of Sun Valley history.
We arrived at dusk and the dining room was packed. Seated at a window table with views of Baldy, we got a sneak peak at the initial preparations for a wedding the next day, tents and all. I silently yearned to get married again—just to have my wedding here. Maybe we will at least ATTEND a wedding here someday, who knows? It’s a one-of-a-kind backdrop for a once- in- a-lifetime event.
We perused the special 2 for $20 menu. It’s diverse with a little something for everyone—Idaho Baked Potato with TriTip Steak, Sliders, BBQ Chicken Pizza, Pork Carnitas, Chicken with Red Mole, Vegetable Lasagna and a Seafood Risotto.
We started with steamed clams and Calamari and probably could have stopped eating right then and there as they were plentiful. The steamed clams had an amazing broth that I sipped with my spoon and sopped with my bread until it was gone. The Calamari was kept company by a chipotle aioli that had a slight kick to it. So far, it had all the makings of a great night.
While admiring the view, we considered what it must have been like here in the late 1930s. Since Sun Valley was the first destination ski resort in North America, celebrities and rich folk flocked to the area, coming to town on
Averill Harriman’s train. They stayed at the Lodge, dined at Trail Creek, and partied at the bar until the wee hours of the morning. (Oh yes, and they skied!). I fantasized that I could have cozied up to Hemingway to talk literature and bull fighting—oh yeah right—me and ten other girls!
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Our server Janet (who was attentive and pleasant) brought our entrees shortly after we had finished our appetizers. My Seafood Risotto was topped with two large gulf shrimp and included bay shrimp, peas and carrots mixed in the risotto. On the side was a bed of fresh spinach. I immediately introduced the spinach into the hot risotto and it cooked perfectly, preventin
g it from getting slimy and soggy. Brilliant! Peter’s Idaho Baked potato was as big as a boot and had strips of Tri Tip steak, sautéed mushrooms and a lovely marsala sauce with crunchy green beans on the side. We exchanged bites, both proud and pleased with our choices. We sipped Sauvignon Blanc ($8) and had a few beers ($3.50) after our meal, so as not to put an end to our evening too 
quickly.
Trail Creek was like a dream from another era and I loved it. By the end of the evening I decided that next winter I want to be a tourist for a day and take the sleigh from Sun Valley to Trail Creek, and relive the good the ol’ days. I’ll raise my martini glass to Sun Valley’s 75th year anniversary and hope to be in town to help celebrate its 100th.
