Road Trip # 6 Wallawa Lake

We headed through Hell's Canyon into NE Oregon and the beautiful Wallowa Lake. We of course managed to find some food along with the scenery. The above photo is of Mutiny Brewery which looks fantastic but was unfortunately did not have a license to sell beer when we were there. The foodies are looking forward to a return trip tho. When one heads down towards Wallowa Lake a must stop is Terminal Gravity Brewing in Enterprise, Or. Below are pics from there. This post will be overhauled when it isn't so hot that I can actually think again =p

Foodie Road Trip #5 - Frank's Diner

Where: 1516 W 2nd Ave Spokane, WA 99201-7020 (509) 747-8798 Population: 200K+
Distance: About 75 miles from Pullman
Kid Friendly. Yes, it is a classic greasy spoon breakfast joint

Sometimes after a night of fine dining at Sante, drinks with family, and staying up late conversating with family you wake up early in the morning with the need for a meal that can be best described as breakfast comfort food. This was the case the day after Sante and it just so happens that Spokane has just such an establishment in Frank's Diner. Located on W 2nd just outside of old Downtown Spokane, Frank's specializes in good old greasy breakfast and has been voted Spokane's best breakfast 12 of the last 13 years. There isn't much more to say that the photos won't do a better job of conveying.


Hashbrowns and you can get them smothered with peppers, onions, cheddar cheese and gravy in true heart attack inducing fashion.


Now that is a solid looking omelete, note the only partially smothered hasbrowns.


Chickenfried steak and eggs with fully smothered hasbrowns.

Frank's is the place to be if you need to stave off the effects of a long night out or just are wanting to experience a morning long food coma. Be prepared to wait if you don't get there early enough in the morning (we got there at 6:45am and got seated right away, but it was starting to fill up by the time we left around 7:20am).

Foodie Road Trip #4 - Sante

Where: 404 W Main Ave, Spokane, WA‎ Population: 200K+
Distance: About 75 miles from Pullman
Kid Friendly. Kids can eat here, but it is a slow dining experience similar in that sense to Whoopemup Cafe.

Sante, Sante, Sante I have been hearing about Sante non-stop from some of my friends over at the Spokane Food Blog and finally made it to Sante this past weekend. Four of us were fortunate enough to be able to eat dinner at Sante and I must say I am already looking forward to going to it again. The dinner menu is divided into Separates, Garde Manger (Cold Food) and Plats De Resistance (Entree. Separates run in the $7-$12 range, Garde manger in the $8-$13 range and Entree's in the $12-31 range with most being above $20. Overall the ambiance is very nice and the service is excellent although do be prepared to spend 1-2 hours eating as this is a traditional slow food style setting. The food is farm fresh, mostly from the Northwest and the farms are listed on the menu, which was a nice touch to a beautiful meal. Below are some photos from the trip with captions, just remember Sante is worth checking out and the food will keep you coming back!

The Separates: We also had a goat cheese and leek dish which I forgot to photograph, it was excellent tho.



The Tofu: separate very tasty served with feta, ginger honey, and sauce anise



Sea Scallop separate: The best scallop I have had in years, a must try if you like seafood


Salade Melangee: Prosciutto, Greens, Peppers, Hazelnuts, and a Red Wine Vinaigrette

The Main Courses: The portions are just right and the food is so delectable you feel almost remorseful at being content and full at the end of the meal.


Spinach Salad: Soft Boiled Egg, Fennel, Pecorino Romano, Warm Pancetta, and Vinaigrette. Not a main course, but it was a delicious salad that one in the group got.


Chitarra Pasta with Kielbasa: Marjoram, Fennel, Bread Crumbs, Shaved Pecorino Romano, and Kielbasa. The pasta was perfectly cooked and the kielbasa wasn't too shabby either =p.


Berkshire Pork Chop: Spring Onion, Rissole Potatoes, Pepper Confiture, and Berkshire Demi.


Wild Boar: Smoked Belly Roulade, Smashed Baby Reds, Pecorino, Fine Herbs, and Creamed Demi. This was my main course and it was amazing the Reds were perfect and the wild boar was cooked just right!

After Dinner


We split a cherry chocolate cake as a group and it was good. I would say it was a mild disappointment after the excellence of everything that came before it, but it was still very tasty.


