Coeur d’Alene — Owners Deborah and Hunter, the parents of two, opened the family friendly Book & Bean less than two months ago. This coffee house, featuring a large play area for children, shelves of children’s books for purchase, as well as the usual coffee house set-up (adult tables and chairs), was a way for the couple to create a place where both parents and kids could go and feel at ease and … have fun! Moms and dads alike will enjoy taking the kids out, avoiding the stress of adult-centered coffee houses. They offer espresso for the parents, along with child-friendly snacks and beverages.
The Book & Bean is located at 3115 N. Government Way, Ste. #3, just south of Costco.
CHEFS TALENTS SHOWN BRIGHTLY BY THEIR CHOICE OF FOODS AND CREATIVITY.
The Artisan Culinary Lounge, located inside the Ridpath Hotel in Spokane, Wash., was home to the first ever Premier Chefs Northwest Fusion Wine Dinner, held Sept. 9, 2007. Cuisine Northwest Executive Chef Gonzo Carrillo paired up with Moxie’s Owner/Executive Chef Ian Wingate and showcased a magnificent five-course meal. Guest Sommelier Sam Lange’s wine selections, which accompanied the dishes, were right on target.
The RECEPTION was only a peek of what was to come throughout the night in terms of flavorful, inventive and creative dishes, not to mention their perfect accompaniment of wines. The appetizer, Golden Yukon Potato Cake with Pan-seared Ahi, was served with local Spokane winery Mountain Dome Sparkling Brut. The FIRST COURSE consisted of a truly delectable Crab Trio to include Tempura Soft-shelled Crab, Dungeoness Crab Cakes and Crab Louie, paired with Walla Walla winery Long Shadows‘ Poet Riesling, which was smooth, and not as sweet and tart as most Rieslings. The SECOND COURSE included a Duck Salad with a Sweet Chili Basil Vinaigrette and paired with another local wine—-Lone Canary’s Sauvignon Blanc ‘04. The THIRD COURSE offered patrons a Seared Chilean Sea Bass and Glazed Pork with Mushrooms, served with Oregon winery Panther Creek Cellars‘ Pinot Noir ‘03. The FOURTH COURSE was made up of Beef Tenderloin with Wild Mushroom Strudel, Pan-seared Foiegras and Sweet Potato Polenta with a Huckleberry Demi. This course was paired with Walla Walla winery Dunham Cellars‘ Syrah ‘o4. The FIFTH AND FINAL COURSE, dessert, was a Trio of Seasonal Fruit Crisp paired with L’Ecole #41 Semillon Ice Wine ‘03 from Walla Walla.
From beginning to end, the food, the wine and the atmosphere were incredible. Each wine was the perfect accompaniment to the creative dishes fashioned by chefs Gonzo and Ian. Host and Guest Sommelier Sam Lange, former Beverly’s Master Sommelier, truly shined in showing his pairing expertise, for every wine paired beautifully with the dishes they supported.
And there’s more to come from Cuisine Northwest … Chef Gonzo will be partnering with other chefs from the area and beyond for future Premier Chefs Northwest Fusion Wine Dinners, so be sure not to miss them. I know I won’t.
For more information on upcoming Premier Chefs Northwest Fusion Wine Dinners, call:
Wine brings gladness, as the sages have reiterated through the centuries, and it is no different today. The Inland Northwest community is experiencing the juicy explosion of wine, sporting world-class vineyards and local wineries that bring the full experience of wine closer to home. Enoteca is the first and only dedicated fine wine shop in PostFalls.
Visit Enoteca and owners Sarah and Russell Mann for an experience in wine and a knowledgeable staff who can help guide you in your choices!
Are you new to wine? Or an experienced wineaux? Start with a wine tasting social, held each weekend, designed to give you a new experience each week and allow you the opportunity to taste before you buy. This will allow you to discover more wines than you normally would if you had to buy the whole bottle just to try it. For an adventure in wine, check out the monthly wine club subscription where they select special wines with expertise and a keen “taste” in keeping with the dynamic quality of the world of wine today. Expand your horizons! Explore their shelves stocked with great local wines, rarities from around the world and solid favorites to complement any meal or occasion. Enoteca also offers wine education classes to further your understanding and enjoyment of wine!
Enoteca also carries a fine selection of import and micro-brew beers and is an excellent place to explore the world of beer. The fine beer club is a monthly subscription to interesting and unique beers from around the world, beer tasting events are held monthly and the shelves are stocked with a selection of unique and flavorful brews.
