I would like to share with you our personal experience with some excellent food products and how you can also obtain them. Convenient and always welcome, food gift packs make terrific presents for family, friends or even yourself. This year why not give a gift that is truly unique and memorable? A Christmas gourmet box from Malta Montana. Malta Montana you say? First, where is Malta and second, what could possibly come from there? Malta Montana lies in the middle of Montana's vast rangelands. Off the beaten path, it's about 200 miles from the closest Interstate. Starting out from Virginia, we discovered Malta seven years ago while touring the Northwest in our trusty VW camper van on routes that often led us from Interstates to classic two-lane U.S. Highways. While driving through Montana's expansive, ocean-like Big Sky country, we came upon Malta. It was readily apparent that if we blinked we would miss the sights of Malta. So we slowed down to look. To our right we noticed a market called L&L Meats Kountry Market & Deli. Realizing we were in beef country, we stopped and went in. The meat in the counter looked promising. How long do you age your beef? Two weeks. Is it all local? Yes. Is it feed-lot or range fed? Range-fed. Each answer enhanced our expectations. We bought several cuts, including a standing prime rib roast. Later that afternoon, set up in a campground, we pulled out our fold-up portable barbecue and roasted the prime rib under a hood of aluminum foil. It looked succulent enough, but the proof would be in the taste. Was it good? Was it perhaps the best prime rib we had ever tasted? Was it memorable? Did we think no beef in any New York City or Washington D.C. restaurant, for example, could match this? Did we think that, like some of the finest wines in the world, the best meat may never get beyond where it is produced? Well, let me explain what we've done for holiday events such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, birthdays and anniversaries ever since. After returning home from our trip, a special occasion came up and we wanted to celebrate with some prime rib. Would it be possible, we wondered, to get some more of that incredible prime rib we enjoyed in a Montana campground? We first had to look at a map to make sure from which town the roast had come. With fes towns along our Big Sky route, we pinpointed the right one by a process of elimination. It had to be Malta. So we next called the Malta post office, reasoning that in a small town, someone would know. The name "L&L" rang a bell, so we got their number from information and called them up. Our recollections of the meat market we had been in coincided with L&L's description of themselves and . . .Bingo!, we were back in that wonderful meat market with the magic beef, albeit by long distance. Of course they would ship, but only the Postal Service showed up at their door, and only on certain days for express two-day delivery. That was good enough for us. We'd give it a try. And though the delivery cost wasn't cheap, the original cost per pound was so reasonable that our total cost per pound was hardly more than for local "as is" alternatives (that is, if you can even easily or locally find a decent prime rib). L&L Meats has mailed Malta prime rib roasts and steaks and venison sausage to us in Virginia ever since. Remember, Malta is way off the beaten track in the middle of Montana's great grazing ranges where there are more cattle and fewer people. So Malta had no dry ice or Federal Express pick up, or UPS Next-Day-Air. Relying on the combination of Express Mail, the meat's internal cold from flash freezing, and freezer paper wrapping had its time-frame and seasonal limits. Though the Post Office tried to deliver in two days, delays set in often enough. Packages arrived too late for the second day or Friday delivery, sometimes sat over the weekend in a post office, and were finally delivered with the meat semi-thawed (though still cold enough). But was it worth the trouble and added expense of shipping? YES! This fall, seven years after our first visit, we returned to Malta and L&L Meats Kountry Market & Deli. Things haven't changed much in Malta, though we discovered Amtrak stops there. The town looked about the same while we found the meat and other Montana food products to be as good as ever. But two landmark events have occurred in Malta. Federal Express has begun to offer two day service from Malta, and L&L now has dry ice! They also can now crayovac wrap all meat to seal in moisture, freshness and flavor. What does this mean? It means that you can now experience and give Malta's "Big Sky" gourmet range meats and other regional foods to family and friends with Christmas gift boxes or individually customized orders, whether at holidays, or any time of the year, summer or winter! Now you can go holiday shopping in Montana at L&L Meats Kountry Market & Deli right from your home or office! Any of their "Big Sky" gourmet food items can be included in an attractively boxed Christmas gift pack and shipped Federal Express Second Day Delivery. Gift boxes range in price from $12 to $50. They will discuss with you the most desirable gift combinations and tailor them to best fit your wishes and budget. Below is just a sample of the products available. STEAK GIFT PACK: This is Montana beef at its finest. Locally grown and range fed, beyond the local country this beef is a virtually undiscovered gourmet product of unique characteristics and "world class" quality. The pack includes: 2 Sirloins - 16 oz. each 2 T-Bones - 16 oz. each 2 New York Strips - 14-16 oz. each 2 Filet Migons - 10 oz. each 2 Ribeyes - 14 oz. each This beef variety pack is priced at $50 plus shipping. Compare it with other mail order pre-packaged meat offerings. We think you'll agree that it, as with all L&L meat products, represents an exceptional taste and price value. Other L&L Montana products include: BUFFALO STEAKS: A gourmet delicacy. Ask for available supplies, cuts and prices. MONTANA CHEESES: Superb Montana cheeses which include Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Colby/Longhorn and Montana Marbled. All are priced at $2.69 per lb. Each package is approximately one pound. SMOKED SALMON & SMOKED TURKEY: The Salmon is $5.95 per pound and the turkey $3.98 per pound (8-12# average). Both are custom smoked by Malta's own resident expert. VENISON SAUSAGE: $2.00 per pound. Cured and processed in Malta. TERIYAKI SAUCE: From Helena, Montana by popular demand! $3.98 for a 16 oz. bottle. L&L'S OWN STEAK SAUCE: The perfect compliment to L&L beef. $2.98 per 11 oz. bottle. BREAKFAST SAUSAGE (bluk): $1.79 per pound. Made with L&L's "super secret" recipie, it's the best breakfast sausage we've ever tasted. MUSTARD: Although it's from Beverton, Oregon, L&L wanted it included with the Montana products since it is so good. There are two sizes available, a 6 oz. jar ($1.39) and a 12 oz. squeeze bottle ($2.39). The mustards in the 6 oz. size include Russian, German, Sweet Hot, Deli, Chinese Hot, Hickory, Honey and Dijon. The 12 oz. size includes Sweet Hot, Honey, and Coney Island. L&L also offers Horseradish, Sweet and Sour Sauce and Tarter Sauce. RANCH DRESSING MIX: $1.00 per package. Made in Malta from a recipie developed by a Malta housewife, it has no aftertaste and is best if mixed with buttermilk. Each pack makes 1 quart. CLOVER HONEY: Comes in either a 6 oz. squeeze bottle for $1.19 or 1 lb. cream for $1.98. You will especially appreciate it's unique local flavor. BACON: $2.59 per pound. Actually, the bacon is from neighboring North Dakota as no pork is processed in Malta. But this is so good it has to be included. How to order: Simply call L&L directly at (406) 654-1022, or fax them at (406) 654-2661. Let them know where you read this description and place your order for whatever combination of gourmet foods you'd like and they'll be on their way to your door! Payment by credit card or prepaid check.
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