Stomping Grounds Book Cafe

Stomping Grounds Book Cafe Cozy community café at Billings Library, offering quality, affordable treats perfect for book lovers.

School is back, chili is simmering, and pumpkin has been granted permission to returnHi Friends!This week was a great on...
08/30/2026

School is back, chili is simmering, and pumpkin has been granted permission to return

Hi Friends!

This week was a great one at Stomping Grounds, but somewhere along the way, it started to feel like summer was quietly giving way to fall.

We had cloudy mornings, a little rain, and those cooler overcast days that make you wonder if autumn might actually be on its way—only for the summer heat to remind us by evening that it isn't quite finished yet. Maybe we'll be lucky enough to get one of those coveted rainy Montana falls: the smell of wet birch and prairie grass, rolling lightning turning the night sky into a light show, and those incredible sunburst sunsets glowing against trees that are slowly beginning to change.

I love this time of year.

One of my favorite things about living in Montana is simply getting to live in the seasons. Summer bustles. Fall creeps in. Winter slows everything down. And then spring suddenly pops back to life. There's something about that biological rhythm that feels healthier to me after growing up with what sometimes felt like an endless rotation of California summer and spring.

And, if you haven't picked up on it after all these newsletters, I also really like to eat with the seasons.

That's something I'm still hoping will eventually rub off on my Montana-born wife, who remains firmly convinced that steak and some form of potato are appropriate for dinner during all four seasons. Although, I will give her credit: she suddenly becomes much more open to seasonal eating whenever our Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Pasta Salad makes its rotation. After asking me to bring it back pretty much all summer, she finally got her wish last Friday—and I hope all of you who ordered it enjoyed it just as much!

And Just Like That… Back to School

Hopefully everyone has the backpacks packed, pencils sharpened, shoes found, lunches figured out, and kids ready for school—because school, it is a-coming.

Like a lot of families, we're looking forward to that little bit of calm that comes once everyone settles back into their fall routines.

As I write this, Beni, Lolo (our cat), and I are having a boys' day. The girls were out the door before dawn this morning and headed to Bozeman for some last-minute “emergency” school shopping—a phrase that apparently requires a several-hour drive and should not be questioned.

The boys have considerably simpler plans.

We're heading to Goodwill to hunt for an outdoor toy box, and if everything goes according to plan, Beni and I will finish the day at the ball game thanks to our good friends Lorrie and Ragan, who somehow always seem to have an extra ticket waiting for us. Thank you, gals! We appreciate you more than you know.

And with that, I think we're ready.

Summer gave us another wonderful run, but it's time to settle into school schedules, cooler mornings, changing leaves, and everything that comes with September.

This week, let's fall back into our routines. Summer is ending, school is starting… and Oscar is making chili again.

That seems like as good a sign of fall as any. 🍂☕📚

🌟 Community Highlight.

🥕 River Valley Farmers Market
📅 Thursday, September 3, 2026
⏰ 5:00–7:30 PM
📍 3rd Street, Downtown Hardin, MT

If this week's talk about living and eating with the seasons has you inspired, consider taking the short drive to Hardin for the River Valley Farmers Market, hosted by Helping Hands in Hardin Food Bank. Spend the evening shopping locally grown vegetables, grabbing dinner from the food trucks, listening to live music, and enjoying games and activities for the whole family. Be sure to stop by the welcome table for their weekly Harvest of the Month samples, too! SNAP, Double SNAP, and WIC are accepted at every market, making this a wonderful community resource as well as a great way to support local growers and Helping Hands Food Bank. Summer may be winding down, but farmers market season still has plenty left to share.

📚 Library Events

🏔️ August in Montana History — Digital Display
📅 Monday, August 31, 2026
📍 Billings Public Library | 510 N Broadway

Before we officially turn the calendar over to September, take a moment to look back at Augusts from Montana's past. This month's digital display features historical images from the Montana History Portal, all connected by one simple word in their metadata: August. The featured collections offer little glimpses into the people, places, communities, and moments that came before us—including an image of the Moccasin, Montana fire, contributed by the Lewistown Public Library. It's a great reminder that tucked among the shelves and resources of our library are thousands of pieces of Montana history just waiting to be discovered.

🥣🥗Soup & Salad Specials.

The calendar may still have a little summer left in it, but our menu is officially beginning to lean into fall. With cooler mornings, school starting back up, and September arriving, we're switching back to our fall format of two soups and one seasonal salad—and we're kicking things off with the return of an old favorite.