Are you looking for a specific wine or beer? Call (208) 457-9885 and experience great service. Enoteca’s staff can track down whatever you need! Sign up for their informative e-newsletter on their Web site at CorkJoy.com
Taste the Washington countryside by attending the Taste Washington wine and food event at the Davenport Hotel this Sunday. Sample over 100 Wash. wineries and tasty tidbits from area restaurants. Learn about the fine offerings that make up the acclaimed wines that are coming from Washington grown grapes. This is one event that even a non-wineaux would love because the tasting range will suit almost any palate.
June 4th, The Downriver Grill and Robert Karl Cellars are pairing up for a winemaker dinner! Winemaker Joe Gunselman will be pairing his creations with the Downriver chef’s creations to find some tasty pairings that complement each other well.
On a little side trip to Pullman… we were on the hunt for our “Taste worth the Trip” feature for the upcoming issue of the Idaho Cuisine. Hearing about Merry Cellars wines and Swilly’s we decided to embark on the drive to Pullman to check them out.
WOW! Not only are they both a taste worth the trip…. Merry Cellars is producing some real contenders for anyone’s fine wine list and Swilly’s is far and away the absolute top of the list for our taste worth the trip feature! The service was amazing and the food simply superb!
Our server Rosie, is a student at the Viticulture and Enology program at EWU and delightfully informed us of the happenings around Pullman. She is definitely working at the right place. She knows food, she knows wine… she has the perfect balance of being there at the table for our needs and being gone from the table without ignoring us.
This warm and romantic restaurant is popular for a good reason! The food was quite remarkable with every taste and the mood is French Cafe style… find out more in the upcoming issue of Idaho Cuisine!
Thanks to owner/chef Joan… for creating such a wonderful place, and thank you Rosie for such great service!
The ninth annual mARTi gras benefit for Art on the Edge was a huge success downtown Coeur d’Alene Saturday. The third year for the Cajun Cook-off brought hundreds of revelers through different venues, while tasting the Cajun delicacies prepared by some of the best chefs in north Idaho.
Menu items featured Blackened Sea Scallops with yellow pepper cheese grits by Gabriel Cruz of Cafe Trinity, Sandpoint, Seafood Gumbo by Race Jones of Cricket’s Steakhouse and Oyster Bar, Mardi Gras Sparklers (jumbo prawns blackened and spun in crispy fried magic on a skewer) by Troy Louis Chandler of Bonsai Bistro, Alligator and Andouille Picante over Dirty Rice by Jory Schemling of Eddie’s Bar & Grill, Sundried Tomato Polenta Cake with goat cheese by Angelo Martini of Angelo’s Ristorante, and Pumpkin Chipotle Chili Flan by Colomba Aguilar of Cafe Carambola in Coeur d’Alene.
The winners were: Best Appetizer: Creole shrimp with Jambalaya Rice Cake by Kris McIlvenna and Dennis Woolard of Greenbriar Catering and Events. Best Entree: Seafood Etoufee by Christian Schultz of Moon Time and Best Dessert: King Cake by Debbie Simel of Bakery by the Lake, all of Coeur d’Alene. People’s Choice award went to Adam Hegsted at Brix Restaurant for his Blue Crab Ravioli with Bourbon Cream topped with shaved parmesan amaretti.
The Coeur d’Alene Resort hosted the Kids Carnival free art event ”Artists in the Making” Saturday in the Plaza Shops, and a full weekend of great music with the Coeur d’Alene Blues Festival from the 16th-18th.
The mARTi gras event is a celebration and benefit for Art on the Edge, a free art program for kids. Contact Art on the Edge for more information at 208-676-0917
Join in both the joy and mayhem as the 9th annual mARTi gras celebrates in traditional Mardi Gras garb in downtown Coeur d’Alene this coming Sat. Feb. 17th. Â
A variety of delicious Cajun cuisine will be prepared by area chefs in a battle for the title and the best Entree, Dessert, or Appetizer. Venues include Brix resaurant, Cricket’s Steak and Seafood, The Coeur d’Alene Resort Plaza shops, and Barrel Room Wine Bar. There will be beads and masks available, live music everywhere, including the Winter Blues Fest at the Coeur d’Alene Resort, great food and costume contests. Dress up and go downtown! Tickets are available at the Coeur d’Alene Resort and the Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre box office.
The Following restaurants will be contributing for the event!
• Angelo’s Ristorante
• Bakery by the Lake
• Bambinos
• Bella Rose Cafe
• Bonsai Bistro
• Brix Restaurant
• Cricket’s Steakhouse and Oyster Bar
• Cafe Carambola
• Cafe Trinity
• Eddies Bar and Grill
• Greenbriar Catering
• Moon Time
Proceeds benefit Art on the Edge, a free art program for children. (208) 676-0917
On a little side trip to Pullman… we were on the hunt for our “Taste worth the Trip” feature for the upcoming issue of the Idaho Cuisine. Hearing about 
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