STIR Eatery & Lounge ...

Under new ownership, the once bar only atmosphere has been transformed into a great restaurant and lounge.  A new menu, with offerings for lunch, dinner, and appetizers, accompanies a fun cocktail list.  If you're on the north side of Spokane, this is a great alternative when you want that downtown experience.

Read about some of my favorites menu items in the October issue of Spokane Coeur d'Alene Living magazine on pages 188-191.

The entire review is available online through spokanecda.com.

Welcome to the "Wet" Bluff: Touring the other side of Green Bluff ...

Just outside of Spokane is a great little area known for family farms, fresh products, and special events.  The are called Green Bluff, now gives you five more reasons to make your way up the hill - to the "wet" side.
With two wineries, a brewery, hard cider house, and meadery, the wet side of the bluff has some fun and exciting tasting rooms to be explored.  If you can't make it up before the snow starts, mark you calendar to visit next spring.

Read about Big Barn Brewing, Hierophant Meadery, Townshend Cellars, Trezzi Farm Cellars, and Twilight Cider Works in this months Local Cuisine feature of Spokane Coeur d'Alene Living magazine pages 181-183.

The complete article with contact information for each can be found through spokanecda.com.

Milford's Fish House ...

I had the great pleasure to visit Milford's Fish House to sample their signature dish, the Seafood Sauté - "Lisa".  This Spokane landmark restaurant is a mix of Pacific Northwest, Asian influences, and Louisiana Gulf Coast.  Be sure to try a bowl of the Manhattan clam chowder with its' Louisiana personality - or as I have come to call it a "better" version of Manhattan chowder.

Learn more about Milford's and this dish in this September issue of Spokane Coeur d'Alene Living page 203.

To read the complete article online go to spokanecda.com.

Legendary Lentil Cook-Off at the National Lentil Festival ...

(August 16-17, 2013)

My day at the 25th Annual National Lentil Festival started with an early morning lentil-pancake breakfast before a ride on a fire truck in the Grand Parade.  The festival is held each August in Pullman, Washington which is located in the heart of the Palouse where nearly 25% of all the lentils in the USA are grown.  This two-day event is filled with lots of lentil treats - including some amazing lentil ice cream - and great entertainment.

I was invited by the Festival Committee to be one of the five celebrity judges for the Legendary Lentil Cook-Off.  More than 100 contestants were considered based on their submissions of creative lentil recipes, all competing for the chance to win a $2000 grand prize.  After careful consideration by the committee, five finalist were selected.  The finalist were invited to prepare their recipe at the Festival for a live judging in front of the thousands of attendees.

Photo provided by The National Lentil Festival

Congratulations to all of the finalist who presented tasty and creative lentil dishes.  It was a fun weekend from the pancake breakfast, getting to ride on the fire truck, judging the dishes, and relaxing in the beer garden - all in a day's hard work.  A big thank you to the Festival Committee for inviting me to participate in this fabulous event!

This  year's winner was Patricia Franks of  Valleyford, Washington for her Crimson Lentil Granola. You can find this recipe and many others in the annual lentil cookbook. To order a copy go here – The National Lentil Festival: Bestsellers.

If you're local this is a must participate event.  For everyone else, I encourage you to submit your creative lentil recipes for next year.  Learn more about the festival and contest at  www.lentilfest.com.

Cassano's Italian Grocery and Deli ...

The kind of place you may drive by daily and never give a second look, Cassano's is a hidden treasure of Italian specialties.  This neighborhood grocer and restaurant reminded me of my time spent on the East Coast in the boroughs of New York City, an incredible selection of meats and cheeses, take home pizza, and daily specials.  This place needs to be added to your GPS address book today.

You can read more about Cassano's in the July/August issue of Spokane Coeur d'Alene Living on pages 190-193.

Read the complete article and restaurant review online through the spokanecda.com website.

A little business trip to Juneau ...

A unique opportunity presented itself for a little business trip to Juneau, Alaska - which of course I had to say "yes".  You can only get to Juneau by air or sea, there are no land routes as the city is surrounded by significant mountains and more significant ice fields.

Although we are on the cusp of the summer solstice, it can still be cool and down right cold in Juneau; however, this year has been interesting with warm weather and little rain, making for a great time to make the trip.

Juneau is a small community of about 35,000, people that is, and some 20,000 bald eagles and a few thousand black and brown bear. While I didn't cross paths with an brown bears, I did see (from a safe distance or inside a vehicle) several black bears, and the number of eagles of I saw at the base of the glacier was too many to count.  As soon as you leave the downtown area, you are quickly reminded this is a remote wilderness.

Note: When you hotel doesn't have air conditioning and you open the window to get a little air flow, remember to check to see if your room's window is at ground level or might just wake up with a new fury friend joining you.

There are lots of great places to eat or have a drink, but one destination you should make is the Mount Roberts Tramway.  No reservation is generally needed and at the top you can enjoy great views a meal and a beverage.  Since this is Juneau, I had to go with a selection from the Alaskan Brewing Co. of Juneau.

Another recommend for halibut fish and chips is the Sandbar & Grill, located at 2525 Industrial Blvd. just outside of the city center.

Gin: The original flavored spirt ...

I have been wanting to write this piece for more than a year and it finally found its way into the mix for this month's Liquid Libations section of the magazine.  When it comes to spirits, it's all about Gin for me.  While I enjoy Rum, Tequila, and occasionally even Vodka, I am first and foremost a Gin drinker.

I think you will enjoy the article as it teaches you about the history, styles and characteristics of gin. Plus I gave away my recipe for the "Jimmy Hendricks", the ultimate summer cocktail - whether you are making just one or a pitcher full.

You can read the entire piece on pages 205-206 at spokanecda.com