🌶️ Oscar’s Chili
It's back! The first batch of the season has arrived. For all of our old friends who've been patiently waiting, your time has come—and for all the new friends we met over the summer, this is your first chance to see what all the fuss is about. Oscar's Chili is hearty, rich, slow-cooked comfort food and one of those Stomping Grounds staples that disappears for the warmer months and comes back right when we start craving a bowl of something warm. Consider this your first official warning that fall is coming.

🥦 Broccoli & Cheddar Soup
We're keeping the comfort coming with a café classic: Broccoli & Cheddar Soup. Tender broccoli is folded into a rich, creamy cheddar soup for something warm, cheesy, and wonderfully familiar. Nothing complicated here—just a really good bowl of soup that's perfect with a sandwich, alongside a salad, or all by itself with something for dipping.

🍂 Autumn Crunch Salad
Our first fall-inspired salad of the season starts with fresh mixed greens topped with crispy dried Brussels sprouts and dried asparagus, tart dried cherries, roasted pepitas, thinly sliced red onion, and savory Romano cheese. Everything is finished with our house maple-Dijon vinaigrette, bringing just enough sweetness and tang to balance all those salty, tart, and crunchy flavors. It's fresh enough for these lingering warm afternoons but gives us our first little taste of what's coming next.

🍂 This Week at SG Book Café

🦃 Turkey, Bacon & Cranberry Melt

Tender roasted turkey and applewood-smoked bacon layered with creamy melted Havarti, thinly sliced red onion, and a sweet-and-tangy cranberry-Dijon spread, all served hot on toasted sourdough. It’s crispy, melty, savory, and just a little sweet—the kind of sandwich that feels like our first real nod toward fall without getting ahead of ourselves.

✨ Café Lunch Special — $9.99

Enjoy ½ Turkey, Bacon & Cranberry Melt, a bag of chips, and your choice of:

🌶️ Oscar’s Chili
🥦 Broccoli & Cheddar Soup
🍂 Autumn Crunch Salad

The perfect little lunch for $9.99!

🥐 From the Pastry Case

As we ease into September, the pastry case is getting its first little taste of fall. We're bringing in pumpkin, hanging onto those beautiful late-summer tomatoes, and finishing things off with a dessert that certainly doesn't believe in moderation.

🍅 Goat Cheese & Tomato Egg Puffs — Monday & Wednesday
Flaky, buttery puff pastry filled with tender egg, creamy goat cheese, and ripe tomato, then baked until puffed and golden. The tangy goat cheese and fresh tomato make these a great late-summer breakfast or savory snack—and a pretty delicious way to enjoy those tomatoes while they're still at their best.

🎃 Pumpkin Scones — Tuesday & Thursday
Okay, fine. Pumpkin can come back now. Our first pumpkin bake of the season arrives Tuesday and Thursday with tender, warmly spiced Pumpkin Scones. Just sweet enough for breakfast but perfectly acceptable alongside an afternoon coffee, these are our gentle introduction to fall before pumpkin inevitably begins taking over everything.

🍫 Mississippi Mud Pie — Available All Week
We're going unapologetically decadent for dessert this week with Mississippi Mud Pie. Rich, intensely chocolatey, and wonderfully indulgent, this Southern-inspired favorite layers all the things we love about a great chocolate dessert into one seriously satisfying slice.

🚚 Friday’s $10 Take-Out Special:🍎 Apple Cider Glazed Pork Roast

We are excited to offer this week's take-out special: Apple Cider Glazed Pork Roast with Wild Rice & Mushroom Pilaf and Lemon-Roasted Broccoli.

Did you know that wild rice isn't actually rice at all? It's the grain of an aquatic grass native to North America and has been harvested for centuries, particularly around the Great Lakes, where it has deep cultural importance to Indigenous peoples. Its naturally nutty, earthy flavor also makes it one of my favorite ingredients when the seasons begin to change—and it's been a while since we've given it a place on our Friday dinner menu.

Our Apple Cider Glazed Pork Roast starts with tender pork seasoned with garlic, rosemary, thyme, and cracked black pepper, then slowly roasted and finished with a sweet and tangy apple cider-Dijon glaze. Alongside it, we're serving a hearty Wild Rice & Mushroom Pilaf, folding the wild rice together with savory sautéed mushrooms, roasted onions, fresh herbs, and toasted pecans. To balance all those warm, earthy flavors, we're keeping the vegetable simple with Lemon-Roasted Broccoli, roasted until tender with lightly caramelized edges and finished with a squeeze of fresh lemon.

It's our first real step into the flavors of fall: cider, roasted herbs, mushrooms, wild rice, toasted pecans, and a warm Sunday-roast kind of comfort—all packed into Friday dinner for just $10.

