We know WHY we should eat more fruits and vegetables. You already know that fruits and vegetables are whole, unprocessed foods that come from the earth and eating them prevents disease and adds years to your life. Join Registered Dietitian, Monika Jacobson, to chat about five simple and realistic ways to add more local produce into your life and onto your plate.

Nothing against your average grocery store—I’m grateful to have so many options in one place, something that would baffle my ancestors—but going to the farmer’s market has brought me so much closer to the natural world. I’m aware of the seasons in a way that I never was when I blindly bought zucchini all year. I know what it’s like to wait patiently for those first perfect blueberries, and to jump on the rhubarb before it’s gone. I can taste the difference when produce is in season.

It’s almost the Fourth of July. Is there anything cuter than kids in their red, white and blue, waving sparklers or American Flags? We sure don’t think so, and we’re here with some tips and tricks to help you plan a delicious and festive Independence Day.

Sandpoint, Idaho is just a 90-minute drive from Spokane and for such a small town, there is no shortage of food, fun and local adventures to enjoy! Join me while I spend an entire day walking, eating and exploring this charming city.

Nothing says summer like enjoying good food, good music and good friends in the great outdoors. Crave! Spokane’s premier foodie event of the summer, offers just that and more! The largest culinary event in the Spokane area returns July 14-16, 2022 at the Centerplace Regional Event Center in Spokane Valley, gathering the best from the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene regions. Hosted under outdoor tents, attendees get to watch each chef and their team as they prepare tapas-style dishes inspired by each night’s theme.

You might remember summer days spent sucking all of the flavor out of a Popsicle, leaving only ice left on the stick, but it might surprise you to know this was part of the original marketing plan.

Settlers Creek in Coeur d’Alene boasts the largest collection of woodfired cooking equipment in the Western US, drawing events and visitors from around the country. Residents of the Inland Northwest are uniquely fortunate to have this mecca of wood-fired cookery in their collective backyard and can attend From the Ashes Idaho, a festival featuring Anthony DiBernardo of Swig & Swing and others showing off their BBQ skills each summer.

Forget Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme! Lovage, with its bright celery and anise notes, can be added to everything from salads to soups all season long!

BBQ is the flavor of the moment, the air filled with delicious scents of grilled meats, smoked fish, and even charred veggies. Meghan Fitzgerald tells us how to pair our favorite grilled dishes with the perfect glass of wine. Whether you feel like burgers or oysters, or just want to throw a couple pizzas on the grill, you’ll find a crisp white wine or a bold red variety to compliment your meal.

The mimosa, blending sparkling wine, such as Champagne or Prosecco, with juice, like orange or grapefruit, is a bright and refreshing way to start off breakfast or brunch but can be enjoyed any time you might need to fight off a case of the “scaries” or scurvy.

This Mother’s Day, why not throw a special brunch, cocktail hour, or coffee date honoring those friends whose friendships not only impact your life, but also the lives of your children. Put some extra effort in, iron the linens, set a pretty table, make or purchase some beautiful food, and buy all the flowers.

Spokane’s Garland District has been a thriving community for almost 100 years! It all began in 1910 with a street rail system, and the area really started bringing attention to itself when the iconic Garland Theater opened in 1945. There has been continued growth ever since, especially when it comes to delicious food and drink options! This guide is just a sneak peek at some of our favorite eateries and food-centric, locally-owned businesses in the neighborhood.

For many families, Easter carries a deep spiritual significance; still, it’s hard to resist the charm of fluffy little chicks, beautifully decorated eggs, kids in their Sunday best, and all the fun and magic of the Easter Bunny delivering baskets full of treats.

Growing your own fruits and vegetables at home may feel intimidating. Perhaps you have a history of sad houseplants and swore off all things requiring a “green thumb,” or maybe you don’t have a yard. Adding home-grown basil to your spaghetti marinara, biting into a fresh strawberry, and grilling up vegetables from your backyard can be rewarding and delicious experiences!

Not only do nasturtiums make a colorful and easy addition to any Inland Northwest garden, but all parts of the plant are edible, too. The nasturtium’s iconic round leaves can be baked to create chips that are similar in shape and size to classic potato chips and carry a brittle crunch like seaweed snacks.

It is customary if not mandatory to indulge in a libation or two on St. Patrick’s Day, whether your blood runs green or not. St Patty’s Day signature beverages are often concoctions crafted around either beer or whiskey, possibly dyed green and/or mixed with a splash or more of Irish cream. But the big bold flavors associated with traditional Irish fare can certainly stand up to a good red or white wine if beer and whiskey aren’t your lucky charms!

We all waste food as consumers in our own kitchens. It is estimated that between 30-40% of the food we produce in the United States goes to waste. Food waste from consumers and retailers also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and ultimately our changing climate. Let’s be intentional to reduce food waste in our own kitchens.

From coffee to groceries and dining to drinks, Cheney’s growing food and drink scene is lighting up the small town and is giving people a reason to visit. With a population of roughly 12,200 and only a quick 20-minute drive from Spokane, Cheney is best known as the home of Eastern Washington University. But who knew that there were so many noteworthy food and drink destinations?

Adding flowers to dishes adds incredible beauty to your plate while enhancing the flavors from the rest of the food. Whether you grow or buy these specialty garnishes, here is a flower guide to fancy up your next recipe or drink.

Foraging for wild asparagus will add flavor to your meals, make for a beautiful day out on the Spokane River and save your money. Take advantage of these tasty plant shoots and incorporate them into your next recipe.

With an innovative model type, Spokane’s very own SquareKeg maximizes space and makes it easy to store specialty beverages. Storing specialty craft drinks right to your refrigerator and transporting them has never been easier.

As the drink scene grows in Spokane, vintage-style drinking vinegars are finding their way back into the mix. Drinking vinegars serve as a versatile addition to any beverage with tart, fruity and sour flavors.

Spokane author Kate Lebo is known for her love of pie, whiskey, and the local arts community. In The Book of Difficult Fruit, Lebo explores a variety of tasty but troublesome items. This exploration of produce ranging from the mundane to exotic is sure to teach you something new make you think twice next time you’re offered fruit salad!

Despite its global influence and larger-than-life reputation, Diedrich remains headquartered in Sandpoint, Idaho, its home home since the early 1990s. Specialty coffee roasters are utilizing the company’s machinery not only in the Inland Northwest but across the world. They’re trusting Diedrich with their beans for some very good reasons.

What started online in 2015 as an inspiration for better health for her family has quickly become more than just another packaged food company. Idaho’s Snacktivist Foods is a Gluten Free and Vegan, Woman Owned, B-Corp company that actually works towards the true goal of making a better product for everyone, including the earth.

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.

In 2017, Katy and Ethan Bean decided to start baking pies with as many local ingredients as possible. Now, Bean & Pie is a mainstay at locals farmers markets and has their own shop in Downtown Coeur d'Alene.

Gardening in Spokane and the Inland Northwest can be exciting and rewarding. Our spring weather is ideal for vegetables like lettuce, beets and broccoli to grow and thrive. During summer we have plenty of cloud free days and heat to help ripen warm weather crops like tomatoes and peppers. By fall the slow growing vegetables like pumpkins will be ready to harvest.

After years as a pastry chef and consultant, Ricky Webster used COVID-19 to make himself the client. The result is his Browne's Addition bakery & cheese shop, Rind and Wheat.