Get Out for Spokesman Review Handle Extra
by Patrick Jacobs
publication date 05/31/08
Las Chavelas,
296 W.Sunset Ave.,
Coeur d’Alene,
664-3767
Camarera Vacante Pero Mercancías Muy Sabrosas
Perhaps it was just a matter of bad timing, but as I sat staring at the colorfully folksy wall murals for what seemed like an eternity waiting for the waitress to deliver water and chips, I began to wonder what in the heck was going on. The hostess had seated us in the back room, the only two stragglers tucked away with a huge and boisterous family reunion that had just gotten underway. Favorite aunties shrieked with delight at relatives they hadn’t seen in years. Bear hugs flew left and right between long lost cousins, second cousins, and ex-step-cousins thrice removed. Floppy-haired emo teens rolled their black-lined eyes and pouted at the over-excited grannies pinching their cheeks and saying “Oh goodness, how you’ve grown into such a big, um…boy? Girl?”
Where was our lovely waitress? The question would haunt us all night. Meanwhile, I found myself sucked into the unintentionally bizarre hand-painted scenarios that decorated the walls of the room. In one mural, a giant fellow in a King Arthur-style armored shirt and a big Conan O’Brien hairdo is carrying a passed-out hippie chick in a faux Sacajawea get-up over the peak of a tall mountain. On the opposite wall, a group of natives with chicken pox gather on a river’s edge and point in fear and amazement at the Ugly Brown Bird of Impending Doom, who is carrying a rubber snake in its beak and standing atop a spiky flowering cactus. I’m sure that in Mexican folklore these situations hold some kind of deep symbolism, but at the moment all I could think about was a nice basket of chips and fresh salsa. They finally arrived along with an apology from the waitress who clued us in to the fact that they were also catering some huge event that evening, which is where the majority of staff had disappeared off to, leaving a bare-bones crew behind to deal with the dinner crowd. “It’s gonna be a while” she blurted, and I have to at least credit her for her honesty.
Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever been to Las Chavelas when the place hasn’t been packed with people, and that’s mainly because they offer some of the most incredible, authentic Mexican food in town. They’ve been admirably consistent, building up a cult following for the better part of two decades in their Sunset Mall location, a strip mall that has seen dozens of other eateries come and go. Like I mentioned, it must have just been bad timing that caused the service level to be less-than-impressionante on this particular evening. Our basket of chips was kind of a tragic affair, just a pile of tiny triangular crumbles, too small to even attempt to dip without risking spicy wet fingertips. We did feel a bit back-burnered during the enormous length of time it took to serve the family reunion folks but ultimately, our meals were fantastic enough to overshadow how desperately ravenous we once were and the near-eternity it seemed to have taken for them to arrive.
The menu presented an exhaustion of traditional Mexican options, and certainly our waitress gave us ample time to come up with a concrete decision. Some of the house specialties available include Albondiga, a type of meatball soup and Menudo, a spicy tripe-and-hoof stew that can be difficult for those without a Mexican grandmother or a severe tequila hangover to really understand. Las Chavelas also serves incredible “Enchildas del Mar”, stuffed with garlicky shrimp and crab, and fish tacos filled with flaky breaded tilapia filets. The Machaca Plate mish-mashes beef, eggs, onion, and tomatoes together with Anaheim peppers, and the Chilaquiles con Huevo takes deep fried corn tortillas and smothers them with red sauce, eggs, onions, melted cheese and heavenly guacamole.
I always like to order one of the combination platters, so I can try a little of this and a little of that, and the this was chile relleno and the that was enchilada and the shredded beef taco was a bonus. I’m a big fan of the chile relleno action, and it’s not any thing to pull off – I’ve had my share of burnt-egg hot messes. Las Chavelas does these cheese-stuffed, egg battered peppers with perfection, and the special white sauce they smother them with is tangy and intense. Likewise, the enchilada was flavorful and filled with tended chunks of shredded beef, and the taco was a fat little bugger, its meat deep-fried in the shell and overstuffed with crispy lettuce and shredded cheddar. The side rice was incredibly satisfying and a larger portion would have been welcomed with an open mouth. Also, I’m not normally a massive fanatic of the refried-bean, but mixed with a few spoons full of the fresh salsa, 
these transcend the ordinary gloppy grey variety. I actually managed to clean my plate of them, quite a rare feat.