Enjoy this delicious meal with the added perk of free local Friday delivery, or preorder yours for convenient pickup at Stomping Grounds inside the Billings Public Library.

Why You'll Love This Dish:
🍽 Perfect for Sharing: A hearty roast dinner everyone can dig into.
💥 Authentic Flavors: Cider, herbs, mushrooms and wild rice welcome fall.
⏱ Quick & Convenient: A complete homemade dinner ready when you are.
💰 Incredible Value: Pork roast, wild rice and vegetables for just $10.
🌾 Customizable/Gluten-Free Option: Naturally gluten-free with simple ingredients.

📲 How to Order
☕ Dine In – Come see us inside the Billings Public Library.
🥡 Take It To Go – Call ahead and we'll have your order ready.
🚗 Free Local Delivery – Available Friday with our $10 Take-Out Special.
📞 Call or Text: 406-894-8464
📧 Email: [email protected]
🌐 Order Online: stomping-grounds-book-cafe.square.site/home

Friday Take-Out Specials are available for café pick-up or free local delivery.

Pick-Up: Friday from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Delivery: Friday afternoon beginning around 2:30 PM

After-hours pickup is also available. Your order will be safely stored in our café refrigerator, and library staff will be happy to assist you.

And just like that, we're saying goodbye to August and hello to September.

There's always something a little bittersweet about this week. Summer doesn't disappear simply because we turn the page on the calendar. There are still warm evenings ahead, gardens still producing, farmers markets still overflowing, and probably at least a few days when Montana will have us wondering why we ever believed fall was coming at all.

But you can feel the change.

Kids are heading back to school. Mornings are getting cooler. The sun is setting a little earlier. Dinner starts sounding better when it's something warm. And apparently I've decided it's acceptable to make chili and pumpkin scones again.

The seasons are doing what they do.

That's one of the things I've grown to love most about Montana. There's a rhythm to life here that reminds us that we don't have to do everything all the time. Summer can be loud and busy. Fall can bring us home. Winter can slow us down. Spring will eventually wake everything back up again.

So as our families settle back into school schedules and all the routines we've happily ignored for the last few months, I hope we can enjoy this little transition rather than rushing through it.

Open the windows on a rainy afternoon. Go find what's left at the farmers market. Watch one of those ridiculous Montana sunsets. Make something warm for dinner. And maybe—just maybe—admit that Oscar making chili again isn't the worst thing about summer ending.

Here's to backpacks, cooler mornings, changing leaves, warm bowls of soup, and whatever this next season brings.

We'll have the coffee ready. ☕🍂📚
With gratitude,

Oscar

Click here for an update from Stomping Grounds Book Cafe!

One last summer request, one highly demanded chocolate cake, and absolutely no pumpkin spice... yet.Hi Friends!What an a...
08/23/2026

One last summer request, one highly demanded chocolate cake, and absolutely no pumpkin spice... yet.

Hi Friends!

What an amazing week and beautiful weekend we had in Billings.

If you were out and about Saturday, you already know our city was absolutely buzzing. The Yellowstone International Air Show had the Blue Angels roaring overhead all week, while stunt planes seemed to be intentionally falling out of the sky before somehow remembering at the last second that airplanes are supposed to fly. And if you were one of the lucky ones who scored lottery tickets to Banana Ball... just know that the rest of us are jealous.

The Farmers Market was bustling Saturday morning, people were everywhere, and meanwhile, over at the library, we were having a pretty big day of our own.

We spent the morning and afternoon in the Billings Public Library parking lot grilling hundreds of hot dogs for our community, collecting food and supplies for the Tumbleweed Runaway Program, and watching neighbors show up for neighbors. Inside, the Friends of the Library Summer Book Sale was in full swing, while McKenzie and Shay held down Stomping Grounds and kept the coffee flowing.

There were hot dogs on the grill, books changing hands, coffee being poured, boxes filling with donations, and people stopping simply to spend a little time together.

The smiles. The laughs. The grace and gratefulness. Community, with books and coffee.

They say it takes a village. After this weekend, I'm beginning to wonder if maybe all it takes is a library and friends.

❤️ Thank You, Billings

To everyone who came down Saturday, donated, ate a hot dog, bought a book, shared our posts, volunteered, or simply stopped to say hello: thank you.

And to the young people served by Tumbleweed—especially those in our community most deserving of a little extra grace and kindness—I thank all of you on their behalf. Our friends are grateful, and our community is stronger because of what we accomplished together.

There are also some people and businesses I need to recognize personally.

My friend Zack and the team at Healthy Is Wellness have continued to help connect people and organizations throughout our community, making events like this possible. A special thank-you to Courtney, Misty, and her daughter, who came down Saturday and helped me with the boots-on-the-ground work needed to keep everything moving. To the entire Healthy Is Wellness family, near and far: you continue to prove what can happen when people simply care enough to get involved.

