The Beau Zone

The Wrap Shack

by Beau Ossorio

The Wrap Shack, the relatively new, exotically painted, burrito and margarita making eatery is a fun new place that is loved by both locals and out-of-towners alike, ranging in age from 1 to 100. Let's just say that everyone enjoys this tropical, refreshing environment. And, indeed, that is what the three owners: Jason Luchini, Lindsie Feldner and Josie Bolane were aiming for.

"We wanted to do something different. Move away from the whole Montana Cowboy theme," Josie said of her fire engine red, electric blue and shocking green wall color scheme. I agree it is a nice change of venue.

"We wanted to make if look like we were on the beach. Once, a woman came up to me and was asking what we were doing. She said 'It looks like your aiming for a look like you're on the beach!' That's what we want." exclaimed Josie. With the leis decorating the order bar, tiki lights, hula dancer strings and awesome designs and paintings covering the walls, I think they did a pretty fanatastic job creating a tropical look and decorating the place like pros. "We love, love, love stuff!" said Josie.
Josie, Jason and Lindsie still stick to their western roots, however. That's why they have that tall, dark and handsome cowboy painting on the wall, watching over the ever-so-famous Bubba Wrap, being hand rolled and stuffed with mouth-watering fillings. The Wrap Shack Trio, however, would love to have a bit of a decor rotation. In fact, they would like people to bring in paintings to hang on the walls, "as long as they're colorful and fun," Josie says eyeing the exotic, wonderful color filled paintings adorning the walls.

The name "The Wrap Shack" was cleverly thought up by Lindsie. As it turns out, coming up with a name was difficult. "The Burrito Bar" was considered, but as it turns out one day something in Lindsie's mind clicked. Josie and Jason loved the name, and so came about "The Wrap Shack".

Now for the adorable, well known chubby monkey that completes their logo. Where and how did they come up eith this big-bellied, wrap holding guy? This 'guy' has got a name, and that is Ozone Matly, the Mexican God of Dance. Jason, Lindsie and Josie found Ozone and added the belly and the wrap. Originally the three had hired someone to design the logo, but as it turns out, nothing designed for them was to their liking, so they went solo, as a threesome, and created their own cool logo.

Ozone doesn't only grace the covers of the menus and the door. This local celebrity is on the several retail items such as shirts for men and women (availible in many colors and styles), sweatshirts and stickers. Something else just seemed to feel right, and that was the catchy phrase, "We Roll 'em Fat!" They sure do! Speaking of stickers, I would highly recommend stopping in for one or two. Say you're traveling to an exciting place, in the US or out. Grab on of those stickers and bring Ozone along for the ride. All you need to do is get a picture of you and your Wrap Shack sticker while you are on your trip. Then bring it on in to the Wrap Shack Crew and get yourself a free, yes, I said free wrap. But that's not all. You will become a member of the unofficial 'Wrap Shack Wall of Traveling'. Your picture, along with other travelers will be hung for all to see, right next to the dancing hula girl clock we all have come to love.

This photo board is separate, though, from the Members Club Wall. Hear this out: For $50 dollars a year, you will not only get your Polaroid taken and added to a wall full of snap shots of your Big Sky acquaintances and friends, but every wrap you buy will be $1.00 off and every fountain soda fifty-cents off. But wait...there is more. For you of age guys and gals, happy hour is all day! I think that's a pretty awesome deal all in all.

The picture walls, however aren't the only great deals. The Wrap Shack, it seems, loves community service. That's why they have the 2 for 1 deal. If you participate in The Big Brother Big Sister community program bring your little buddy on in and get 2 wraps for the price of 1...and free fountain drinks. "It's great, " says Kasey Anderson, who is in charge of the Big Brothers and Sisters Program and the Ophir School Guidance Counselor. "My buddy and I go in every Tuesday!"

They also have the well-known October Pumpkin Carving Contest. If, during the Halloween season, you happen to have a great idea for a pumpkin, or have an already carved one, bring it to the Wrap Shack for your chance to win a month of free wraps if you are in the age group 13 and older. If you are under 13, bring it over and you'll have a chance to win a wrap party with 5 of your friends. "Lindsie, Jason and I love to do community work; we love to donate. It's so cool to be part of a small community. You can just get into it all. We say yes to anything!" Josie said of their community service.

