Country Boy Cafe

Country Boy Café
6160 E. Highway 54,
Athol,
208-683-2363

Chicken Fried Steak, Chicken Fried Chicken, Chicken Fried Athols

“Athol? There’s a restaurant there? For reals?” Q. grumbled into the phone after my urgent Sunday morning breakfast call shattered his peaceful slumber. “Uh yeah,” I shot back. “I googled it. Athol’s got at least three places to eat. It’s positively urban. I’ll pick you and Miss A. up in thirty.” The rain was coming down hard from the brutal grey clouds above and the loud rumbling coming from our food-deprived tummies was a tribute to absent thunder. We weren’t completely sure what to expect on our mini-day-trip.

Our basic familiarity with Athol was limited to bad anatomy jokes and service-station whiz-bys en route to bigger adventures northward. One visit later and Athol will live fondly in our hearts and stomachs forevermore as home to the amazing Country Boy Café on Highway 54. With a tremendously welcoming staff and insanely huge portions of food beamed in straight from Planet Yummy, Athol now has a permanent spot on our breakfast map.

Country Boy co-owner Sue Tickemyer composed a welcome note printed on the back of the menu that recounts the café’s inception. “We came here to visit our daughter a couple of years ago and look what happened,” she writes. “Not only did we fall in love with the area and its people, but we decided to buy a local business and stay here.” Sue’s daughter Roseanne Plaviat and son-in-law Kurt Plaviat agreed to co-pilot the Country Boy along with her husband Steve Tickemeyer, who is, according to her note, “a retired contractor…and I am just plain tired.”

Apparently, so was our waitress. “Mind if I squeeze in and take a load off?” she said as she slid into the booth next to me. “The only chance I get to sit down is when I’m taking orders. What’ll ya have?” In fussier cultures, this could be considered a bit outré, but here at the Country Boy it’s not only normal, but enjoyable and endearing. The Country Boy Café is a farm food fantasyland, like an old episode of Green Acres starring butter queen Paula Deen instead of Eva Gabor. It’s a sitcom version of a home-style breakfast that is too cartoony and perfect to actually style at home. The sign outside lures in passersby with the promise of “Stuffed French Toast” and “Chicken Fried Chicken.”

Sometimes the magic is in the details. Every table in the Country Boy was splayed with the most amazingly complete set of extras I’ve seen. Ketchup and Mustard. Salt and Pepper. Regular and Green Tobasco sauces. Sweet-n-Low, Splenda and Equal in bright pink, yellow and blue packets. An old fashioned glass and steel sugar pourer. Liquid and powdered coffee creamers, both. Three flavors of jelly. Honey packets. All that and a dusty rust fake-flower arrangement. The menu itself is vivid and entertaining, each copy made unique with dozens of crazy little scrapbooking stickers. A big beefy lunch is also an option at the Country Boy Cafe, and the platters full of burgers and fries I saw floating by in the servers’ arms looked fantastic.

When the waitress was taking our order it was like an intense breakfast interrogation. Gravy? Eggs how? Biscuit or toast? What kind of toast? More gravy? Bacon or Sausage? Home Fries or Hash Browns? Peppers and Onions? Cheese? Gravy on the side, just in case?” “Chicken Fried Steak,” I told her.”Final answer.”

To me, the Chicken Fried Steak is the litmus test of any new potential food haunt. If they can’t impress me that way, chances are they never will. I’ve encountered some amazing specimen in my food journeys, both locally and afar, but I have to say the Country Boy does one of the best Chicken Fried Steaks ever to cross my breakfast radar. The cube steak itself was mercilessly pounded out into a thin pulp then prepared in a decadently crunchy coating similar to that of classic Chester Fried style chicken. In fact, my steak resembled a gigantic fried chicken breast that had been lovingly flattened by the hot steamroller of good flavor and then plopped with white gravy. Its reach was beyond the borders of the plate it sat on and made all three of us gasp, then ooh and aah at its golden glory when it landed on the table.

I immediately saw the unmistakable glint of jealousy in the eyes of Q. & A. “Mmm, can I have a bite of that?” they asked rhetorically as both their forks dove in my direction. That was fine since there was likely no way I was going to finish such a monstrosity myself, although it was so incredible I had to at least try. I also had some sunshiny scrambled eggs and home fries to tackle. The potatoes were excellent, fried once, cooled and then tossed in the fryer again prior to serving so they develop a dark, flavorful crispiness on the outside with a soft hollow center. The O’Brien-style smothering of grilled onions and green peppers took them to the next level. Dank.

It must have been the biscuit and gravy that caused me to finally black out since I have no memory of both Q. & A. greedily devouring my remaining portion of Chicken Fried Steak. We left amazed, all three of us as stuffed and satisfied as humanly possible, vowing many returns. With Q. agreeing to drive back to town, I took the opportunity to have a nice, rainy day post-breakfast car nap.

Chow List: Local Menu Items We Can't Afford

1. Beverly's Lobster Leopauldo $75.00
Description: 12 ounce Dungeness crab stuffed Australian Rock lobster tail with angel hair
pasta and a lemon-garlic caper beurre blanc.

Floating over the north end of the north end of the lake, Beverly's is like our version of Seattle's Space Needle Restaurant. It's all dazzle and flash, a gorgeous view but little substance for a lot of cash. Other notable menu highlights include the Shellfish Tower (chilled prawns, sushi scallops, fanny bay oysters, green lip mussels, Maine lobster, king crab, $54.00), the ultra fufu Charcuterie Platter (house-made prosciutto, buffalo summer sausage, quail pate with house-made mustards and pickled accompaniments, $16.00) and the extremely large sounding Rack of Elk (pan roasted chop with lingon berry-Merlot reduction and parsnip pear puree, $52.00).

2. Bonsai Bistro "The Chef's Table Experience" $75.00 per person.
Description: Our chef will prepare a marvelous selection of Pan Asian cuisine. Sit back and relax and let the Chefs do what they do best. We promise this to be an incredible epicurean adventure that will delight your party's taste buds.