Lou’s “Muy Macho Burrito” met a similar end, disappearing faster than you can say “chicken, beef, rice, and beans in a fresh flour tortilla and smothered with red sauce and melted cheese and garnished with tomatoes and lettuce.” Even though we had a hunch it would delay our exit by another half-hour, we decided to indulge in the Fried Ice Cream with strawberries and whipped cream and it was well worth the wait, a hard vanilla dream in a crackly, perfectly oily crisp tortilla, smothered with sweet red syrup and piled high with white fluff. We waddled to the register and paid our tab nearly two hours after we arrived, the last few of the family reunion still lingering over their Coronas. Although past visits have been a bit faster service-wise, I wouldn’t recommend Las Chavelas for those in any kind of rush. However, if you have the patience to just relax and hang a while, you’ll be rewarded with one of the finest, most authentic Mexican meals in the region.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Las Chavelas
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Nine Silly Questions: Dave Oliveria
Dave Oliveria is the ringmaster extraordinaire over at the local internet circus Huckleberries Online. We happen to share opinion space in the Spokesman-Review's Handle Extra section on Saturdays, now available free at a news stand near you. This week, he has also agreed to be the willing victim of our nine silly questions:
1. Favorite Mexican Restaurant in North Idaho and what’s so cool about it?
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Kootenai Medical Center Room Service
It's not every day one gets the pleasure of dining in bed, especially while hooked to oxygen tubes. This morning I woke up completely short of breath. It took the wind completely out of me to even tie my shoes while getting ready for work. I wondered what on Earth was happening? Was I having an asthma attack, perhaps the aftermath of my recent bout of bronchitis? Was there something in the air making it difficult to breathe? No, my room-mate said he was just fine. Was it the coronary effects of last night's Paul Bunyan corn dogs and onion rings finally bringing to pass the big one, wherein I come to join Elizabeth, Fred Sanford style?I rested for a while and decided I'd be able to go to work but I was out of breath again already by the time I reached my car, thirty feet away. Granted, I realize I'm not in the best shape anyway but this was ridiculous. Something was wrong and I decided I'd better visit the big blue building and get checked out in the ER. I honestly thought they'd just give me a quick asthma inhaler and send me off to work, but suddenly I was sat in a wheelchair and whizzed into a room where I was immediately put in a breezy backless robe, hooked to oxygen and various other tubes and wires, poked and prodded, measured and manipulated. Scary, really. If you ever want to swiftly bypass the waiting room at the ER, the magic words are "shortness of breath."
They decided to book me into Room 355 after I failed the "oxygen test", meaning that the level of oxygen in my system is too low without a sexy tube of the stuff shoved up my nose. "You just won yourself a ticket to the hospital" said the nurse in enough of a sarcastic tone to make me love her despite the grim news. After all the fresh oxygen and some kind of lung-opening mist treatment, I was feeling good enough to skeedaddle, but I was stuck for further tests at least, if not overnight.
Of course, the first thing I noticed after settling into my luxury suite was a classy little laminated folder labeled "Room Service Dining Menu." Room service? I laughed. The soft-focus photo illustration on the front features a gourmet chef delicately sprinkling herbs just so across a plate of lovely braised chicken and veggies. I wanted to call "room service" right away, but alas I was due for a cat scan soon and they wouldn't let me eat first so I wouldn't upchuck all over their expensive machines. The cat scan was weird, dizzymaking, and the injection of "iv dyes" into my system made me indeed woozy, warm and pukey.
So I was delighted when the nurse finally gave me the go-ahead to order lunch - I hadn't eaten a bite all day and all the trauma had made my tummy growl. Oh, the options! Breakfast is served all day but pancakes weren't really going to cut it and I can't say that eggs and cheese seemed fun with mystery chemicals still coarsing through my veins. I would order a burger, but I pictured a dry puck of a thing, and French fries are sensibly not listed as an option. "Grandma's Macaroni and Cheese"? Isn't that what landed grandpa in the hospital? A peanut butter and jelly sandwhich actually sounded good, but didn't offer enough oomph. What I needed was some good old meat and potatoes.
I dialed the number."Room Service?"
