“Who puts people in dirt in white?” Celeste Shaw, community staple and owner of Chaps, jokes as we stand on the ground that will transform into a 275+ person table in two short days.

After honing their coffee craft in Portland, Jamie Kay Christianson and Hope Hines return to Spokane with Espuma Coffee. Now the pair plan to build a brand that can make an impact on both a local and global level.

Bolstad studied pastry at New York’s French Culinary Institute, but it is the memories of cooking with her father as he imitated the Swedish Chef and enjoying Scandinavian sweets with her grandparents that influenced her nostalgia-inducing treats as much as her work in a Michelin-starred kitchen and with Seattle’s Relay restaurant group.

After developing a loyal following at local farmers markets, Annie Stranger and her ice cream company, Sweet Annie’s Artisan Creamery are set to open a shop of their own in Liberty Lake.

For many immigrants, finding the flavors, ingredients and dishes they were raised on in their adopted home countries can be difficult. But the Inland Northwest offers Almaz Ainuu, owner of Spokane’s Queen of Sheba, a unique link to her native Ethiopia: teff.

Mirak Kazanjian launched the Skewers Food Truck because he missed the flavors he grew up with as part of Los Angeles’ large Armenian community. As part of his ongoing desire to help those in need on the other side of the world from Spokane, Kazanjian has been using his truck as a vehicle for change.

Chad White answers questions about his work with The Spokane Hospitality Coalition and speaks on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Andy LaBolle has always been interested in coffee, and his passion is on display at West Plains Roasters in Cheney.

Creating New England-style ales and with local ingredients from the Inland Northwest, co-owners Chris and Jason Gass of YaYa Brewing in Spokane Valley have a hit brewery on their hands, but success doesn’t come without a few arguments. Of course, that perhaps should be expected when brothers start a business together.