A huge thank-you also goes to our new friends at Elevated Home Crafters and Conner, who generously sponsored the meat and buns that kept our grills busy throughout the day; Justice and J&J Photography, who helped sponsor event supplies; and Jen and Skin Body & Soul, who also contributed toward the supplies we needed to pull everything together.

And another special thank-you to Gus and the Healthy Is Wellness team for helping organize the event and providing the truck that will help get our collected donations where they belong.

Of course, none of this happens without the place that brought all of us together in the first place.

📚 Thank You, Billings Public Library

Most importantly, thank you to the Billings Public Library for its continued service and dedication to all of us.

Libraries have always been places for books and learning, but weekends like this remind us that they can be something even bigger. They're places where neighbors meet, kids grow up, ideas are shared, small businesses find a home, people find resources when they need them, and occasionally... someone grills a few hundred hot dogs in the parking lot.

If you weren't able to join us Saturday, the opportunity to help doesn't end with our event. Donations can always be taken directly to Tumbleweed, where they can continue supporting young people in our community.

And if you'd like to thank the volunteers, sponsors, and local businesses who helped us this weekend, there's a very simple way to do it:

Shop local. Eat local. Hire local. Support local.

The dollars we spend with businesses that invest in Billings have a funny way of finding their way right back into our community—in health, wealth, education, opportunity, and kindness.

Saturday was a pretty wonderful example of that.

Thank you, Billings. ❤️

Now let's see what's happening this week at the library, around our community, and—after grilling enough hot dogs to last me a while—what we're cooking at Stomping Grounds. ☕📚🌭

🌆 Community Highlight

🛶 One More Summer Evening at the Montana Audubon Center
📅 Wednesday, August 26 | 4:00–7:00 PM
📍 Montana Audubon Center — 7026 S. Billings Blvd.

We're reaching that point in August when you start realizing there are only so many long summer evenings left. In another few weeks, we'll be reaching for jackets, watching the sun disappear earlier, and wondering why we didn't spend just one more evening outside while we had the chance.

So here's a pretty good opportunity to do exactly that.

The Montana Audubon Center is hosting an Evening Exploration this Wednesday, inviting families and friends to spend a few hours exploring the Center as summer begins its transition toward fall.

Wander the ponds, look for wildlife, see what's changing among the plants, or bring those questions your kids always seem to have about the bugs, birds, and animals they find outside. Naturalists will be available to help, and visitors can borrow field guides, insect nets, and binoculars to do a little exploring of their own.

And perhaps our favorite option: grab a canoe and explore the ponds as the sun begins to set.

There's no complicated itinerary—you get to choose your own adventure and enjoy an evening outside with your family.

Between back-to-school schedules and the first hints of fall creeping closer, these warm evenings are becoming a little more precious. The ponds, canoes, bugs, birds, and summer sunsets will eventually give way to another Montana winter, and opportunities like this won't be back until next year.

So put down the screens, grab the kids or a friend, and spend one more August evening outside.

📚 Library Events

✨ Learn the Glowforge at the CO+LAB
📅 Tuesday, August 25 | 6:00–7:30 PM
📍 Billings Public Library — CO+LAB

One of my favorite things about our library is that you can walk in looking for a book and leave knowing how to operate a laser cutter.

This Tuesday, the Billings Public Library is offering its Glowforge Certification, giving you a chance to learn the basics of one of the coolest pieces of equipment available in the library's CO+LAB.

A Glowforge uses a laser to precisely cut and engrave materials, opening up all kinds of possibilities for creative projects. During the class, you'll learn the basics of operating the machine and create a small project of your own. Complete this certification along with CO+LAB 101, and you'll be able to reserve the library's Glowforge for your own projects during regular CO+LAB open hours.

The program is open to all ages, although it's best suited for ages 12 and older.

Whether you've been dreaming up custom signs, personalized gifts, artwork, or simply want to learn something completely new, this is another great example of how much more there is to discover at the library beyond the bookshelves.

🍲🥗 Soup & Salad Specials

🌱 Last-of-the-Season Cream of Asparagus
We're bringing back Cream of Asparagus for one final batch this year! Earlier in the season, when asparagus was at its best, we turned part of our harvest into a fresh asparagus purée and tucked it away for exactly this occasion. That beautiful spring purée will become a smooth, creamy soup with aromatics, herbs, and just enough richness to complement the asparagus without covering up its delicate flavor. Once this batch is gone, we'll say goodbye to Cream of Asparagus until next year's harvest.

