Vaughn’s Big Sky Deli is worth the trip

There has been a lot of buzz about the bakery/deli in Vaughn, so Saturday we drove out to try the food. Big Sky Deli is a large one story building set behind a big parking lot to accommodate trucks and trailers. The business, owned by Tony and Betty Easch, has a rustic look on the front that is carried over inside, with lots of shelves holding various candies, canned goods, breads and other goods. On the left side is the deli counter, glass bakery case, drinks and ice cream freezer. The amount of merchandise is amazing, but it is not your ordinary grocery store. I did find things such as pickled eggs and some pickled beets that I have to use will power to avoid eating them all at once. A quart should last you more than three days.

Since we were there for lunch, we all tried the sandwiches and soup, which was white chili that day. It made a great accompaniment for the sandwiches.

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To order lunch, you are given a sheet of paper with the choices to mark and turn in at the deli counter. Breads are 10 grain; whole wheat; white; honey wheat; wraps; and gluten-free wrap. The meats are roast beef, turkey, ham, salami and a kind of bologna called Lebanon and Sweet Lebanon. Cheese choices are Swiss, Colby, yellow American, Marble and Pepperjack. Condiments are mayo, salad dressing, mustard, ranch, honey mustard and salt and pepper. You can add lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, banana peppers, or green peppers and can add extra meat or cheese for an added cost.

I had the gluten-free wrap which I really liked. I am not fond of tortillas for a sandwich wrap, but the gluten-free one is more towards the crepe style. It was not dry, but tender and had a nice unobtrusive taste. We sampled the Lebanon bolognas and found them good, but I reverted to my go-to meat and had beef. It was nice to add lots of mayo, mustard and pickles, a nice full sandwich that only cost $5.25.

I tried some of Betty’s potato salad, which some people loved and some had reservations. It has potatoes and eggs alright, but is quite sweet and has cheese and a few other ingredients. Anyway, you should try some. Other foods include homemade biscuits and gravy, pulled pork sandwiches. They also do meat and cheese trays.

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There is a big refrigerator case of drinks and a pop machine. The coffee drinks include espresso, lattes, mocha, Italian sodas, Big Train drinks and more. Some of the recent coffee favorites are pumpkin spice latte; brown sugar and cinnamon latte; white chocolate cinnamon mocha; and huckleberry Italian soda.

The bakery part took some will power not to take one of each of the homemade breads and other treats. They have sticky buns, donuts, sweet rolls, ham and cheese rolls, cookies and almond poppy seed sweet bread. Also for dessert, there is Wilcoxson’s Ice Cream, with a seasonal favorite of pumpkin spice as well as Moose Tracks.

Big Sky Deli is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and closed on Sunday, The address is 190 Highway 89, Vaughn. Reach them at 406-964-8553 or go to Facebook.

Submit information on menu changes, specials or celebrations to Sharon Hansen, freelance writer and restaurant reviewer. Send restaurant address, hours and a phone number to P.O. Box 3381, Great Falls, MT 59403 or email shansen85@bresnan.net.