Of course the best thing after a great meal is a perfectly done Americano, which you guessed it Sante had.

All in all, Sante is an amazing, albeit potentially spendy dinner dining experience. They have indoor and outdoor seating and are located right in the heart of old downtown Spokane (next to Auntie’s Bookstore). If you are in the area, you must check it out and if you want to spend a bit less on the meal, I recommend going for a brunch or perhaps taking the approach some at Spokane Food Blog have as blogged here. For more information on Sante you can check out their website at http://www.santespokane.com/

Foodie Road Trip # 3 - Blue Bike Cafe Ritzville

Where: Ritzville, WA Population: No Idea

Distance: About 95 miles from Pullman

Kid Friendly. Great Park in town, Cute Train Station area downtown for kids that dig trains, like mine do.

I never think about Ritzville. I always speed (ahem..) drive legal speed past the greasy McDonalds and Zips and hope I find a place for a decent lunch/dinner. If hunger strikes near Ritzville, I am now stopping at the Blue Bike Cafe. The place doesn't have a website but it is easy to find. You'll find it on 1st street (downtown) with a big blue bike out front and a parking lot full of cars. They make their own handmade potato chips(num) and great fish and chips (not cut or breaded until you order them) The food is fresh and good. The service is wonderful. They have a great menu and sell many flavors of ice cream. They also make old fashioned milk shakes that you will want to share. This place was a good find. On your way back to the highway head on Division Street. You'll pass a great park on the left to stretch your legs a bit or swing off those potato chips......

Foodies Confined Road Trip #2 = Schools Out for Summer

Where: Winthrop, WA population 349
Distance: 256 scenic miles from Pullman/Moscow area
Kid Friendly: Children welcome despite being a brewery

So after a 250+ mile drive into north-central Washington this blogger rolled into Winthrop, WA with about an hour to kill before I could meet up with the rest of the group I was camping with over the 4th of July Weekend. So I parked the car and wandered the main drag of Winthrop, WA and at one end found just the place to kill an hour if one finds themselves in the Methow Valley and in need of sustenance, the Old Schoolhouse Brewery

The owner, Kasey Rudd was behind the bar and quickly served me a newer beer of theirs, which was a stout that included coffee from a local coffee house in it. A delicious mix of dark beer and just the right hint of coffee was the glorious result of this stout which is pictured below. I also got a Hot Shot burger which was a Kobe Beef patty with grilled jalapenos, sweet onion, blue cheese and came with a side of Sweet Potato fries. An excellent combination of sweet and spicy that I will be utilizing in my own cooking as soon as I get a chance. Needless to say this was a great end to a long drive and a great start to vacation in the North Cascades. When in Winthrop one should also stop by Sheri's Sweet Shop which has homemade candies and delicious homemade ice creams (I recommend the Huckleberry ice cream).

Foodie Road Trip #1=Jamaican Me Drool

Where: Waitsburg, WA population 1,212
Distance: 95 worthwhile miles from Pullman/Moscow area
Kid Friendly: Only if your children can drive your glutteness, well spirited self back home.

This is a great one day road trip and the more the merrier on this one. Check out what Budget travel had to say about Waitsburg here . While in Waitsburg make a stop at Laht Neppur Brewing Co. for a good beer but an even better root beer. If you're wearing flip-flops watch your self, there are broken peanut shells all over the floor. Heading into town you'll come across the Whetstone Public House . It's Cougar owned, need I say more.
The best part of Waitsburg without a doubt is the Whoopemup Hollow Cafe. I can't say enough about this place. Perfectly prepared food and Kick Ass Service. Reservations are strongly encouraged, especially since you'll be making a long trek. I would walk there for the sweet tea and coca- cola cake..Yeah, and I'm lazy.
When you're done at the Whoop be sure to waddle across the street to the very cool Jimgermanbar for a final good-bye drink.
If you decide to take the kids along there is a shady park right around the corner. Let them burn off some steam and if you're lucky, they might sleep all the way back to the wheatfields......

No Good Food

Stuck in the Palouse. No good food to eat. Tired of whining. Good food joints, foodie roadtrips, recipes, good beer, fine wine. Let's eat well together......


There's nothing to do here, some just whine and complain.
-Cold War Kids