🍓 Strawberry Poppy Seed Crunch Salad
Spring mix, fresh strawberries, goat cheese, cucumber, red onion, candied pecans, and house creamy poppy seed dressing.

🥓 Frisée & Romaine Steakhouse Salad
Frisée and romaine with applewood-smoked bacon, cherry tomatoes, red onion, hard-boiled egg, blue cheese crumbles, and house buttermilk blue cheese dressing.

☕ This Week at SG Book Café

We're holding onto summer for just a little longer this week while also saying goodbye to a few seasonal favorites. With strawberries still sweet, summer produce hanging on, and the last of this year's asparagus waiting in the freezer, we've put together a menu that's fresh, familiar, and just comforting enough for these final days of August.

🥖 Roast Beef Bag Melt

This week's sandwich starts with tender sliced roast beef layered with melted provolone, savory sun-dried tomatoes, and thinly sliced red onion. We finish it with a creamy horseradish-Dijon spread and pile everything onto a warm, toasted baguette. Savory, cheesy, tangy, and just a little sharp from the horseradish, it's a great sandwich for anyone ready for something a little heartier as August winds down.

✨ Café Lunch Special — $9.99

Enjoy ½ Roast Beef Bag Melt, a bag of chips, and your choice of:

🌱 Last-of-the-Season Cream of Asparagus
🍓 Strawberry Poppy Seed Crunch Salad
🥓 Frisée & Romaine Steakhouse Salad

The perfect little lunch for $9.99!

🥐 Daily Baked Specials & Dessert

We're filling the pastry case this week with a savory café favorite, another round of locally made treats from our friend Madisyn, and the return of a chocolate cake that quite a few of you have been asking about!

🥓 Lorraine Puffs — Monday & Wednesday
We're bringing a little French inspiration to the pastry case with our Lorraine Puffs, inspired by the classic flavors of Quiche Lorraine. Flaky, buttery puff pastry is filled with egg, smoky bacon, sautéed onion, and melted cheese, then baked until puffed and golden. It's everything we love about a warm slice of quiche, tucked into a handheld pastry that's perfect alongside your morning coffee.

🍭 Pop'd By Madisyn — Tuesday & Thursday
Our friend Madisyn is keeping us stocked with another round of her handmade cake pops! Her weekly selection of flavors will be available Tuesday and Thursday while supplies last, so check the pastry case when you stop in and see what she's created for us this week. Every cake pop you pick up is also a chance to support two local small businesses at once, and we're always happy to share a little space in our case with another local maker.

🍫 Thee Chocolate Cake — Available All Week

You asked. And asked. And asked... so it's back.

Our highly requested Thee Chocolate Cake returns to the café this week! Rich, deeply chocolatey, and unapologetically decadent, this is the cake for the people who believe there's really no such thing as too much chocolate.

We're only making this one in small quantities, and once the day's slices are gone, they're gone. If you've been waiting for its return—or you've been hearing everyone else talk about it—don't wait until the end of the week to come looking for a slice.

🚚 Friday's $10 Take-Out Special: Grilled Chicken Mediterranean Pasta Salad

Back by popular demand—and one very persistent request from my wife!

Many of you may remember our Grilled Chicken Mediterranean Pasta Salad as one of last summer's Friday take-out dinners, and it was an absolute hit. Several of our regulars have asked when we'd make it again, and truth be told, my wife has been requesting it pretty much all summer. With August quickly coming to an end, I figured we'd better squeeze it in while we still can!

Tender grilled chicken and orzo pasta are tossed with creamy feta cheese, roasted red peppers, Kalamata olives, crisp cucumbers, and ripe summer tomatoes, then dressed simply with extra-virgin olive oil, fresh lemon, herbs, and seasonings. It's bright, colorful, satisfying, and packed with the fresh Mediterranean flavors that made this dish such a favorite the first time around.

One of the best things about this dinner is its versatility. Enjoy it cold straight from the refrigerator or warm it slightly for a softer, more comforting pasta dish. Either way, it makes an easy Friday dinner and an excellent leftover lunch—assuming there's any left.

For one last taste of summer, we're bringing back an old favorite before the season gets away from us.

Why You'll Love This Dish:

🍽 Perfect for Sharing: A generous pasta salad that's easy for everyone to enjoy.
💥 Authentic Flavors: Lemon, feta, and herbs bring Mediterranean flavor.
⏱ Quick & Convenient: Delicious straight from the fridge or gently warmed.
💰 Incredible Value: A fresh, complete handcrafted Friday dinner for only $10.
🌾 Customizable/Gluten-Free Option: Ask about available substitutions when ordering.