Yeah, but exactly what am I getting for my 75 hard-earned bones? It changes according to the mood of the chef, I guess. The Bonsai Bistro is touristy and a little garish even, with its forced atmosphere of babbling brooks and Hagadrone servers. For single entrees, the Fire Roasted Kobe Steak (served with wasabi croquettes, asparagus and a black pepper demi-glace. $27.95) rises to the top of the spendy list but the Tempra Garlic Crab sounds like it might worth the $23.95, described in the menu as "1 pound of Alaskan king crab dipped in a garlic tempura batter then wok fried. This is very unique & different way to enjoy Crab that chef Troy discovered growing up in San Francisco. The crab is meant to be picked up by hand and basically eaten the way you would enjoy ribs. Don’t make the western mistake of asking for butter!" Actually, I think I'm going to ask for butter just to be a snot.

3. Bistro on Spruce Monthly Wine Dinners, Various Menus, $60.00 per person.
Description of Sept. 08 Wine Dinner: Poached Prawns with Scallop Mousseline, butternut Squash Bisque with Blue Crab, Shiitake Mushroom Ragout in Phyllo, Stuffed Quail,Brad Pudding, 5 varieties of local wine.

Bistro on Spruce chef Chris Mueller offers a fantastic monthly opportunity to blow some cash ion the finer things and experience products from local wineries as well as some of the most intriguing flavor combinations around. "It's not about hummingbird tongues and squid ink. It's a blend of food, friends and wine," Mueller was recently quoted as saying. I've heard nothing but raves for this place, and they've recently added a very luxurious but very reasonable breakfast menu including wraps and parfaits. Expect a full review very soon.


4. Tony's On The Lake Bistecca $38.00
Description: Grilled 16oz Rib Eye served with sliced Yukon Gold Potatoes tossed in Gorgonzola with a Chipotle Balsamic Glaze and Seasonal Vegetables.

Everyone seems to really miss the heck out of the old Tony's, back when they had abig lazy susan full of goodies like pickled herring and hot peppers on every table and spaghetti and meatballs that was the hottest dish in town. No-one I know eats there now; these days who can afford things like Speghetti Pescatore (Spaghetti Pasta with Scallops, Shrimp, Mussels, and Fish in a Tomato Vodka Sauce,$25.00. Even the Appetizers are spendy,like the Cappe Sante (Pan Seared Scallops with a spicy Limoncello Vinaigrette over Baby Spinach $18.00) and to add insult to injury, they make you pay an extra $4 to split it with a partner!

5. Cedars Floating Restaurant Rosemary Rack of Lamb $37.00
Description: A full rack of New Zealand spring lamb lightly grilled and finished in the oven to your specification, complimented with smashed Yukon gold potatoes, garlic seared green beans & finished with a sun dried cherry demi glaze.

This floating legend has had many incarnations since it was built in the late 1960's, and has always been considered "fancy" to varying degrees. Now that the Hagadone Corp. has it's bony grip on the place, it's gone quite top-end. I haven't been in years, but I hear it's mainly hype and atmosphere and the food isn't necessarily worth skywriting about. Still, if I was given free reign, I'd likely get the Seafood Parpadelle (halibut, salmon, clams, and prawns poached in white wine and garlic tossed with wide ribbon noodles in a light pesto cream, $26.00) because the combination of seafood, cream sauce and pasta makes me weep sweet tears of joy.


6. Chef In The Forest Steak & Prawns $35.95
Description: Choice of 8 oz Filet or 12 oz New York, Coconut Shrimp or Scampi Flambé

This quaint, sunny little Hauser cabin has been hiding in the woods for many years now, and they've always been consistently great without any trendy or faux gourmet pretensions. This is one place where the high ticket price is actually worth the result. I get misty even thinking about the Steak ala Oscar (8 oz. Filet topped with fresh Crab, Asparagus and Sauce Béarnaise, $27.95) and the Broiled Cold Water Lobster With Drawn Butter doesn't even list a price, just "Market Price", which you know isn't going to be cheap.

7. Angelo's Ristorante Gorgonzola Port Wine Steak $34.00

Nothing here is particualrly cheap, but the Angelo's catering menu offers the most decadent wallet-busting delights including Oven Roasted Figs with Proscuitto and Gorgonzola(60 pieces for $140)and Smoked Salmon Crostini with Jalapeno Cream Cheese, Red Onions, Lemons and Citrus Caper confetti ($160) I'm just glad to know there's a place in town to get some Cioppino (sea scallops, manilla clams, large prawns and whitefish in a white wine,tomato,and fresh herb broth, $24.00). It's like a soupy fish salsa and I've been craving it since I watched Giada whip up a batch on TV a few weeks ago. Even though I'm poor, I'd go just for a glass of wine and an appetizer, namely the Fruitti di Mare, grilled prawns,scallops, and clams with dipping sauces ($16.00).

8. Le Piastre Pan Seared Alaskan Sockeye with Sweet n' Sour Sweetbreads and Green Apple $12.00

Okay, twelve dollars isn't really that bad, but consider that the idea of a tapas restaurant is that one orders series of several small plates of unusual gourmet dishes just to sample a taste of this and that and things start to add up quick. I'd be also tempted to validate the House Cured Duck Ham with Rhubarb Jam and Almond Butter Croutons $6., the Roast Duck Breast on Crustini, Pear Chutney, Pear-Cilantro Salad $12.and the Citrus Cured Albacore Tuna and Avocado with Orange-Lime Relish $9. Add drinks, and you've spent your whole Top Ramen budget for a year. Summer's gone now, but one of the main reasons this place was so popular during the past few months was the outdoor sidewalk seating.

Mik-n-Mac's No Pants Party

Upcoming Event: Green Art Day @ Calypso's

Upcoming Event: Cruising for the Critters

Hot Week for Live Music in Sandpoint

Despite its relatively small size, Sandpoint is home to a music scene that’s hipper and more active than any other town in the Inland Northwest, arguably even Spokane. They have a cool independent radio station, KPND, which plays a diverse mix of jam bands, alternative album rock, new folk and even world music. Around town, something’s happening somewhere every night, from local acoustic guitarists performing solo at one of the many plush wine bars and cozy café’s to a diverse lot of nationally known acts, most notably at the annual festival at Sandpoint. This week, like nearly every other week in recent memory, Sandpoint’s musical calendar is packed full of intriguing events that make that short Northern trek seem like an absolute necessity.

