vote no on Nov. 4 Bozeman Water Adequacy Ballot Initiative vote no on Nov. 4 Bozeman Water Adequacy Ballot Initiative vote no on Nov. 4 Bozeman Water Adequacy Ballot Initiative
Subscribe
  • News
    • Wildfire News
    • Local
    • Bozeman
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners News
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events
Menu
  • News
    • Wildfire News
    • Local
    • Bozeman
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners News
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events

Café Madriz builds success, ramps up year-round catering

in Yellowstone
Megan Paulsonby Megan Paulson
November 24, 2012

By Megan Paulson Big Sky Weekly Staff Writer

WEST YELLOWSTONE – Two years ago, Elena deDiego took a big risk – shifting from her longstanding career in the hospitality industry to opening an authentic Spanish tapas restaurant in West Yellowstone.

Her motto is simple – “Eat when you drink, drink when you eat.”

How do you want your public dollars invested? Get involved in the FY26 Grant Cycle by clicking the image. How do you want your public dollars invested? Get involved in the FY26 Grant Cycle by clicking the image. How do you want your public dollars invested? Get involved in the FY26 Grant Cycle by clicking the image.
ADVERTISEMENT

As owner and chef of Café Madriz, deDiego’s inspiration came largely from her grandmother and family, who are rooted in the restaurant business in Madrid, Spain.

“My passion for food started at a very early age, watching my grandma, Vicenta, prepare outrageous ‘banquets’ for the Sunday lunch family tradition,” deDiego says. “Even though the gathering did not have more that seven or eight people, Grandma Vicenta would make enough food to feed a soccer stadium.”

Today, the success of Café Madriz was more than deDiego ever expected, and one she says validates her hard work. The business is seasonal; May through September, the café is open seven days a week. As the sole chef, deDiego typically works 16 hours a day, making every dish by hand. This summer alone, she made more than 1,500 orders of Paella.

In a relatively short timespan, Café Madriz has climbed to the top of TripAdvisor rankings, holding at nearly five stars, and currently is No. four out of 45 restaurants in West Yellowstone.

In June, Mark Bittman, book author and food columnist for The New York Times, stumbled upon Café Madriz.

“We spent a couple of days in Yellowstone, sleeping in West Yellowstone, Mont.,” he wrote in a June 27 dining feature in The Times, “…we found Café Madriz, a Spanish restaurant with a level of authenticity you could admire almost anywhere in this country…This exception was noteworthy.”

Building on this success, deDiego has added a catering and private dinner service for West Yellowstone, Bozeman, Big Sky and greater Gallatin Valley.

The core of Spanish cuisine and tapas is very social – eating, drinking, and enjoying time with friends and family – and deDiego’s private catering will be accordingly intimate, an interactive dining experience.

“From a catering aspect, I can truly customize whatever the client wants,” she said. She’s targeting the services for groups of 20 or less, because “it’s the more intimate setting that makes a memorable experience.”

DeDiego believes the Café Madriz’s popularity stems from the quality ingredients she uses, and she takes pride in offering down-to-earth, delicious, uncomplicated food. “You don’t have to do anything fancy, the food does the talking.”

The catering menu has everything from homemade soups and salads, to hot and cold tapas, desserts, wine, beer, sangria and imported Spanish products including Manchego cheese, Serrano ham and chorizo.

“I can customize any meal – if you’ve tasted something on your travels before and it’s not on the menu, that’s OK – I am happy to make it,” deDiego said. “There are literally thousands of tapas combinations to try.”

The staples on her menu fall into vegetarian and gluten free categories. “It’s how I have cooked and the Spanish have eaten for years,” she said.

To book a private dinner, custom event or Spanish tapas party, contact Elena deDiego at cafemadriz@hotmail.com or (406) 600-1947. View photos and see a menu of Café Madriz signature dishes online at:
explorebigsky.com/cafemadriz.

Yellowstone National Park Lodge Yellowstone National Park Lodge
ADVERTISEMENT

Listen

Outlaw Beat Podcast

Joe Borden & Michele Veale Borden

Lastest Episode
See More Episodes
outlaw realty montana outlaw realty montana
ADVERTISEMENT
Outlaw Realty Big Sky Bozeman
ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

Oct 18
11:00 am - 5:00 pm Event Series

“FALL COLORS” Big Sky Artists’ Collective

Oct 19
11:00 am - 5:00 pm Event Series

“FALL COLORS” Big Sky Artists’ Collective

Oct 20
9:00 am - 12:00 pm Event Series

Community Hike Big Sky

Oct 20
11:00 am - 5:00 pm Event Series

“FALL COLORS” Big Sky Artists’ Collective

Oct 20
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Al-Anon Support Group

View Calendar
Event Calendar

Related Posts

Park visitors find open gates at Yellowstone on first day of government shutdown 
Regional

Park visitors find open gates at Yellowstone on first day of government shutdown 

October 3, 2025
Yellowstone ecosystem grizzlies dying at record pace in 2025
Regional

Yellowstone ecosystem grizzlies dying at record pace in 2025

October 3, 2025
What happens to the national parks if the federal government shuts down? 
Regional

What happens to the national parks if the federal government shuts down? 

October 1, 2025
Community Spotlight: The newly wed and the nearly dead
Community Stories

Community Spotlight: The newly wed and the nearly dead

September 25, 2025

An Outlaw Partners Publication

Facebook-f Instagram X-twitter Youtube

Explore Big Sky

  • About/Contact
  • Advertise
  • Publications
  • Subscriptions
  • Podcast
  • Submissions

Outlaw Brands

  • Mountain Outlaw
  • Plan Yellowstone
  • Big Sky PBR
  • Wildlands Music
  • Outlaw Partners
  • Outlaw Realty
  • Hey Bear

Copyright © 2025 Explore Big Sky | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Your Privacy Choices

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Bozeman News
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Outlaw Partners News
  • Yellowstone
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Real Estate
  • Events

©2024 Outlaw Partners, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Explore Big Sky Logo
  • News
    • Wildfire News
    • Local
    • Bozeman
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners News
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events
Subscribe
Facebook X-twitter Instagram Youtube