Preorder your Grilled Chicken Mediterranean Pasta Salad today and enjoy one last bright, fresh taste of summer before we start making room for all those fall comfort foods!

📲 How to Order

☕ Dine In – Come see us inside the Billings Public Library.
🥪 Take It To Go – Call ahead and we'll have your order ready.
🚗 Free Local Delivery – Available Friday with our $10 Take-Out Special.
📞 Call or Text: 406-894-8464
📧 Email: [email protected]
🌐 Order Online: stomping-grounds-book-cafe.square.site/home

Friday Take-Out Specials are available for café pick-up or free local delivery.

Pick-Up: Friday from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Delivery: Friday afternoon beginning around 2:30 PM

After-hours pickup is also available. Your order will be safely stored in our café refrigerator, and library staff will be happy to assist you.

It's hard to believe we're already looking at the last full week of August.

This time of year always feels a little strange. Summer hasn't gone anywhere yet—the afternoons are still warm, gardens are overflowing, and there are plenty of evenings left to spend outside—but you can feel the calendar beginning to change.

School supplies are appearing on kitchen tables. Morning routines are getting reorganized. Fall activities are starting back up. And somewhere in the distance, pumpkin spice is patiently waiting for its opportunity to take over everything.

But not yet.

We've still got a little summer left, and after the weekend we just had, I'm certainly not ready to rush it away.

Saturday reminded me of something important. Between hundreds of hot dogs, boxes of donations for Tumbleweed, books finding new homes, airplanes roaring overhead, coffee pouring inside the library, and neighbors simply enjoying one another's company, we got to see what makes this community special.

Maybe it really doesn't take a village. Maybe sometimes all it takes is a library and friends.

So this week, let's enjoy what's left.

Take the kids outside. Spend an evening at the Audubon Center. Eat the tomatoes while they're still incredible. Have one more summer dinner on the patio. And if you've been meaning to stop into Stomping Grounds all summer, come see us before September gives us another excuse to say, “Where did the time go?”

We'll have the coffee ready.

See you at Stomping Grounds! ☕📚❤️

With gratitude,

Oscar

Click here for an update from Stomping Grounds Book Cafe!

We took a week off... so naturally we're making up for it with BBQ, books, & beefHi Friends—and we're back!After a littl...
08/16/2026

We took a week off... so naturally we're making up for it with BBQ, books, & beef

Hi Friends—and we're back!

After a little time away, I'm happy to say Stomping Grounds will be back to business as usual beginning Tuesday, August 18, and I'm looking forward to getting behind the counter, turning the espresso machine back on, and seeing all of your familiar faces again.

Our trip to San Diego was wonderful. We traded the Montana summer heat for some absolutely beautiful Southern California weather, spent plenty of time with family, met all the new babies that seem to have appeared since our last visit, and—of course—I managed to sneak in a little fishing.

And I caught a beautiful California sheephead!

For those unfamiliar, despite the name, it is neither a sheep nor particularly interested in herding anything. It is, however, a wonderfully strange-looking fish with a set of teeth that makes you reconsider who's actually catching whom. 🎣😂

More importantly, it was a chance to get out on the water and fish with family, which is always one of the things I look forward to most when I'm back home.

The biggest reason for the trip, though, was bringing Olivia home from her summer in California, and I'm happy to report that we both made it back to Montana safe, sound, and on time.

Beni definitely missed his big sister. After nearly three months apart, I think all of us were a little shocked when we saw the two of them together again. Somehow they both seem to have grown tremendously over one summer! Clothes are getting shorter, shoes are getting smaller, and suddenly we're looking at two kids who seem noticeably bigger than the ones we started summer with.

Now we're reunited, summer vacation is winding down, and the great back-to-school adventure is officially upon us.

Meanwhile, back at Stomping Grounds, we're jumping right back into things.

Beginning Tuesday, August 18, you'll see me, McKenzie, and Shay throughout the week as we settle back into our normal routine. We've got fresh café specials planned, Friday dinner is back, and then we're going all out for one final summer celebration.

🌭 Something BIG Is Happening Saturday!

Mark your calendars for Saturday, August 22, because we're bringing together a Community BBQ, Food Drive, and Friends of the Library Summer Book Sale at the Billings Public Library!

We're inviting our neighbors to come down, grab a hot dog, chips, and a pop—no questions asked and no donation required—and simply enjoy a meal together.

At the same time, we'll be collecting much-needed food, clothing, toiletries, personal-care products, and other supplies for Tumbleweed, supporting teens and young adults in our community. And while you're here, you'll also be able to dig through the Friends of the Library Summer Book Sale and hopefully head home with a few new reads.