Hot Club of Spokane singer Daini Hertel is the spicy pepper in the group’s exotic musical stew, which mixes a gypsy jazz vibe with elements of vintage swing. It’s the kind of thing heard in the background of a New Orleans street scene in a steamy old noir film in which the handsome, insouciant private detective falls for the smoldering daughter of a voodoo queen he meets in the French Quarter while investigating a crime. Since forming a little over one year ago, the sextet have been performing everywhere from private parties, receptions, weddings, and especially night clubs where, according to the band, “the balance between dance and conversation, performance and ambiance, must be kept intact.” In other words, shut up and listen. There couldn’t be a cooler place to catch these guys live than Sandpoint’s glorious old Panida Theater. The band’s retro charm and sophisticated swing were made for the venue’s vintage red-velvet vibe and historical aura. Hot Club of Spokane takes the stage tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave.


Hot Club of Spokane: "House of the Rising Sun"

Fact number one: a Po’Boy is a massive sub sandwich from Louisiana. Fact number two: Po’Girl is a Canadian band who’ve spent the last year travelling gypsy-like, performing their rootsy Americana music with a wicked twist of girl power for audiences in thirteen countries. Singer/instrumentalists Allison Russell and Awna Teixeira joined forces last year with guitarist Benny Sideslinger and holed up in an Austin, Texas studio to record their most recent album, the moody Home to You, on which the band’s sound heads in lush new directions, incorporating boozy horns and swirling fiddle solos.

The centerpiece of the Po’Girl sound is the intensely expressive quality of the girls’ blended voices, leading Katy June Friesen of No Depression magazine to write “Po' Girl has the same womanly (not girlish, mind you) croon of the 1920s and '30s blues mamas - yet their music isn't of another era” At times their songs bring to mind a 21st century version of what Stevie Nicks might sound like if she hailed from Nashville instead of sunny California, and a wicked lyrical wit burns through tracks like “To The Angry Evangelist” and “Go On and Pass Me By.” Po’Girl will be landing at Di Luna’s, 207 Cedar Street, this Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.


Po'GirlLive at Hillside Festival

Alaska is not only known for bee-hived, bespectacled vice-presidential candidates, but also for nationally recognized hip young bluegrass quartets. Anchorage’s Bearfoot formed in 1999 when fate put them together as music camp counselors. A mere two years later they took home the prestigious Telluride Bluegrass Championship, a title they share with previous winners like the Dixie Chicks and Nickel Creek. They’ve been touring and playing festivals on a constant basis ever since with a sound they describe as “deeply American music. Airy Northern ballads are tempered by back-alley Southern blues, while jazz stomp meets Appalachian breakdown, the whole fused with a signature sexy bluegrass passion.”

Band members continue teaching music to kids, putting on “bluegrass camps” for kids and adults. Similarly, Bearfoot are sponsoring a free “jam night” at Di Luna’s on Thursday, the night before their big gig at the Panida. Calling all you hippies, young and old; anyone with bongos or a digeridoo is welcome to show up at 7 p.m. and add to the beautiful cacophony. Catch Bearfoot perform without the help of friends on Friday the 26th at the Panida Theater, 7:30p.m.


Bearfoot: "Molasses" Live in Sedona, AZ

The Pend Oreille Winery, 220 Cedar St., is also a longtime supporter of the local music scene, and tonight at 5:30 p.m., Cocolalla favorites Folk Remedy will be wooing wine-sippers with mellow, acoustic folk and bluegrass tunes. Joan Lassen and Gordon Anderson’s voices create harmonies like ear-candy over lively folk fiddle, mandolin, banjo and guitar. Sandpoint native Vance Bergeson brings his loose, jazzy finger-picked acoustic guitar and rambling vocals to the Winery stage on Friday the 26th at 5:30 p.m. His original songs are subtle and catchy with a menacing edge.


Vance Bergeson live in Sandpoint

Other Sandpoint musical musts this week include a homecoming gig for Sandpoint-to-Seattle-and-back acoustic rocker Justin Lantrip at Stage Right Cellars, tonight at 7 p.m.; The inimitable indie folk of Shook Twins together with the jammy grunge rock of Boise’s Equaleyes at the Global 8 Benefit for peace at The Dillon House on Friday; also on Friday at 8 p.m., Sandpoint’s own indie popsters Tennis will be serving up plenty of fuzzy green musical balls at the Downtown Crossing, 206 N. First Ave. Right up the street, Rachel Sedacca, who has earned comparisons to Bonnie Raitt, brings her California-fried Americana to life for the audience at Stage Right Cellars Friday at 7 p.m. One question; does Sandpoint even know the meaning of the word boredom?


Justin Lantrip "Scratch the Surface"


Shook Twins: "Wildfire" Live at Mystic Hot Springs


Equaleyes live in McCall, ID


Rachel Sedacca video montage

Ironic and Timely Fortune Cookie

(Fortune cookie received from Dragon House on Appleway in Cd'A on 9/16, the day after "Black Monday" when the stock market did its worst one-day freakout since the 1930's. I don't actually own any stocks, but still thought the timing was rather noteworthy.)