"Yes, I'd like, um...Tender Beef Pot Roast With Homemade Gravy, Whipped Potatoes, a Wheat Roll, Broccoli, Carrots, Fresh Baked Cookies, and an orange juice." I expected her to say "OK, that'll be $47.99" but instead she just piped "That'll be up in 45 minutes!" and hung up.45 minutes later, on the dot, a gray young girl arrived with a large gray tray with an ugly gray circular plastic dish, like a cement UFO. Not a terrible appetizing visual presentation, to be honest. Inside lurked an equally gray clump of meat, some nuclear enhanced veggies, and a pile of potatoes that were "whipped" in more ways than one. The saving grace? The brown gravy, a form of which can only be found in institutional facilities like this. Just salty enough to counter the extreme blandness at hand. The wheat roll looked like it had been sat upon by a healthy phlebotamist and the accompanying Promise Lite spread added insult to injury. The orange juice was tiny, presented in a wee pudding cup and finished in one swift gulp. Finally, the homemade cookies were unexpectedly edible, quite good actually and will be what I might have to live on if (God forbid) I have to stay here for any length of time. I've got my laptop and there's some hot wi-fi here, so I'll be a'ight.
Healthwise, I still dunno what's going on at this point, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to live. Heart conditions run in the family and I'm pretty sure this will turn out to be related to that kind of thing, which means last nights Paul Bunyan was the last time I get to indulge in that kind of thing for awhile. Salad city here I come...
Saturday, May 24, 2008
North Idaho Country Music
Country music carves it's name into North Idaho's leather seats.
Growing up in Idaho, country music seemed like it was just a natural part of the landscape. In the 1930’s my grandmother sang in a popular local western act known as “The Hill Lilies” and according to her, they made quite a name for themselves with their popular weekly radio gig. For as long as I can remember, George Jones has been grandma’s all-time-favorite singer and growing up I must have heard everything he recorded, as well as her own impromptu a cappella versions of his songs. Memories of summertime family road trips include the unnerving mid-song ka-thunk of the 8-track player playing chunky tapes of Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, and most repeatedly, the “Classics” album by big-haired crooners Kenny Rogers and Dottie West.
Despite its ubiquity, I realized early on that country schmaltz was not for me. Growing up, I much preferred the Beatles and the Supremes to my parents’ Glen Campbell or Charley Pride records and even “Hee Haw” made me queasy. Once I discovered Disco and New Wave, there was no looking back and for many years I turned my nose up at Country music, dismissing it as twangy, trashy noise for backwoods Barbies and their truck-driving boyfriends.
Several years ago, I took a pop music history class and developed a new appreciation for the original, old-timey country sound. I discovered the various joys of the original singing cowboys and the unhinged croon of Hank Williams, the Nashville Sound of Patsy Cline and Jim Reeves and the rockabilly spunk of Johnny Cash and early Elvis. At the time, I was working in a convenience store where the owner kept the radio dial glued permanently to the mainstream country station. Although I felt strong in my belief that modern Country was musically overproduced, lyrically clichéd and painfully cloying, the endless repetitiveness of the playlist gradually, involuntarily sucked me in to the point that I knew every word of “Redneck Woman” by heart and found myself giddy with excitement upon the openin
g notes of “I Love This Bar.”
Close friends seemed worried about my mental health, but my countrypolitan phase faded soon after landing a better job. Ultimately, my experiences with the genre left me with a newfound amount of respect for its many fans and musicians. Certainly, it continues to be an integral part of the North Idaho experience, and there’s a tractor load of opportunities to slide into your cowboy boots and your tightest pair of Wranglers and head out for a night on the town, country style.
The Coeur d’Alene Casino has made sure that lovers of mainstream country will have a lot to get excited about this summer by hosting a series of several major concerts by national acts. The line-up starts on June 4 with an appearance by Grammy award winning vocalist LeAnn Rimes, who emerged in her young teens doing a masterful Patsy Cline impression with “Blue”, and went on to sell an amazing 37 million albums by the time she was 24. Former Alabama lead singer Randy Owen takes the Casino stage on July 31 in support of his first-ever solo album One on One and it’s lead single “Braid My Hair.” Judging from Randy’s recent promo photo he could use a serious shampoo and conditioning as well. Sitcom star and comic country musician Rodney Carrington will appear on August 21, when fans will be lining up to watch him perform such questionable-taste classics as “Letter to My Penis”, “Morning Wood”, and others with titles that can’t be printed here.
On a local level, there’s no bigger country act around than Kelly Hughes and his band. His musical career started at age 14 at the Garwood Saloon and at age 21 he opened “Kelly’s” at Stateline, one of the most notoriously rowdy honky-tonks in the storied history of North Idaho. Hughes sold the place in 2004 to spend some time riding around in his giant silver bus and playing music. He doesn’t appear to be hanging up his American flag guitar anytime soon with summer concerts booked all over the place including the Community Bank in Post Falls on June 5, the Hayden Country Club on July 18, and a string of dates starting next weekend at his own former roadhouse, now operating as Big Al’s.