Food, books, community, and a chance to help our neighbors. That's a pretty good way to send summer off if you ask me.

We'll have much more about the BBQ, Food Drive, and Book Sale in this week's Community and Library sections, and you'll probably hear us talking about it nonstop at the café. Please help us spread the word throughout the week!

After a wonderful trip, a family reunited, and a little time away from the kitchen, I'm ready to get back to work.

We've got one big week ahead of us.

Let's make the most of what's left of summer. ☀️☕📚

🌆 Community Highlight

🌭 End-of-Summer BBQ & Tumbleweed Food Drive
📅 Saturday, August 22 | 9:00 AM–2:00 PM
📍 Billings Public Library

We're sending summer out the Stomping Grounds way—with good food, good neighbors, and an opportunity to help our community.

This Saturday, we're rallying together at the Billings Public Library for a Community BBQ benefiting Tumbleweed, and everyone is invited!

We'll be serving up hot dogs, chips, and cold pop completely free of charge. There are no requirements, no strings attached, and absolutely no expectation that you bring a donation.
You do not have to give anything to come eat.

Come hungry. Bring the kids. Grab some lunch. Sit down with your neighbors. That's what a community BBQ is supposed to be.

❤️ But If You Can Give, Let's Fill Those Boxes!
Tumbleweed recently raised the flag that their pantry and supplies are running low. They serve teens and young adults in our community, so we're using Saturday's gathering as an opportunity to rally behind them.

We'll be collecting items throughout the event, including:

🥫 Shelf-stable foods
🧴 Personal care & toiletries
🧦 Clothing & everyday necessities
🧺 Other useful supplies — laundry products, hygiene supplies and everyday essentials

Everything we collect will be packed up and delivered to Tumbleweed on Monday, August 24.

Maybe you can fill a grocery bag. Maybe you can bring one toothbrush. Maybe you're not in a position to bring anything at all.

Come anyway.

This isn't about the size of the donation. It's about getting our community together, sharing a meal, and showing some support for young people in Billings who could use a hand.

📚 Library Events

📚 Friends of Billings Public Library Pop-Up Book Sale
📅 Saturday, August 22 | 9:00 AM–2:00 PM
📍 The Book Nook – Billings Public Library

Book lovers, this Saturday is for you!
The Friends of Billings Public Library are opening up the Book Nook for a special Pop-Up Book Sale, giving you the perfect excuse to stock your shelves before we head into fall reading season.

You'll find quality books at bargain prices, whether you're hunting for your next great read, looking for something for the kids, or shopping for the bibliophile in your life. And there's an even better reason to leave with an armful: every purchase helps support Billings Public Library programs and services.

🍲🥗 Soup & Salad Specials

We're coming back from our week away right as gardens and farmers markets around Billings are overflowing with some of the best produce of the summer. This week we're letting late August do the menu planning for us, with ripe tomatoes, sweet corn, fresh peaches, crisp cucumbers, and plenty of bright summer flavor.

🍅 Garden-Fresh Gazpacho
Tomatoes are officially in full bloom, which means it's time to bring back one of our favorite cold summer soups! Our Garden-Fresh Gazpacho begins with beautifully ripe summer tomatoes blended with crisp cucumber, sweet bell pepper, onion, fresh garlic, extra-virgin olive oil, and just the right splash of vinegar. Served chilled, it's bright, savory, refreshing, and packed with fresh vegetables—the perfect way to enjoy summer tomatoes while they're at their absolute best.

🌻 Montana Harvest Salad
We're taking inspiration straight from our local farmers markets for this one. Fresh spring mix is topped with juicy sliced peaches, ripe heirloom cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, sweet summer corn, crumbled feta, toasted sunflower seeds, and fresh basil, then finished with our house Honey-Basil Vinaigrette. Sweet, salty, crisp, and colorful, this salad tastes like late summer in Montana on a plate.

🌽🥑 SG Southwestern Caesar
We're taking the classic Caesar south of the border and giving it the Stomping Grounds treatment! Crisp chopped romaine is topped with charred sweet corn, seasoned black beans, creamy avocado, cherry tomatoes, shaved Parmesan, fresh cilantro, and crunchy tortilla strips, then tossed in our house Lime-Caesar Dressing with fresh lime, garlic, Parmesan, and a touch of cilantro.

🥪 This Week at SG Book Café

🌿 Pesto Chicken Ciabatta

We're keeping things fresh and summery for our first week back! Our Pesto Chicken Ciabatta features tender roasted chicken layered with fresh mozzarella, ripe summer tomatoes, fresh basil, and savory basil pesto on a toasted ciabatta roll. A light drizzle of balsamic glaze adds just enough sweetness and acidity to bring everything together, giving us a warm, melty sandwich that celebrates some of the best flavors of tomato and basil season.

