Patty and Keith Barnhart (Lakeview) are traditional cooks who make a variety of dishes for visitors at their Willow Springs Guest Ranch. The two have been preparing “pioneer” meals in Dutch ovens for more than 25 years. Signature dishes include pork chops and applesauce.
Bio
Keith and Patty Barnhart cook outdoor meals in dutch ovens for their guests at their Willow Springs Guest Ranch, a bed and breakfast ranch consisting of two off-the grid guest cabins. Keith and Patty prepare dinners for guests using the homemade produce from their garden and the dutch ovens in their outdoor kitchen. Breakfast is made and served in their home, which is also off the grid. Nestled in the mountains north of Lakeview, the Willow Springs Guest Ranch is off the beaten path. Guests come to the ranch to get away from it all, seeking recreational pursuits such as trail riding, hiking, fishing, bird watching and photography. Twenty-five years ago, the Barnharts were introduced to dutch oven cooking through a trail riding club, learning the basics from an experienced dutch oven cook. They continued to cook for their horse club on trail rides, providing the group meals and experimenting with various dishes. They liked dutch oven cooking so much, appealing, as it does, to “their inner pioneer,” that they sought to purchase a ranch setting to establish a guest ranch that would feature dutch oven cooking. Willow Springs Creek fit the bill, with its location near public lands for trail riding (they used to offer horses for rental) and a peaceful setting for out of the way vacationing. While still close enough to town (Patty has a day job in Lakeview), Willow Springs Guest Ranch is a destination vacation for people wanting a personalized experience. Meals are cooked and served outdoors, weather permitting, and the Barnharts join their guests at the meal. Signature dishes include pork chops, applesauce, and peach cobbler.