Josie, Lindsie and Jason, who bought the space that once belonged to a hot tub company, did all the construction themselves. From what I hear, this was Jason's favorite part, while Lindsie and Josie preferred to stick to the decorating and design. They not only created their own restaurant, but the menu and the amazing food as well. The three had taste tests all the time, coming up with different recipe ideas for both Wraps and Salsas, which Jason was in charge of.

As you can imagine, the naming of the wraps was tough, but they turned out to be clever, indeed. Personally, I think that the favorite wrap is The Bubba; a tasty blend of slow roasted pulled pork pinto beans, savory barbeque sauce, shredded cabbage, corn salsa and cheese. According to "The Trio", the Hole Mole is said to also be at the top of the list. If you like Spicy, go for The Smokin' Gringo or the special, which availible everyday.

The specials are simply amazing, and are one-of-a-kind. Jeff Saad, the most current regular, swears by them. Who wouldn't? From turkey, potatoes and gravy to steak or chicken, the specials are always flavorful and fun. Soups are also a speciality every day this winter, if you're looking for something tasty and soothing to cure the winter cold.

New this year, the Wrap Shack will be delivering! Not just in West Fork or in the Meadow. They will deliver anywhere! Vedo, of Mountain Menus, will be in charge of the tasty drop off's for you to enjoy. Need some suggestions? Josie loves the popular Hole Mole; grilled steak, cilantro-lime rice, black beans, mole sauce, fajita veggies, cheese and sour cream. As for Lindsie, she likes hot stuff.

Josie says, "Lindsie would probably just eat 'the ring of fire' sauce on pork. She loves spicy things, this super white blonde girl!" As for Jason, he is most likely to go for the Clubber; grilled chicken, bacon, cilantro-lime rice, guacamole, cheese, pico de gallo, romaine and pesto mayo, in a bowl. Or you can try John Seelye's, "The Big Sky Build Wrap": Double meat, double everything, double delicious. This, my friends, is HUGE! For the bambinos, try a PB&J wrap, or cheese and chicken, or steak.

This fun place, that often turns into a dance floor during the winter, won First Prize at the BSAA's Chili Cookoff with Lindsie's Chili. More great things are sure to come to Josie, Jason and Lindsie's Wrap Shacking future. They say that someday, someday, there will be breakfast wraps! The Wrap Shack will be open everyday 9 a.m. to 11 p.m after Christmas, and they can't wait to see you in there!

When asked what her favorite part about working at the Wrap Shack was, Lindsie answered, "The people for sure! That's the best part...all of the people you see in here. It's such a social place and that makes it really fun!" And to you, The Wrap Shack Trio, we also love seeing your smiling faces rolling our wraps fat.

Reprinted from the Big Sky Weekly

Editor's Note: The Wrap Shack hours are 11a - 9p, and the logo is actually Ozomatli.

Shack wraps up top prizes at Chili Cook-off

Shack wraps up top prizes at Chili Cook-off

By STEVE LYSAKER

Chili fans may want to keep an eye on the Wrap Shack's menu this winter, when there is a chance the burrito shop's award-winning stews will make an encore appearance after a successful debut at last Friday's Chili Cook-off.

The Wrap Shack claimed first and second place in the Nontraditional Chili category for their Jamaican chicken and vegetarian curry chili respectively at the annual Big Sky Chili Cook-off, which also serves as a fund-raiser for the Big Sky Association for the Arts. The Wrap Shack also claimed Best in Show for its island-themed booth.

Josie Bolane, who co-owns the Wrap Shack with Lindsie Feldner and Jason Luchini, said the positive response to the restaurant's spicy concoctions may earn the stews a place on the fall and winter menu.

"We don't really do soups in the summer, but they might end up on the menu or as specials this fall," Bolane said. "We had a lot of comments, and a lot of people said they'd be psyched to try (the chilis) again."

Bolane said the recipes came primarily from Feldner, who put a unique spin on other chili recipes she had seen. The Jamaican chicken chili featured jerk spices and red wine topped with cheese and cilantro. The vegetarian chili included sweet potatoes with Indian curry and sauteed vegetables.

"(Feldner) looked at some recipes, then went her own way with changes," Bolane said. She added that both chilis were in keeping with the Wrap Shack's menu theme. "We like to play around with different ethnicities and see how we can incorporate elements into other types of food."

Big Sky Resort received honorable mention in the nontraditional category. On the traditional side, the Half Moon Saloon took first place with Chet's Bar & Grill earning second; Moonlight Basin, which hosted the event in its Madison Lodge, received honorable mention.

Reprinted from The Lone Peak Lookout 9/9/05