Coming Event: Daanen's Oktoberfest

Chow List: 8 Fast Food Chains We Still Don’t Have (But Need)

Ever feel like North Idaho is growth-spurting like so much warm ketchup through the crusty spout of a red EZ-squeeze bottle that we simply must have at least one of every national fast food outlet out there? Not quite, my sweet Baconator lover. We’re still wee toddlers on the franchise-o-meter as proved by the below list of 8 popular chains that have yet to break ground in our sunny corner of the forest. It can’t be too long before some of these pop up around town, and there are a few I must admit I’d love to validate…

1.Chick-fil-A
*Chick-fil-A founder S. Truett Cathy is a devout Southern Baptist who has taught Sunday School for over 44 years and whose religious beliefs permeate the company to this day.
* Closed for business on Sundays.
* Second-biggest chicken-based fast-food chain in the United States.
* 1,300 locations in 37 U.S. states
* The first Chick-fil-A opened in Atlanta's Greenbriar Mall in 1967.
* Chick-fil-A offers chicken sandwiches, in both pressure-cooked and grilled versions.
* Side dishes include waffle potato fries, cole slaw, carrot & raisin salad, chicken salad, and fruit salads.
* "EAT MOR CHIKIN" is the chain's most prominent advertising slogan.

2. White Castle
*White Castle is the oldest American hamburger fast food restaurant chain.
* It is known for square burgers, sometimes referred to as "sliders".
* White Castle was founded in 1921 in Wichita, Kansas.
* A customer ordering a "sack of six with both", will receive six burgers with both ketchup and mustard (this is also a reference to White Castle's habit of keeping three bottles of condiments at hand for the burgers: ketchup, mustard, and a combination of the two—or "both").
* You can choose from 3 types of Sliders: Hamburger, Cheeseburger and Double Cheeseburger and sides include crinkle fries and “chicken rings”.
* White Castles are everywhere east of the Mississippi and in the South but have yet to open a single location in the West.

3. In-n-Out Burger
* Founded in Southern California in 1948 by Harry Snyder and his wife Esther, and headquartered in Irvine, CA.
* The Snyders had a simple plan which is still in use today: “Give customers the freshest, highest quality foods you can buy and provide them with friendly service in a sparkling clean environment.”
* In 1999, third company president Guy Snyder died from an overdose of the pain-killer Vicodin.
* In-N-Out has a limited menu consisting of only three different sandwiches: the hamburger, cheeseburger, and "Double-Double" (double meat/double cheese). French fries and fountain drinks are available, as well as three flavors of milkshakes.
* In-N-Out has a dedicated fanbase, and benefits highly from the positive word of mouth spread by its enthusiastic following.
* In-N-Out prints discreet references to Bible verses on their paper utensils.

4. Weinerschnitzel
* Wienerschnitzel is an American fast-food chain founded in 1961 as "Der Wienerschnitzel" that specializes in "hot dogs", but is currently expanding to other items.
* Wienerschnitzel locations are almost entirely limited to California, Texas, and the Southwestern United States.
* The first Wienerschnitzel was opened by John Galardi in 1961. This location, which is still in operation as of today, was a hot dog stand on Pacific Coast Highway.
* Wiener Schnitzel actually means "breaded veal cutlet, Vienna style", a dish that the restaurant chain does not sell.
* Former slogans: “Everybody loves a wiener”, “The world's largest wieners!”, “Just thinkin' about those hot dogs makes me hungry!”

5. Popeye’s Chicken & Biscuits
* Popeyes Mighty Good Fried Chicken first opened in Arabi, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans, in 1972 as "Popeye Family Fried Chicken", owned by Al Copeland.
* Copeland claimed he named the stores after the fictional detective Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle in the movie “The French Connection” and not the comic character Popeye the Sailor.
* The restaurants have a distinctive red-and-yellow color scheme.
*TV and radio ads often use New Orleans-style music, along with the trademark Love That Chicken jingle sung by New Orleans funk and R&B musician Dr. John.
* As of 2007, there were 1,507 global locations.

6. Checkers/Rally’s
* Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. is the largest chain of double drive-thru restaurants in the United States and parent company of both Checkers and Rally's concepts.
* Currently, the company operates more than 815 Checkers and Rally's restaurants in 28 states and the District of Columbia. They both specialize in hamburgers, hot dogs, French fries, and milkshakes.
* Checkers was founded in 1986 in Mobile, Alabama, and Rally's was founded in Louisville, Kentucky in 1985, with its first location in Jeffersonville, Indiana.
* Checkers restaurants follow a retro theme with abundant use of chrome flashing, neon tube lighting, and black and white checkered tiling.
* The slogan of the restaurant from in 1999-2000 was "High performance Human Fuel" and was then changed and used from 2000-2007 to "You gotta eat!"
* The menus of the two restaurants are nearly identical, differing in that Checkers' menu includes additional hamburgers (including the original Champ hamburger). Over time, the Checkers menu grew in size to include chicken and fish sandwiches, chicken strips, and a wider selection of hamburgers

7. Long John Silver’s
* Long John Silver's, Inc. is a United States-based fast-food restaurant that specializes in seafood and fish and chips. It is named after the fictional pirate Long John Silver from the Robert Louis Stevenson book Treasure Island.
* The restaurant, which has over 1200 units worldwide, is a division of Yum! Brands, Inc.
* The first restaurant was opened in 1969 in Lexington, Kentucky.
* The restaurant chain was the subject of some controversy in the late 1990s for a commercial in which a police officer decided not to write a ticket to a motorist who gave him a Long John Silver's fish sandwich. Many police organizations objected to the commercial on the grounds that it depicted a police officer taking a bribe.
* In March 2006, LJS began offering buttered lobster bites, and in the stores signs state "made with real langostino lobster." Many people felt that this was misleading because langostino is not a conventional type of lobster; however the Food and Drug Administration has stated that langostino can be named and marketed as lobster.

8. Quickly
* Quickly is one of the largest tapioca milk tea franchises in the world, with over 2000 locations in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America.
* Quickly Corporation was founded in California in 1996 and began marketing themselves as a New Generation Asian Fusion-style cafe in the USA, as opposed to just a tapioca drink shop.
* Sample Menu Items, beverages: Sesame Slush, Champagne Grape Slush, Kumquat Slush, Wax Gourd Slush, Bubble Milk Tea, Red Bean Milk Tea, Grass Jelly Milk Tea.
*Sample Menu Items, food: Fried Mini Octopus, Fried Pork Intestine, Tea Flavored Egg, Roast Quail, Crispy Popcorn Chicken Rice Bento.

