A Side of Sweet

Beautiful Food, Travel & Design

Plonk’s Cherry Sour Old Fashioned

An amazing Cherry Sour Old Fashioned cocktail recipe made with cherry infused bourbon. So easy to make, and it’s vegan and gluten free.Cherry Sour Old Fashioned Cocktail Recipe made with Cherry Infused Bourbon
Pretty much everyone we talked to about recommendations for Missoula recommended Plonk Wine Bar. Even people on social media reached out to make sure we stopped in! Plonk has an amazing cocktail menu, in addition to an impressive wine list. They also have a great rooftop patio that is worth visiting if you are visiting Missoula in the summer or early fall.

By far, my favorite thing that we tried was their Cherry Sour cocktail. Made with cherry infused bourbon with muddled fruit and bitters, the cocktail is similar to an old fashioned…. Read More »

11 Things to Do in Missoula, Montana

A travel guide for beautiful Missoula, Montana. Our favorite restaurants, places to stay and things to do in Glacier Country Western Montana.

Things to Do in Missoula, Montana. Where to Eat, Places to Stay and Things to DoLast month, Pat and I had the chance to spend five days exploring Glacier Country and the Bitterroot Valley in Western Montana. The first stop on our adventure was Missoula, Montana. Missoula is a charming town that is a starting point for many of the outdoors activities that make Montana so famous. It’s also a lively college town. What I didn’t realize though, was how great the food scene is in Missoula! There are tons of restaurants and places to eat, many that rival my favorite San Francisco restaurants. Add to that bed and breakfasts, cute boutiques and great breweries and you might never leave!

Here are some of my Missoula favorites to check out when you’re in town…. Read More »

10 Minute Light & Moist Scones + Gibson Mansion

Gibson Mansion’s famous scone recipe. In just 10 minutes, you can have light & moist scones with the mix-ins of your choice. I used blackberries and white chocolate chips.
The BEST Easy Basic Light & Moist Scone Recipe - Takes 10 minutes and add ingredients of your choice, like raspberry and white chocolate

One of the highlights of our Montana trip was the two nights we stayed at Gibson Mansion Bed & Breakfast in Missoula. Built in 1903, Gibson Mansion is beautifully-decorated and carefully restored. It’s truly a gorgeous and comfortable place. It was the perfect place to start to an amazing trip.

Driving up to the mansion, I was struck by how beautiful the exterior was, and inside was even prettier! The furniture and decor leant to the Victorian-era vibes but were not garish or overdone. The guest rooms also feel like you are being transported to another era, but still have all of the modern luxuries that you’d expect with a 5-star experience. Our hosts, Tom & Nancy Malikie, really thought of everything, from soft sheets, to fresh flowers in the room.

One of the highlights of a stay at Gibson Mansion is Tom’s gourmet cooking. Breakfast has been elevated into an art form, with everything from perfectly-risen soufflés to fresh fruit. The highlight though, is Tom’s scones…. Read More »