In addition to the region’s most lady-friendly mechanical bull, Big Al’s features a rotating music schedule which includes the all-around best of the North Idaho country music scene. Julie Ann & the Jukebox Junkies will be rattling the rafters of the old place this weekend, and come early to check out the action at Big Al’s infamous mud bogs. Or show up before the concert each Friday for line dance lessons, then stick around to get your eye poked out in one of the weekly Dart tournaments and scoot boots to the tune of upcoming performers like Whiskey Ridge and Rattle Trap.
Another Big Al’s regular act is the Jim Huntsman Band, whose energetic blend of covers and originals has risen exponentially with the seemingly endless gigs they’re willing to play. This is a band with few days off, as evidenced by their live calendar, which lists shows everywhere from this weekend at Hill’s Resort in Priest River, Arbor Crest Winery on June 1, and Post Falls Days on June 6. Recently, downtown Coeur d’Alene’s most chaotic watering hole The Iron Horse has thrown it’s Stetson hat into the country music ring by introducing “Country Sundays” featuring cleverly-named tribute act The Haggard Willies starting tomorrow, May 25. On the band’s MySpace page they describe their sound as “a couple drunk musicians falling down a long flight of stairs.” Actually, if I remember correctly from my music history class, I think that might be how country music started way back when.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Herbie's Deli Shop
Herbie’s Deli Shop4055 N. Government Way,
Coeur d’Alene
208-667-8840
Hours: Mon-Fri 10-3
For the most part, my spring head cold had faded away but my ears remained stubbornly plugged, rendering everything in my range of hearing muffled and distant. Even still, as I sat poring over the lunch menu at Herbie’s Deli Shop in Coeur d’Alene, I could hear a hopelessly cheesy saxophone riff rip through the air from the overhead speakers. Lou and I looked at each other and laughed. “Oh boy, I haven’t heard this in years” he chuckled and wondered “who did this song anyway?” Now, I like to consider myself quite knowledgeable about pop music, new and old. Having worked in a series of record shops when I was younger forced me to know a lot of obscure junk that usually only comes in handy for getting the high score on the music trivia video game down at the pub. But what was this darned song? I’d heard it a million times, but frustratingly, I just couldn’t place the title or artist, some soft-rock one-hit-wonder from the seventies. It was hard to focus on the menu until the song finally faded out, and I vowed to keep that wince-inducing sax riff stored in my frontal lobe until I could somehow identify it.
We spent the rest of lunch trying to figure it out. “Paul McCartney and Wings”, suggested Lou. I rolled my eyes. “No, that’s not it, obviously.” My tummy suddenly growling louder than the sax, I concentrated my attention to the menu. We were both Herbie’s newbies and weren’t really expecting much more than average assembly-line style subs and status-quo soups of the day, but the menu is full of unexpected possibilities. Signature sandwiches include Smoked Turkey and Cranberry, Herbie’s Triple Decker Club and the Black Forest Ham and Egg. “Haut Dogs” of the Chicago and Coney Island variety and grilled Panini sandwiches are what’s hot, and of course you can create your own stacked Dagwood on a variety of breads, including 3-cheese focaccia, nine-grain and marble rye. Herbie’s serves some especially creative salads as well, including the Chicken CranApple, the Asian Chicken with Mandarin oranges and sesame dressing, and a giant Taco Salad with black beans and cilantro. Amazingly, like the chili and all the soups, salad dressings are made fresh from scratch.
The atmosphere at Herbie’s is warm, open and cheery with crisp yellow and red walls, forest green carpeting 
and a few minimal touches of wall art along with an impressively large mirrored wall clock and a giant collection of baskets. A few easily identifiable Herbie’s regulars were sidled up to the counter, laughing and gossiping with the friendly older couple who seemed to be running the show (Herbie and his wife maybe?). The sole waitress on duty was notably unruffled by the lunch rush, attending to each guest with equally personable service, her announcement of the daily specials and professional demeanor more reminiscent of a gourmet bistro than a strip-mall sub shop.