Announcement: Bistro on Spruce Sept. Wine Dinner

Bistro on Spruce
September Wine Dinner

Thursday, September 18th, 6:30 pm
$60 per guest all inclusive
Milbrandt Vineyards

After more than a decade of growing some of eastern Washington’s most sought-after grapes, brothers Butch and Jerry Milbrandt decided it was time to grow their own wine. They knew they had something pretty special in their Wahluke Slope and Ancient Lakes vineyards after witnessing the impressive scores going to wineries that had been purchasing their grapes.

Winemaker Gordon Hill , a veteran winemaker of some of Washington’s most elite wines, joined the team in 2006 to craft the wines that proudly carry the Milbrandt family name.

Press Release: Crain concert benefits Children’s Village

Brian Crain, an internationally known composer and pianist, will perform September 20 to benefit the Children’s Village in Coeur d’Alene.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at STCU branch locations in Post Falls or Silver Lake. STCU is sponsoring the event and all proceeds will benefit the Children's Village in Coeur d'Alene.

Attend the Brian Crain concert and support the Children's Village!

• 7 p.m. Saturday, September 20
• Lake City Community Church, 6000 N Ramsey Road, Coeur d'Alene
• Tickets: $20

Purchase your tickets at STCU’s Post Falls or Silver Lake branch locations. Questions? Call the Children's Village at (208) 667-1189.

Crain, who lives near Hayden Lake, will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, September 20, at Lake City Community Church, 6000 N. Ramsey Road. With the release of a dozen albums of his own compositions, including two symphonies, Crain’s work on the piano has been described by reviewers as “inspiring and soothing… simple yet elegant… profoundly beautiful yet powerful.”

Listen to samples of Crain’s music at www.briancrain.com.

The concert will benefit the Children’s Village, a nonprofit organization for abused, neglected, and homeless children. The organization, which operates a licensed foster home and treatment center on a 15-acre site in Coeur d'Alene, has served more than 900 children since opening in 1990.

Learn more about the Children's Village at www.thechildrensvillage.org.

Davis Donuts

Davis Donuts
2520 N 4th St., Coeur d’Alene.
(208) 664-1701

“The only thing that ever sat its way to success was a hen.” This is the most recent pearl of wisdom from whoever is currently behind the reader board at the iconic Davis Donuts in Coeur d’Alene. There was a time not too many years ago when the Davis Donuts sign wasn’t cute or even slightly uplifting, but was filled with scathing political commentary that would often cause such controversy that citizens would write passionate letters to the local papers decrying or championing its messages. People would wait anxiously each week for the next hot-button communication, which normally ranged from bitter commentary about government, church and society to angry call-outs of local politicians and newsmakers.

Rumor had it that these missives were concocted by a cranky old bearded fellow who could be seen in the shop many nights whiling away the wee hours with coffee, pen and notebook, but he was silent, unapproachable. The staff itself played dumb, claiming to have no affiliation with the mysterious author. Adding to the enigma was the fact that no-one could claim to have actually seen the sign being changed over.

The glory years ended one random day after a new owner took control and the sizzling eloquence was replaced with Hallmark-card schmaltz and even bible quotes. Horrors! Suddenly the very axis and equilibrium of local politics was thrown atilt, and some might say it never fully recovered. Nowadays, the sign features a mellow mix of motivations (“Go Ironmen!”), slightly snarky humor (“Men are from Earth. Women are from Earth. Deal with it”), and even a national-news making scorcher ("Duncan, Welcome to Idaho, a death penalty state. May you get your wish and die.")

Still, it’s not just a quote-worthy message board that’s made Davis Donuts into such a local landmark that people refer to Fourth and Appleway as the “Davis Donuts Intersection.” It was only partially in jest a few years ago when folks suggested that the Coeur d’Alene Police Department relocated their headquarters to the north side of town to be closer to the place. Primarily speaking, it’s the soul-satisfying baked goodies that have consistently placed Davis Donuts firmly in the hearts of many North Idahoans and anyone else lucky enough to have dropped in during its long existence.

For many years, it was open 24-hours a day, but these days I’d highly recommend checking in as early in the a.m. as possible. Around here, when the donuts are gone, the donuts are gone and owner/baker Dennis Monroe is done for the day, case closed. I discovered this fact on a recent lazy Sunday visit when my main intention was to give their biscuits and gravy a go. I’ve been told by several raving local foodies that I absolutely had to have them in my little world. Of course, a visit to Davis Donuts wouldn’t be complete without at least one of their classic namesakes. Even at the semi-early hour of 11a.m., I almost missed the boat, and there were only five lonely items remaining in the massive glass display case. “That’s it?” I asked. “That’s it,” the counter girl answered dryly. “What’ll you have?” I peered in and took inventory of the situation. A plain donut with frosted maple and nuts. Two big bear claws. Two muffins, one chocolate and one blueberry with cream cheese filling. I decided on the frosted plain and a bear claw to go, along with the “famous” biscuits and gravy and an Oregon Chai tea with soymilk.

Right behind me, a young grandmother walked in with a couple of squirrely kids and ordered the last three items. The counter girl instantly killed the lights, flipped “Open” to “Closed” and hung a sign that said “Sorry - out of donuts - closed early.” Still, several groups of ladies all dressed up for church came shuffling in ready for apple fritters and maple bars, reacting with cold indignant frowns when Dennis apologetically shooed them away. Waiting for my breakfast, I noticed that since my last visit a few years ago, the clinical white walls have been painted rusty red and mustard yellow, which adds warmth and personality along with along with a massive moose collection and an inviting “take a book, leave a book” shelf.

My biscuits and gravy arrived steamy and intense, and absolutely lived up to the hype. The biscuits themselves were fluffy and grand; more like little moist cakes, and as far away from hockey-puck syndrome as a biscuit can be. The home-made gravy just needed a sprinkling of salt and black pepper to hit perfection, rich and dense with salty, crisp diced ham chunks in the mix. It’s a huge portion and for two measly bucks it beats any other biscuits and gravy deal on the local market. I chased it with my peanut-sprinkled, maple-frosted plain donut, which was an excellent specimen, but not as memorable as the bear claw, which I ate later that afternoon. It was a paw-shaped glazed donut with a shamelessly messy crumbly crumb coating and an explosive sweet apple filling, and it was so brain-tinglingly soft and gooey, it made a Krispy Kreme donut seem tragic and sad like a Little Debbie Honey Bun.

