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It’s hard to believe that just a few short months ago we were sitting on the deck in front of the barn drooling at the scent of cooking ribs and anticipating the firework display to come.  

 Today there is lots of snow on the ground, the temp might hit 25 and except for the shining sun, not much like that July day. 

Vinbro’s Sugarfire Ribs

Buy 2 lb racks of pork ribs. Smaller is better than bigger. Figure 1/2 rack per person. Remove the membrane that covers the bone side of the ribs before the seasoning begins. This is best achieved using a paper towel. Gripping the towel, start tugging at the membrane on the narrow end of the ribs. One you’ve got a grip, pull carefully towards the wide end and the membrane will come off, sometimes in one piece, sometimes in several. 

Mix together 1 T salt, 2 T each of pepper, paprika, and onion powder and tons of minced garlic. Press ingredients on both sides of the ribs. Cover heavily.  Let stand covered for 2 hours at room temp. Cook in a cookie sheet with raised edges (otherwise fat drips into oven) Cook fat side down at 375 for 45 minutes, then flip and cook for another 45 minutes. Then check and if you see the meat pulling back from the bone, you’re done.  Remove from oven. Let cool a bit to handle. Spread 1/4 c of sugar over fat side. Pour good gin over center of rib so it flows down over the sugar on both side and light it (that’s right - flames) as you do. Using tongs, twist around in the flame so it evenly burns and generally looks cool. If you can avoid it, don’t light self, sous chef, friends or house on fire (not cool) and don’t let the meat touch the liquid in the pan (makes it greasy). Repeat for each batch making sure to dump any accumulated fat/liquid between batches. Showcase ribs on large platter. Let everyone ooh and ahh then take them back to the kitchen and cut ‘em up.

Vince serves these with baked beans, dinner rolls, and “vinbro’s white-trash margaritas” - take equal parts frozen limeade concentrate, corona, cuervo gold, and ice. Mix in a blender. Add more ice if necessary for desired consistency.  Immediately pour into salted glasses and garnish with a lime. 

So enjoy winter but dream of summer and a group of friends at the Double T River Ranch.

Seemed like the perfect time to share one of the best recipes of the summer. Since you do not need a bbq or bbq sauce, you can make Vinbro’s Sugarfire Ribs this weekend. Season them up and go skiing, sledding or watch a great old movie and get ready for something extra special!

On a perfect fall afternoon, Hatch mentors and groundbreakers began arriving at the ranch. Mentors are the creative artists who have earned acclaim in their fields. Groundbreakers are up-and-coming talent from all over the world who submit their works in the HATCH Groundbreaker competition. Everyone was escorted to their respective luxury accommodations at the Double T ranch house, cottage, and cabins on the river or the Global Expeditions, Inc. unique tent camp to unwind and glam before the Opening Night party. Soon folks began emerging from every direction to meet their heroes and colleagues.  Groups could be spotted everywhere…by the pond, the aspen grove, the bocce ball court…animatedly sharing experiences and ideas.   A fabulous party began in the 1900’s reclaimed Double T barn around 6pm when mentors and groundbreakers met Hatch board members, sponsors and other VIP’s. A concert featuring mentor John Forte, Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and producer and groundbreakers Amber Tisue and Frank Bell rocked the house.

Among many standouts present were Linda Stewart, one of the first women in the commercial production business to become an executive producer-owner of a studio, Cucoloris Films and Rodrigo Prieto, an established cinematographer, who has shot films like Frido and Brokeback Mountain, for which he garnered an Academy Award nomination for Best Cinematography.

The Groundbreakers stunned the mentors. Director/Producer Mian Adnan Ahmad flew in from Pakistan with his film HEAL about a child in the midst of the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan and Pakistan, who makes an extraordinary effort for his people. The long 20 hour journey from Pakistan was worth it, as Adnan was awarded the Moonlight Basin Outstanding Filmmaker Award.

That evening the quite beauty of the Shield’s Valley was even more spectacular punctuated with creative energy.

