Originally published in Yellowstone Valley Woman.
Marcy Tatarka nurtured many appetites with her company, Beyond Basil Catering, which she launched in the early 1990s. Though she shuttered the business in 2015, she continues to embody the spirit of “beyond,” the very word that defined her culinary journey.
In originally selecting the name, “I love herbs, and I wanted something that reflected me,” Marcy says. “I loved freshness, but I was always pushing it a little further.”
Pushing it “a little further” is one of Marcy’s mantras. That was evident in the recipe she provided for Yellowstone Valley Woman Magazine’s very first food article and in its inaugural issue 25 years ago. Her Soft Shell Crab Tacos and Chili Lime Shrimp Tostadas were ahead of the times here in Billings, using unique ingredients and flavor combinations. The mission was to fulfill Lent without the Tuna Noodle Casserole. In honor of our milestone anniversary, we asked Marcy to revamp those first recipes. She returned by offering a Duck Tostada with Sweet Potato Salsa and Crema rich giving a nod to local ingredients and clearly going “Beyond Basil.”…