I ate quickly, grabbing my Soy Chai to go and on my way out, noticed a sign on the wall behind the register that read “There will be a five dollar charge for whining.” A-ha! They sell off all the donuts early, then hang out and charge $5 to everyone who comes in and complains because they didn’t get their precious donut fix on time. With such a high demand, the owners of Davis Donuts must be getting rich this way.

Chow List: Buffets & Brunches

(Listed from favoritest to un-favoritest.)

1. JB's Family Restaurant
704 W. Appleway, Coeur d'Alene website
The food isn’t exactly manna from heaven, and it’s nearly unbearable to listen to the notoriously loudmouth waitresses gossip, kvetch and fight, but there’s something tragically alluring about the all-you-can eat breakfast spread that’s on offer at this unholy chain restaurant every single day of the week. Endless cereal and milk, healthfully fluffy golden scrambled “better-n-eggs” served cake-like, and piles of barely-warm but delicious French Toast triangles. Okay. Yeah. Uh huh. You want tapioca and cantaloupe for breakfast? You got it. These guys even serve up an intense breakfast casserole that disappears fast upon arrival amidst the swirling breakfast vultures. The Grandmas run thick through here, so the line moves slow, but for $6 plus the cost of coffee, it’s worth the wait.

2. High Mountain Buffet
Coeur d'Alene Casino, Hwy 95, Worley website
It’s hard not to feel spoiled and impossible not to feel stuffed after a visit to the High Mountain Buffet in the Coeur d’Alene Casino. Juicy Prime Rib shimmering in the glow of the slot machines, the humongous Alaskan King Crab legs, the big, sexy baked potatoes with everything. Brunch is a craze of specialty omelets and intense baked goods. Easily the classiest spread in the Panhandle, and along with a dozen hours of lost to mindless gambling, it’s the perfect mini-vacation and an excellent way to blow through your bill money. That damned Avista can wait another month.

3. King's Buffet
740 N. Cecil Rd., Post Falls
After being shut down a few years back by local police for harboring illegal immigrants, this Post Falls Chinese buffet reopened earlier this year and although the food is actually quite fresh and unique, an eerie air of mystery and drama still hangs heavy in the air. These girls don’t speak a lick of English but communication needs are minimal: you pay, you eat. I can’t tell you how much better the food is here than at those other local Chinese buffets. The dishes offered change on a daily basis, depending on what the chef decides to make. Everything I’ve tried here has been surprisingly edible and they’ve even got a full ice-case of hard ice cream flavors for dessert. Note: do not be afraid of the pickled baby octopus. It’s actually quite tasty.

4. Coeur d'Alene Resort
115 S. 2nd St.,Coeur d'Alene website
I suppose there are folks around who think this sort of food layout is pretty magnificent and over-the-top, but I’ll bet very few of them actually live here. When I worked at the Resort, they’d feed all the Sunday Brunch leftovers to us grunt workers and eventually I got really sick of half-day old potatoes au gratin and trays of congealed american-cheese omelet. Even the frou-frou pastries and cannolis became tiresome after a while, although the trademark orange rolls never really did. I miss the heady days when smoking was allowed in the Shore Lounge (where they house the Sunday buffet serving area) and there would still be a foul tobacco haze hanging in the air from Saturday night’s boozy party crowd to soil the delicate fabrics of the tourists. If you’re not a fan of soggy sun-lamp abused meats and eggs, at least you can get your $30 worth of fresh fruit and champagne.

5. Templin's
414 E. First St., Post Falls website
It’s been a few years, but the last time I went to the Sunday Brunch at Templin’s Red Lion in Post Falls was on Mother’s Day with the whole fam. I don’t really remember how the food was, but I do remember we were unhappy with the service; it was kind of a shoved-in-a-back-room-and-forgotten-about sorta feeling and I remember my mother getting royally riled up about the whole thing. Well, that could have been due to all the Mimosas she was sneaking from the beverage cart during the server’s long absences.

6. Mulligan's at The CDA Inn Best Western
506 W. Appleway, Coeur d'Alene website
Generic Hagadone blah. Exactly like the CDA Resort’s Sunday Brunch doo-dah but with half the glam. This kind of food seems so homogenized, so gentrified and geriatric. Easy to digest. Beige walls and beige food. Mix, bake, and repeat. I one went for brunch and ended up stuffed in the corner of some converted convention center room with no windows and no personality and tables full of nervous Christians with dozens of children scurrying like little rodents. More hassle than it’s worth.

7. (tie) I.T. Buffet/Top of China
200 W. Hanley/757 W. Appleway, Coeur d'Alene
The I.T. Buffet (an ESL damaged abbreviation for “International”) and it’s older sister Top of China are the same in nearly every way; 80% non-edible 15% passable and 5% yummy little sugared Chinese fried dough balls. Those are about the only things I can stomach at these places, save for the salad bar. The I.T. is located in the ghostly Silver Lake Mall in the former location of Granny’s Buffet, once the glorious Queen of the North Idaho buffet scene until it’s untimely death a few years ago. It is missed. Alas, we now have to drive to the Spokane Valley and hit up Old Country for our fix of Americana served hot under sneeze guards. However, if you’re tempted to dine at these two fast-Chinese dives, I’d say a trip to the OC is a much saner option.

Local Restaurant Obituary: Mangia

Mangia = Italian for "eat". Morire = Italian for "death".

R.I.P. Mangia in Post Falls, the second unfulfilled attempt by brothers Tim and Josh Mitchell to run a succesful Italian eatery. The first incarnation of Mangia was out in the Spokane Valley in the Valley Mall and closed only a few months after opening to mediocre reviews and little public interest. Sadly, they were unable to stir up any dust at thier former A&W location in Post Falls and after a little over a year in business, shuttered for good a few weeks ago.

