“The discovery of a new dish does more for the happiness of mankind than the discovery of a star,” according to French epicure and gastronome Brillat Savarin. Or, as famed food writer M.F.K. Fischer, more plainly put it, “First we eat, then we do everything else.” For military families stationed in and around the Magic City the topic of where to eat is an all important one. And while many locations in the heart of downtown such as Whiskey Nine or Ironhorse are frequently brought into these discussions alongside talk of what favorites have recently closed (R.I.P. High Third) there is one location that does not seem to come up often enough with military families: Vardon’s Chophouse.

Nestled amidst the trees and greens of the Vardon Golf Club, this dining establishment is hidden within, and just past the unassuming pro-shop entrance. And while it’s also open during the summer golf season as the 28 Club Grille & Bar, the real culinary fire happens when the Chophouse opens for its November through March season. Their menu includes a variety of seafoods, steaks and pastas, as well as a seasonal wine and spirits assortment. If dinner is not your thing, their Sunday Brunch, which currently runs from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm and only sets you back $19.90 for adults or $11.90 for kids is another delicious way to gather with family or friends.

However, this reporter’s very favorite offering at Vardon’s, one that has been around for five years, are the themed Couples Nights that unfold over several hours on Friday evenings in January and February. The brainchild of Ray Cook, Vardon’s General Manager, the Couples Nights feature a five to seven course menu designed around a variety of themes ranging from “An Evening in Italy,” to a “Wild Game and Seafood Night.” Each course is not just beautifully presented but paired with an alcoholic beverage to compliment it.

I recently attended the Kentucky Derby Night, which was not just a dinner but an experience: think bugles, hats, champagne, bourbon and the most amazing tomato pie that I am still dreaming about. Camille Cook, Sales and Marketing Manager, shared that, “Each night is its own “show” as we like to call it and the amount of ordering that is done usually makes my head spin!” For a more recent charcuterie and wine night Camille noted that, “Authentic meats, cheeses, fruits, jams, wines, and other delicious goodies from France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Switzerland and Denmark [were] ordered right from the source.” The meticulous planning that goes into these events is why reservations are required, and why last-minute cancellations cannot be refunded. While a larger group can generally be seated together, half the fun for us was meeting new people – in our case, another military couple that ended up settling here in Minot.

Team Minot includes Airmen who have lived and dined all over the globe and with that comes exposure to a variety of cuisines. And while most of the Airmen and families I’ve run into are unpretentious in spite of these experiences, or as one friend recently put it, “fancy like Applebees,” they know and are ready to enjoy the best of what a particular duty station has to offer. And while most instinctively live by the first half of Epicurus’s admonition that, “We should look for someone to eat and drink with before looking for something to eat and drink,” it was a true pleasure to stumble upon a place that turned the second half of that proposition into a bit of an adventure.

For more information about Vardon Chophouse, you can visit their web site at https://vardongolfclub.com/bar-grille or follow the Vardon Golf Club on social media.