 “Thank you so much for opening your ranch to us again this year. It really is the part that had been missing from previous HATCH years. We are able to take those guests from their busy LA lives, dust them off a little, get them some fresh air, and really open up their minds to what the rest of the week has in store. The Double T River Ranch in the beautiful Shield’s Valley did just that for them and this experience is the key to forging those relationships that they build all week and nurture for years to come.”  Hatch Organizer

Party Barn at Double T River Ranch

In the early 1800’s William Clark separated from Lewis on the trip home and camped near the mouth of the Shields River. In April 1867, Fort Howie at the mouth of the Shields held 600 militia men to protect the settlers after John Bozeman was killed by Blackfoot Indians near Mission Creek.
Today, the upper Shields River is home to cutthroat and brown trout while south of Wilsall mostly browns are found. The browns prefer to hang out in holes and undercut banks and the Shields has plenty of these. Use dark colored streamers with weights on the line to get down where the fish are. Fall is a great time to fish the Shields when the big browns start moving up from the Yellowstone to spawn and there is nothing more fun then hauling a big fish from this gorgeous little river.

Fish On! in front of the cabins at the Double T

Family: People: Montana’s Double T River Ranch Montana’s Double T River Ranch. An Indagare member spent a week at Montana’s new Double T River Ranch in July with her family and three other families of friends (twelve children in all).
They were the first group to take over the special new ranch property that was restored by a couple whose unique sense of style transformed a run-down ranch into a stylish, but totally authentic, western enclave. Read more about Double T River Ranch.
“Ever since we returned from our trip out to Montana, I have been raving to
friends about the Double T River Ranch. The work and care and detail that went into the restoration of this property is astounding. Addie Foster hails from the East Coast, she’s a Harvard grad, and her husband, Mitch Miller has a background in woodwork, so together they set out to restore this place and they have done a
fantastic job. It feels like you are renting a good friend’s house whose taste you trust completely. I would recommend it for anyone looking for a place to take over as several families and friends or for a big birthday or celebration. It’s about spending time with people you love. The property is centered around a main barn, which Addie and Mitch restored completely; you should ask about how they numbered and labeled and reclaimed and reused most of the wood…it’s truly a labor of love. This is the common area of the ranch, with a state-of-the-art kitchen, pool table and games. Guests stay in accommodations that are scattered around the property, including two cabins that are right on the river. We stayed in one of these and the river is so close to the cabin that sitting on my porch, I sometimes thought I was looking at a water
ride at Disney Land…it seemed surreally beautiful. Each cabin was totally
stocked with everything and anything you could think of. For instance, my
daughter is allergic to horses and driving up to the ranch, I realized that I had forgotten Benadryl. When we arrived, we found it stocked in our cabin. It’s as if Addie can anticipate every wish and need before you arrive.
“What I really liked about the ranch was that even though interiors were
extremely beautiful, they also felt totally authentic. Nothing is over-the-top but there are these small details that make the experience truly luxurious. For instance, at the push of a button, fly screens come down on the porch, which is great when you’re sitting there at dusk and the mosquitoes are out.
“The best part about a stay at the ranch, however, are the amazing guides who are available to help you plan your days. We didn’t have to think or pre-book anything; they are simply available to take care of any an all activities, whether it’s playing touch football with the kids or organizing white-water rafting trips off-property. The same goes for the chef: you can choose to do your own cooking or ask the chef to do any or all meals. Basically you can be in total control or not at all. The intimate size of the property makes it possible for days to be entirely about what you want.
“We stayed at the ranch for five days and I easily could have spent a couple of more there. We hiked and went fly fishing; we swam in the little on-property pond and got tickets for the local rodeo. The ranch also has such activities as volleyball, Badminton, bocce ball, feather ball, skeet shooting and bikes for everyone. For me the highlight was the fly-fishing; the guide who took us was top-notch (he was going spending his next week with Justin Timberlake) and I caught a fish even though it was my first time. Overall, I cannot say enough
good things about the Double T River Ranch; suffice to say that our group
included twelve children, ranging from age one to thirteen, and every single one was entertained during the whole week.”
Read an interview with Addie Foster, co-owner of the Double T River Ranch
Read other member postcards about adventures in the American West
Read destination reports on Vail, Aspen and Jackson Hole
— The Editors 08/17/2010
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