Here are a few sample reviews from TripAdvisor which seem to sum up the general public's feeling toward the place:

"The food here is average, with a menu comprised of bland versions of all the usual staple italian dishes. The sandwiches are average, much like the rest of their food, except that they are extremely salty and also very pricey. The atmosphere is nice though, with a nicely decorated interior to the restaurant. Nice place to go out for something different than home-cooking, maybe once or twice per year. Not a place that you would go regularly though...it's so expensive that you might as well go to the Olive Garden."

"The worst meal I’ve had in years. For the sake of your stomach, stay away. I would recommend that everybody avoid this place, save your money and buy a frozen microwavable meal, it will still be far better than what you will get at Mangia.”

Harsh! I actually gave them a pretty good write-up about a year ago, after dining there with my mother for her birthday. I found out later that she was just being polite at the time and din;t want to mention that her Eggplant Parmigian was truly horrendous. I had the Seafood Fettuccini and found nothing to complain about, but after the review came out I had a bunch of people send me emails baffled as to why I was so nice. The comments on this blog were mixed:

Anonymous said...I totally disagree with this review. I ate with two other people at Mangia and everyone's meal was revolting. The alfredo tasted like corn starch, thr tortellini was more like a torelline soup and the salad was brown. The service was horrible and we were charged $8 for a 2oz serving of wine. This was the worst dining experience of my life.

Anonymous said... I disagree with the disagreement. I ate at Mangia with my mother and a friend a few months ago. The server wasn't the best, but the food was delicious and the atmosphere was great. I'd go back.

I think the death knell for Mangia finally came recently after the success of Hayden's eatery Ciao Mambo and the failure this summer of the Mangia-sponsored "Post Falls Food Fest" which tookplace in thier parking lot and was reportedly a disorganized catastrophe.

Ah, Mangia! Ye tried and ye failed. Aye, we hardly knew ye...

Beachouse

Beachouse Restaurant
3204 Coeur d'Alene Lake Dr.
Coeur d'Alene,
664-6464

There are times when the critic’s credibility threatens to exit stage right. If there is a food reviewer’s high code of ethics, the critic has never needed to look into it because sadly, nobody’s ever offered to bribe him for a good write-up. Well, none that he’s accepted anyway. Besides, it’s not like he’s writing for the New Yorker; we’re talking about reviews of small-town drive-in burger joints and taco trucks. So it was disconcerting for the critic to recently find himself in a rather awkward and amusing position.

He was recently summonsed by a friend to join her for dinner at her workplace, a fine dining establishment. Now, the critic wouldn’t necessarily want to think of himself as miserly, but given his druthers he would have likely just have ordered a nice burger and called it good. So it was natural for the critic to slightly wonder about the cost aspect of the extravagant smorgasbord unexpectedly laid out before them. When his friend mentioned after the second course that she was thinking that most of the meal would be complimentary, the critic began to ponder how to explain to her that he really couldn’t do the review after all, that it just wouldn’t be right. Heck, the critic enjoys freebies as much as anyone, but even he must draw the line somewhere and say “I cannot be bought!”

Fortunately, such concerns were immediately laid to rest when a bill did arrive and the figure printed at the bottom of the slip was stunningly reflective of the enormous gourmet feast they had undertaken. Let’s just say that the critic could have reviewed many months worth of delis and drive-ins for the cost of that night’s meal. Despite the cheap critic’s sticker shock, he was able to laugh and breathe a sigh of relief to at least have the freedom to give the place a fair and just critique.

All in all, my experience at the Beachouse Restaurant was quite worth it. For me, it was a memorable and rare extravagance, and it was nice to have a fun friend to share the occasion with. We were sat in a back cubby at a table which I was told was owner Duane Hagadone’s favorite spot because he can see nearly everything going on. Sitting in his very chair, I tried to absorb some kind of unidentifiable Haga-essence. I pressed myself deep into where his posterior had previously rested but felt nothing unusual save for a slight buzz from my dank Huckleberry Pina Colada.

I was just planning on ordering from the menu like a normal person when Chef Paul Wagner emerged from the kitchen to introduce himself and fill us in on his plan to create for us a “presentation” which would include “a little bit of everything.” Wagner, who recently relocated here with his family, has over 14 years experience in the upper echelon of the cuisine scene, including a degree from the Culinary Institute of America and a gig working at Wolfgang Puck’s famed Spago in Las Vegas. Even with his impressive credentials, Chef Wagner is as down-to-earth as it gets; a quality that’s reflected both in his back-to-basics cooking style and in the newly-revamped Beachouse menu itself.

The incredible lake views from both inside and on the popular deck are reason enough to visit the dimly-lit, sea-shanty themed eatery. We were absorbing a gorgeous purple and orange sunset and catching up on gossip when our convivial server Amber brought our appetizers out on a slab of wood so big it was almost too heavy for her to carry. We dug in ravenously. The bowl of steamed clams was fragrant and flavorful, bathed in white wine and garlic and served with a bright sprinkling of tomatoes and onion and wedges of garlic toast. The Potato Buoys were delightfully depraved; fried tater skins smothered in artichokes, crisp prosciutto and gooey melted Colby cheese and served with a rich creamy spinach dip. I fell in love with the blissfully tangy-sweet Huckleberry BBQ Ribs, which were cooked so perfectly tender that the meat slid right off the bone. Less impressive were the Beachouse Drumsticks, which were reminiscent of Japansese-style chicken drumettes, but the crunchy panko coating couldn’t mask the oversmoked, slightly gamy flavor that permeated the meat.

Next was an interlude with an ice-cold and very crispy Wedge Salad with Maytag Blue Cheese dressing, bacon and sweet hazlenuts, after which enough time passed that we began to wonder what, if anything was next and also what ever happened to dear Amber. Finally, she tottered out with another massive wooden plank, this time topped with a sampler of signature Beachouse entrees. I was thrilled about the meaty crab legs, pre-split for easy access and served with melted herbal butter; such a divine and rare treat. Also noteworthy was the tenderloin, so pink and moist it almost mooed and walked off my plate and the skewers of grilled tiger prawns were simply presented but masterfully done. I wasn’t over-the-moon about the general blandness and mushy texture of the Beer Can Chicken which seemed more Coors Light than Guinness, and the mixed veggies were seasoned to the point of identity crisis. On a much better note was the “GMAc & Cheese”, an intense, gooey concoction made using the 2008 winning “Good Morning America” recipe. Outstanding.

