The Fearless Foodie

                                                         

ByScott Heiner

The “Chocolate Bear Trapper”…and Pizza…and Raspberries, oh my!

Everybody knows about the England Families’ food establishments, The Bear Trapper, Bear Lake Pizza and The Chocolate Bear, but how much do you really know about their background?

Bill England has a deep and life-long experience in the food, restaurant and hospitality business.  He got his start early, working at several departments in a grocery store at age 14 and then at a pizza parlor at age 18 in Idaho Falls.

After serving an LDS mission, Bill married Barbara and managed Ginzy’s restaurants in two locations in the Idaho Falls area—they were an interesting combination pizza parlor and Mexican restaurants.  They even offered a Mexican-style pizza.  The Englands also owned a popular deli called “Mr. E’s” which included a bakery and sweet shop called “Sweet Treat Cookery.” This was managed by Barbara where she learned everything about making chocolates and other confections.

Bill and Barbara had numerous ventures—too many to count—in Rexburg, Idaho Falls, Twin Falls and Portland, Oregon and surrounding areas.  Bill managed and built everything from simple establishments like “Hot-Digitty Dog” and Karmelkorn place to the most elegant and expensive restaurants in Idaho.  At one point, Bill managed the prestigious Blue Lakes Inn restaurant in Twin Falls.  For this, Bill hired an executive chef who had retired from the US Navy.  Her guests had exclusively been the very top naval brass in Hawaii.   From this mentor, Bill learned about the world’s finest cuisines.  Thus, over the years, he amassed deep experience in the whole spectrum of the culinary world from hot dogs to escargot.

The Englands were immersed in their businesses in Idaho Falls when Earl Holding, the owner of famous Little America hotel in Wyoming, tried to hire Bill to run his restaurant.  Bill had no interest, but on a whim, decided it would be fun to drive out there for a getaway with Barbara.  Bill interviewed for the job, but declined the offer.  There was a relative silence as they drove back, and just as they pulled in back home Barbara suddenly turned to him and said, “You’re going to take that job, aren’t you?”  He admitted that he felt like he should, but didn’t know why.

Once again, the family picked up and moved to Wyoming where Bill managed the restaurant and fuel center there for over 13 years.  Barbara ran the bakery and the gift shops.  Their children worked there as well; Bret even as a teenager became a line cook.  Bill later realized one important purpose of his family being there was their major role in establishing a branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the area.

The Englands enjoyed vacationing at Bear Lake, so they bought and remodeled a home in Sweetwater which they used part-time.  In 1999 Bill left his employment at Little America and moved the family here permanently.

Bill became a partner at Bear Lake Pizza.  At the time, it was a run-down dark and dingy dive—the kind of place your mother would warn you not to go to--so Bill convinced the owner that it needed a makeover.  They totally renovated the place into the warm and welcoming atmosphere it is now.  Bill soon thereafter bought out the other partner.  One of their specialties is the 28-inch “Old Ephraim Pizza.”

The Englands then bought the next-door property and built a new restaurant in its place.  They heard that the Mirage Casino in Las Vegas was closing their steak house, so they went down there and got the Mirage’s tables and chairs to furnish their new restaurant.  In 2004, they opened Bear Trapper, a family restaurant with a warm but rustic ambiance.  They serve steaks, chicken, burgers and salads but the most popular items on their menu are the prime rib and their Bar-B-Q ribs.

In 2005, their oldest son, Bret, with new college degrees in culinary art and business administration, moved to Bear Lake and joined the family business.  Bret married Jenny Price from the area, also a welcome asset with extensive experience in the culinary world.  Her family owned Grandma’s Pantry, a bakery and sandwich shop.  Jenny has a deep knowledge of Bear Lake raspberries; LaVoy Hildt, the person who first raised the famous Bear Lake raspberries commercially, is her great-grandfather.  Later, Bill’s younger brother, Joe also moved his family to the area and began helping in the business.

In 2006, Barbara opened The Chocolate Bear attached to Bear Lake Pizza.  They specialize in chocolate-dipped raspberries, jams, syrups, homemade chocolates and fudge.  About 70% of their merchandise is hand-made.  Their products are so popular that they get orders from people all over the world to ship to.

Bill says the most rewarding thing about the food business is the relationships he builds with his employees and customers.  Some of the celebrities who have eaten at his establishments include Olympic wrestler Rulon Gardner, several of the Utah Jazz, comedian Rich Little and actress Demi Moore.  He also says he has hosted many General Authorities including most of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.  Their business philosophy is emphasis on a clean facility, fresh food and the people.  Their website is www.BearTrapperRestaurant.com.