DIGITAL EDITION

Holiday 2019

My family loves to travel, but we have never been great at documenting our adventures. We don’t collect postcards, shot glasses or snow globes. If you want to know where we’ve been, look in our kitchens.

A bag of Garrett’s popcorn means someone just returned from visiting my dad’s family in Chicago. Those bags of rye bread sliced super-thin are from Nate’n Al’s in Los Angeles. There’s usually also a stockpile of Chilmark Chocolates from Martha’s Vineyard.

Our kitchens are filled with products from near and far. Open my mom’s freezer and find yourself on the Champs Élysées after a single bite into the soft praline center of a croissant aux noix that she has tried her best to hide. A taste of Claudio’s cantucci from my grandmother’s kitchen could transport you to a small town in Tuscany more famous for its marble than its food. In my own kitchen, bottles of Calvados rest on a wine rack waiting for the perfect moment to pop open and reminisce about every boucherie I made Jacob stop at as we made our way through Normandy. 

Now that I have made a home in Spokane, I have become a mule of sorts, delivering hauls of Washington wine and huckleberry jam to my family in Dallas—yes I have to check a bag on the way down, but it leaves plenty of room for me to stock up on JK Chocolate Microchip cookies for the journey home.

There are so many things produced in our region that people around the world enjoy, often without even knowing that they came from the Inland Northwest. Washington State boasts over 1,000 wineries. The Yakima Valley grows over 70 percent of the hops used in the U.S. Cosmic Crisp® apples are making their debut in produce sections around the country, the final step in a process that started over 20 years ago at Washington State University.

My goal is for Edible Inland Northwest to be a postcard for the greater Inland Northwest. Let’s celebrate the people who are toiling behind the scenes in barrel rooms, stirring a mash or prepping for brunch service. Let’s recognize the family farms, small businesses and food artisans for their passion and hard work.

Since beginning the journey of launching Edible Inland Northwest, I have met so many people who take pride in their craft and communities, and I know I have only scratched the surface.

Because we want to spotlight the best the Inland Northwest has to offer, I ask for your help. Who is bringing something special to your farmers market? What are your favorite hidden gems? And on a personal note, where can I find the best cookies?!

Please send your tips and story ideas to us at info@edibleinlandnw.com, follow us on social media  @edibleinlandnw and tag #edibleinw when you’re at your favorite spots, sign up for our newsletter at
edibleinlandnorthwest.com and tell your friends to
check us out!

I want to thank my friends and family for their unconditional love and support and promise to invest in another suitcase to share all I discover from you!

So please flip the page and experience a taste of what our region has to offer.

Cheers,
Jeffrey Fijolek

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