✨ Café Lunch Special — $9.99

Enjoy ½ Pesto Chicken Ciabatta, a bag of chips, and your choice of:

🍅 Garden-Fresh Gazpacho
🌻 Montana Harvest Salad
🌽 SG Southwestern Caesar

The perfect little lunch for $9.99!

Daily Baked Specials

🥓 Breakfast Pasty — Tuesday
Remember my Montana pasty crash course before we left? Well... it went great—until it didn't. 😂 I learned a lot, received some wonderful advice, and discovered that I still have a little work to do before I'm ready to challenge anyone's grandmother from Butte.

We'll revisit the traditional pasty next week. Until then, I'm sticking with what I know! Tuesday we'll have our Breakfast Pasty, made Stomping Grounds-style with flaky puff pastry wrapped around seasoned eggs, crispy bacon, and melted cheese. It may not earn me honorary citizenship in Butte, but I know it'll taste good with your morning coffee.

🥨 Caramel Fudge Pretzel Brownie — Wednesday & Thursday
Sweet, salty, fudgy, and just a little over the top. Our rich chocolate brownie is loaded with gooey caramel, chocolate fudge, and crunchy salted pretzels, bringing together everything we love about that classic sweet-and-salty combination. Grab one with your afternoon coffee—or take it home and pretend you were planning to share it.

🥧 Pecan Pie — Available All Week
We're welcoming ourselves back with another one of my personal requests: Pecan Pie! Toasted pecans are baked into a rich, buttery filling inside a flaky pastry crust for that unmistakable combination of caramelized sweetness and nutty crunch. It's an old-fashioned favorite that may usually get most of its attention around the holidays, but I see absolutely no reason we should have to wait until November to enjoy a slice.

🚚 Friday's $10 Take-Out Special: BBQ Braised Beef Skillet

🔥 BBQ Braised Beef Skillet

We're coming back from our week away with a Friday dinner built around big summer BBQ flavor and good old-fashioned comfort food.

Our BBQ Braised Beef Skillet starts with tender, fire-braised diced beef and herb-roasted potatoes, tossed with sweet corn, roasted red peppers, and sautéed onions. Instead of simply covering everything in barbecue sauce, we're bringing it together with a smoky BBQ beef jus, combining savory beef juices with our BBQ sauce, Worcestershire, and a touch of Dijon for a sauce that's rich, smoky, tangy, and just sweet enough.

Everything is topped with melted sharp cheddar and crispy fried onions before heading out the door, giving you tender beef, roasted potatoes, sweet summer corn, gooey cheese, and a little crunch in every serving.

It's part backyard BBQ, part steak-and-potatoes dinner, and exactly the kind of hearty meal we wanted for our first Friday back.

Why You'll Love This Dish:

🍽 Perfect for Sharing: A hearty BBQ supper the whole family can dig into.
💥 Authentic Flavors: Fire-braised beef, BBQ, cheddar and roasted veggies.
Quick & Convenient: Heat it up and Friday dinner is ready without the work.
💰 Incredible Value: A hearty, handcrafted comfort-food dinner for only $10.
🌾 Customizable/Gluten-Free Option: Ask about available substitutions when ordering.

Preorder your BBQ Braised Beef Skillet today and treat yourself to a smoky, comforting Friday dinner delivered straight to your doorstep. Don't miss out on this delicious opportunity!

📲 How to Order

☕ Dine In – Join us inside the Billings Public Library.
🥪 Take It To Go – Call ahead and we'll have your order waiting.
🚗 Free Local Delivery – Available every Friday with our $10 Take-Out Special.
📞 Call or Text: 406-894-8464
📧 Email: [email protected]
🌐 Order Online: stomping-grounds-book-cafe.square.site/home

Friday Take-Out Specials are available for café pick-up or free local delivery

Pick-Up: Friday from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Delivery: Friday afternoon beginning around 2:30 PM

After-hours pickup is also available. Your order will be safely stored in our café refrigerator, and library staff will be happy to assist you.

As always, preordering is encouraged, as our Friday dinners frequently sell out!

After a summer filled with farmers markets, hot afternoons, library programs, new employees, family adventures, hospital visits we'd rather forget, and more than a few experiments in puff pastry, this feels like a pretty fitting way to start saying goodbye to summer.

So let's make it a good one.

We'll see you at the café—and we'll definitely see you Saturday!

With gratitude,

Oscar ☕📚

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Address

510 North Broadway
Billings, MT

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 6pm
Saturday 9am - 4pm

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