2016 Midwest Travel log

Portrait of a restaurant 

BLACKSMITH'S ITALIAN

While driving thru Montana to attend a memorial for two cousins who were beloved in our family, my first inclination was to make a beeline for the goal and comfort of my family; that seemed the easiest thing to do. But before reaching Montana, a realization hit me, and my mind changed. I decided to stop in Bozeman and make good on a promise I made two and a half years ago to Corey Dragone: part owner with his father Steve, and Chef at their restaurant of two and a half years: Blacksmiths Italian.  The promise to Corey was that one day I would make it to Bozeman and I would do a rendering of Blacksmith's Italian.  I realized while approaching Bozeman in this trip, that I could not be sure how long it would be before I came thus again.  Corey and I met when Corey was owner-operator and chef and also originator of a foodcart in Portland Oregon and I was including a plien-air rendering of the foodcarts in the city as part of a mission I was on to capture some iconic images of Portland.  Corey and I became friends and kept in touch and so, that way- I got to hear about his business shift from a cart in Portland to a brick and mortar spot in Bozeman with a (hardly surprisingly, if you've ever met Corey, or his father) a completely original theme, ingenious menue, and food quality that already has earned a reputation in the small city. Here's to the success of a fellow artist!!