Oak smoked bison. Navajo tea braised pork belly. Southern Ute raised buffalo stew and fry bread.

Um, can you say, “Drooooool?” Probably not because, well, you’re drooling so much.

It’s time to celebrate the third annual Taste of Native Cuisine and Culture Expo at the Southern Ute Cultural Center and Museum in Ignacio, Colorado, a quick, 30-minute drive southeast of Durango.

The event is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, and features new twists on traditional entrees and deserts prepared by professional chefs M. Karlos Baca and Anthony Hamlin. The event will also feature live music, Ute dancers and singers, and activities for adults and children alike.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for kids age 7 to 15. Children younger than 7 get in free with an adult.

Even if you can’t make it to the Taste of Native Cuisine and Culture Expo this weekend, the Southern Ute Cultural Center and Museum is worth a visit anytime. The center’s stunning new building is located at 77 County Road 517, Ignacio, CO 81137. And the next time you visit Durango, be sure to book your room with us at the Durango Quality Inn!