I wouldn’t make a visit to the Beachouse an everyday occurrence, but it’s a great place to take friends and family from out-of-town to impress them with the gorgeous views and food that is simultaneously simple and high-class. Prior to leaving, Chef Paul re-emerged to graciously see off the critic and his friend who couldn’t rave to him enough about how fantastic everything was. However, that was before the critic saw the check. Kidding! We left feeling spoiled and satisfied, like real big spenders, perhaps a lingering after-effect of sitting at the Hagadone table.

13 Amazing Facts About McRib

McDonalds
208 Appleway Ave., Cd'A
340 W. Hanley Ave., Cd'A
1615 E. Seltice Way, Post Falls
7120 W, Main St., Rathdrum
W. 3820 5th, Post Falls

1 .Pre-shaped boneless pork patty (precooked, frozen, reheated), BBQ Sauce, Pickles, Onions, Sesame Seed Roll.

2. When first introduced, packets of special McRib barbecue sauce called "Blazin' Hot Sauce" was available but only for a short time. It was too hot and never gained popularity.

3. The short-lived McRib Jr.was a half-size patty served on a regular hamburger bun rather than the standard sesame seed roll.

4. McRib was added to McDonald's permanent menu throughout the United States in 1981 after successful test marketing in Nebraska.

5. In 1985, the McRib was discontinued because it couldn't sustain international sales due to the slow movement in many countries in which pork is not regularly eaten.

6. It was never discontinued in Germany, where it remains a top seller for McD's.

7. The McRib has made periodic comebacks as a limited edition specialty item, recently for a marketing series begun in 2005 as the "McRib Farewell Tour", and continuing with the "McRib Farewell Tour II" and 2007's "McRib Farewell Tour III."

8. There have been dozens of websites and online campaigns over the years started by McRib devotees to bring the sandwich back on the menu full time.

9. The McRib has made yet another re-emergence in September 2008 with the "Saucy Love is Back" ad campaign.

10. In the first season of "The Osbournes", Kelly makes fun of Jack about his unbridled excitement about an ad touting for the return of the McRib: "F**k yeah, the McRib is Back!"

11. An episode of "The Simpsons" parodied the McRib with it's "Ribwich" product, available on the show at Krusty Burger.

12. McDonalds themselves poked fun at their own product during a 2005 McRib revival by running "reality" ads and a website devoted to "boneless pig" farmers.

13. One McRib sandwich contains 450 calories, 24 grams of fat, 75 mg of cholesterol, 890 mg of sodium, and 34 grams of carbs.

What's The Buzz September 4-10

The Week In Preview: The Taste of Her Cherry Chapstick.

Thursday, September 4
I’m not sure what makes a louder noise at the Hot Rod Café every Thunder Thursday, the bikes or the band. They call it Thunder Thursday for a reason; the sound of dozens of bad ass motorcycles roaring and revving is like a giant rainy T-storm rolling in suddenly and causing critters large and small to scurry for cover. Joining in the cacophony is a live cover band performing for the leather-clad, bandanna’d masses. Tonight, Spokane's ubiquitous Rock Bottom will be providing the neccesary guitar-solo-induced facial tics and general Bon Jovi moments. All this plus cheapo crispy tacos for $1.00 and Budweiser ladies for whom the acid-washed jeans era never ended.

If the noise level gets to be too much for you, you probably should go down the street to the home for the old and uninteresting. Or you can just sneak inside the Hot Rod Café and enjoy a Velvet Hammer (triple sec, light creme de cacao, grenadine and vanilla ice cream) or two. Or seven.

Rock Bottom "Silent Lucidity"

Friday, September 5
When I visited relatives in Sacramento, California several Christmases ago, “prince of Americana” Jackie Greene was the hottest thing down there since strawberry-rhubarb pie, but no-one outside of the bay area had heard of him yet. He’s since made a national name for himself, touring his skinny-jeansed little tush off, palling around with ex-members of the Grateful Dead and releasing a series of albums, each more acclaimed than the last.

My lovely musical cousin Holly Holt is actually a friend of Jackie’s and sang backup vocals on one of his old albums. Greene is a memorable songsmith and his sound comes across at times like indie-rock version of the Eagles in faux-cowboy mode . Jackie and his band perform tonight in support of his latest album at the glorious old Panida Theater in Sandpoint, and I can’t imagine a more perfect venue for his gritty, panoramic brand of California rock.

Jackie Greene "Mexican Girl"

Saturday, September 6
Lazy Saturdays are always great for thrift shopping and it’s been a while since I last covered the scene. In fact, last time I did a thrift store column, I had the entire Hospice organization in an uproar after I referred to the counter gals at their midtown thrift store as “cranky old ladies.” Well, they are! Or at least they were; I’ve been too scared to make a return visit for fear of getting a random set of dentures implanted painfully inside some non-sunny orifice.

Thriftique has recently moved from the soon-to-be demolished old Goodie’s building on Ramsey & Appleway to a much more spacious former auto dealership on 4^th. The place has some surprisingly like-new furniture on offer and a ton of household doo-dads, but the clothing section seemed a little washed-up. The book section has its own room now, but lets hope the donations start pouring in to fill up the empty shelves. Interestingly, in the far back on a rickety metal shelf are tons of random items in sections labeled “$1”,”50c” and “25c” – a very yard-sale-esque touch that added some intrigue to the shopping experience. The old store had a certain amount of piled-high mixed-up charm that made it feel like you were exploring some dead eccentric lady's estate. That vibe is now gone along with a lot of the store's personality, but let's hope they're still just getting acclimated to the new surroundings.

Sunday - Wednesday
(under construction - sorry y'all, it's past my bedtime.)