DIGITAL EDITION

Summer 2023

The people I have met and places I have visited in my role as publisher of this magazine over the past four years are too great to count. My team and I have had the opportunity to attend special dinners, experience behind-the-scenes tours, and sample tastes straight from the farm and production line.

One of the goals of this magazine is to share some of these anecdotes and experiences with others in Spokane and across the region. I love recalling the people I've met and sharing them with others as a kind of Rolodex of recommendations.

In this issue, that Rolodex has grown thanks to some of the friends I have made over the last few years. Sometimes, I like to throw out big ideas just to see what will stick—and this was one of those times.

When the celebration for the release of our Spring Issue was winding down—likely thanks to a few Monty's from Emma Rue's—I asked my friend Chad if he and his buddy Al might want to trip up to Chewelah before everyone's summer really started to kick off. He said sure, and it became one of those things that I would look into, trying to evaluate the feasibility for all those involved, excited if everything were to come together perfectly, but not spending too much time knowing there's always next year. But then, through random plans and calls made between other projects, this one clicked.

And there we were. Chad and Al and our award-winning edible crew. The Queen of Cream in-tow. On a party bus headed up 395. Sharing Tequila. Sharing Chewelah. Making new friends and new memories.

Special thanks to Nick and the folks at ThetaState for the incredible video-work of late. Not only did they document an amazing day, all of which can be enjoyed on our website and Instagram, but their crew also helped put together a great behind-the-scenes at edible Inland Northwest video we invite you to watch as well.

And now, before we all set off into this long, sweaty season, a few personal notes. Congratulations to Maddison and Morgan for your recent successes*; nice to get some outside recognition for work we were already proud of ourselves. To the families who have welcomed home new members recently, and the families who have lost folks, too, I treasure your friendship. Thank you for being the greatest takeaways from this elaborate, once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Jeffrey Fijolek
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

*Last month, contributing photographer Maddison Foley took First Place for Photo Essay in the Magazine division of the Society of Professional Journalists Northwest Excellence in Journalism Contest for her work on our profile of Wildland Cooperative in Issue 11 from fall 2022. Associate Publisher Morgan Marie was runner-up in the Magazine Personal Profile category for her coverage of Chris Varela and Settlers Creek in Issue 10. Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Fijolek was named runner-up in Magazine Graphics & Illustrations for the Hot Sauce Roundup, also featured in Issue 10 from summer of 2022. Congratulations to all, and thank you for lending your talents to share these stories of our local food community.

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