“Mighty salubrious” is Herbie’s motto. It’s painted on the front door and printed on the front on the menu directly under their name. “Salubrious” is basically the ten-dollar word for “healthful” and certainly Herbie’s offers plenty of fare that fits that description. We started off with a cup each of their incredible pepper steak soup, made from scratch with whole grain rice, fresh mushroom slices, red and green peppers and big, tender chunks of beef. “Little River Band? Supertramp?” I could hear Lou say through my wonky ears as the waitress cleared away our soup dishes and refilled our sodas. “No, no, no”, I sniffled, ”I’d totally know if it was those bands, and it’s not.”
Of course, I managed to find probably the least salubrious item on the menu, a grilled Panini sandwich called “Mel’s Melt” which consists of juicy roast beef and smoked bacon, a thick layer of melted cheddar cheese, rich grilled onions and tangy barbecue sauce constructed on a fresh baguette, grilled to greasy hot perfection and served with a side of creamy horseradish. This delicious, decadent beauty was incredibly messy to eat, so much so that I had to ask for extra napkins twice, but it was so incredibly good it was easily worth the risk of embarrassment. Lou ordered the Hot Philly Dip, and I can always tell when he really enjoys something because he 
actually shuts up for the two minutes it takes him to finish any given food item. “Mmm…the au jus is so could I could drink it like soup,” which he then actually did.
“I wanna say Bertie Higgins but that was ‘Key Largo’ and I don’t remember any sax in that,” I thought aloud, finishing my last bite of Panini. “Rupert Holmes!” he shot back. “No, that was ‘Escape’ aka ‘the Pina Colada Song’, but that was a darn good guess.” The waitress cleared our messy table and returned with our check along with an invitation to return soon and a couple of silver peppermint patties. Nice touch. As soon as we arrived home, I hit Google. “Cheesy 70’s soft rock sax riff” I typed into the search window and as soon as I saw it I wanted to kick myself. “Of course!” I groaned, “It’s ‘Baker Street’ by Gerry Rafferty.” I dialed the song up on Rhapsody to make sure and moments later that amusingly mad 70’s saxophone was polluting my home. Next time I hear that song, I may not remember the artist or title, but I know it’ll remind me to return to Herbie’s Deli Shop for another dose of delicious salubriousness.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Nine Silly Questions: Quincy Clark
My lunch partner, my sister, my nightmare. On his business cards he's Quincy Starling. He’s the legendary Q and it’s time to find out what it takes for this bulldog-loving adult film casting director/future possible law-enforcement student/beauty school dropout to feel sort of alright about living in this neck of the woods. “It ain’t no Seattle, but there are a few cool spots.”
1. Favorite Mexican Restaurant in North Idaho and what’s so cool about it?
Ranch Viejo (Post Falls). I just like the atmosphere, the food is always good. Their enchiladas rock and everything is so authentic – the staff only speaks Spanish it seems.
2. Favorite Asian Restaurant in North Idaho and what’s so cool about it?
Canton (Downtown Cd’A). Wow, the food is really good there lately and it’s just one of those traditional Coeur d’Alene gathering spots. Good service too – we love the super-friendly hostess/waitress, she’s been there for ages
3. North Idaho food place you’d suggest avoiding if possible?
Taco Bell, all locations.
4. Local place you’d be most likely to take out of town visitors?
Bardenay.
5. Favorite local town for a day trip and why?
Murray, Idaho. The drive is beautiful and lunch at the fun,crazy Sprag Pole Inn is always nice.
6. Most Beloved North Idaho Breakfast Joint? What do you usually order?
Michael D’s (East Cd’A). The “aspiring” omelet is dagnabit good!
7. Favorite North Idaho bar/club/night spot and why?
Nowhere in town – I like Irv’s in Spokane. It’s small, quaint and the boys are hot. Plus, they have courtyard smoking.
8. Someone offers to buy you a drink. What do you order?
Mandarin vodka & soda.
9. Most frequented North Idaho Coffee Shop/Espresso Stand?
2B2 Café in Hayden. Also, Joe’s coffee hut on Appleway is the best!
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Random Bits: Bread Crumbs
Local biz diva Nils Rosdahl has come through again with the juicy scoop about what's going down at 4th and Appleway in the empty lot that used to house the burned-down 7-11 complex. Panda Express will be opening their 2nd Coeur d'Alene outlet at the busy intersection, which means that if you're a drive-thru person like me, your take-out will still actually be semi-hot by the time you get it home. Not that it was such an agonizing stretch to drive the extra 5 miles to the other location, but hey, gas ain't cheap these days. To be honest, the last few times I've eaten there, I've felt pretty yucky afterwards - the new Beijing beef made my tummy just about explode. At Panda Express, the trick is to find your safety zone and stick with it - for me it's the Orange Chicken, steamed rice and veggie bowl. Cheap, satisfying, and now just up the street.
