Expanding on incredible success in the lunch catering business, Teton Lunch Counter is looking forward to opening a downtown cafe in June. In addition to offering high-quality, locally-sourced and sustainable lunches for guests on guided trips around the valley, excellent fare will now be readily available for locals to enjoy.
Inspired by a vision of less single-use plastic and more sustainable ingredients, Tori Parker began offering gourmet lunches for guides and outfitters in Jackson Hole two years ago. Crafting top-notch lunches and serving them in reusable stainless steel containers, Teton Lunch Counter gave guides a new way to ensure that their guests had an unforgettable day — whether on the river, on a wildlife safari or on another adventure.
Teton Lunch Counter’s mouth-watering fare didn’t stay a secret for long. “People started hearing about it through the guides, and the bigger catering opportunities started coming our way,” said Parker. Local businesses and organizations began requesting catering of local events and gatherings.
“It got us thinking,” she said. “How could we get set up to serve locals? What does that offering look like?”
Soon, it will look like a brand new downtown Teton Lunch Counter cafe. Under construction since January, the cafe will soon open its doors on Glenwood Street across from the Center for the Arts. The menu will offer a diversity of grain bowls, sandwiches, baked treats and excellent coffee.
Parker has partnered with Nomadic Bean — a local, small-batch coffee roasting company — to offer delectable sips alongside sweet and savory options. “The cafe is definitely going to have cool vibes and limited seating,” she said. “And it will also be a grab-and-go source that’s colorful and nutritional. We’ll have rotisserie chicken and squash for people to take home and warm up, or a mini-charcuterie picnic basket filled with local goods to take to a Snow King concert.”
No matter what the dish includes, Parker ensures that as many of the ingredients as possible are sourced locally. “We have wonderful relationships with these producers. They’re growing produce based on the strong partnerships we have. We love that we’re keeping dollars right here in Wyoming, and we love supporting other women-owned businesses.”
Mark your calendar now, and be sure to swing by the cafe when doors open in June. “We feel like we’ve embodied the locale and the nutrition, and we’re providing unique and tasty experiences!”