Woah, I think I might have outscooped even Nils on this news. There's a kind, older gentlemen who periodically shows up at the place I go for Karaoke and brings the house down with his spot-on, fabulous Frank Sinatra songs. He usually appears long enough to sing two songs, then disappears. I've always known him as Larry, but one of my spies told me the other night that he is actually in the process of having his name legally changed to Frank Sinatra. Whether that's true or not I dunno, but what I CAN confirm is that he has purchased the ill-fated Mike's CDA Cafe building (the original Topper for you old timers) at 18th & Sherman and is transforming it into "Sinatra's", an Italian place with a full blown Frank Sinatra theme.Look for lots of memorabilia from the original era of ol' blue eyes and nothing but Sinatra on the stereo. I haven't heard an opening date, and when I drove by to peek the place looked like it still needed quite a lot of work, but he's already put a listing in the yellow pages online, so hopefully soon. Seems like Italian is taking over Mexican as the region's most overdone restaurant genre, but I have a feeling this place will be quite unique.
I'm kind of getting a little excited for Le Piastre, the French/Italian bistro which opens May 16th in the former Cafe Doma spot on 5th & Sherman. Owner/Brix Chef Adam Hegsted has spent plenty of time pimping the concept of Cd'A's first "tapas style" restaurant to the press, so let's hope it lives up to the hype. The idea is that you can order several small, reasonably priced plates in order to sample a few different dishes in one go. There's already an attractive Le Piastre website up with it's full menu listed in all it's pretentiously gourmet glory. Depending on your palate, these possibilities will either make your mouth water or confuse you slightly and make you head up the street to Zip's instead:*Yukon Potato Hash with Fried Oyster and Poached Egg
*Chorizo and Green Olive Omelet with Manchego
*Salmon Gravlax with Crustini, Onion Jam and Sweet Butter
*Ricotta Gnocchi with Grapefruit Tears and Fried Crab
*Beer Steamed Mussels with Crispy Potatoes and Roast Garlic Milk
*Charred Octopus and Chorizo Salad
There are dozens of these odd little dishes, as well as more standard fare such as cheese plates, traditional breakfasts, and homemade juices including Kumquat, Vanilla, and Basil. I'm looking forward to experiencing some of the more unusual flavors they have to offer - naturally, expect a full get Out review soon.
Other tasty tidbits:
* Rockin' Robin Restaurant came under new ownership not long ago and not much has changed except for the fact that for the first time in the much-beloved Government Way greasy spoon's history, they are now open past 2 p.m. In fact, they have an entirely new dinner menu and are now open 7 days a week until 9 p.m., so if you can't live without Cd'A's most perfect chicken fried steak, home-style meat loaf, or the sassy waitresses with 80's flair, you now have all afternoon and evening to get your fix.
*I used to spend every other summer in California and one really cool thing we used to do down there was go to these massively huge outdoor flea markets, where you could get anything, literally ANYTHING you could dream up for very little cash. I've never seen any flea markets in the Northwest anywhere near the same scale, but we do have the Sagle Swap Meet, just south of Sandpoint on US95, which opened for the 2008 season last weekend. I've certainly found bargains and oddities there that have made it worth the trek: piles of $1 used CD's, stacks of kitschy old home interior magazines from the '60's, an autographed photo of David Bowie (truth!). If you can bear to sift through a lot of garbage and learn to ignore the "old man booths" (mysterious rusty tool parts and outdated electronics), you'll find some treasures you just have to drag home with you.
*A Nickel's Worth ad for "Poochies World Famous Hot Dogs" on Seltice Way next to Polaris in Post Falls led my work pal Kim and I to check the place out on our lunch break, only to discover it was still yet to open, despite the promoted opening date of May 1. Rats! Get it together, Poochie kids, we work just a few blocks down the street from you and are hoping to become regulars, provided that your food is as good as you say and that you ever actually open for business.
Mother's Day Concert at the Park
Mother's Day Concert
Featuring the NIC Madrigal Singers and NIC Wind Symphony
at the Coeur d'Alene City Park Bandshell
(In case of inclement weather, concert moves to Boswell Hall Auditorium.)
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Chinese Gardens
Chinese Gardens
310 N 4th St.,
Coeur d’Alene.
www.chinesegardenscda.com
The sidewalk sign in front of Chinese Gardens announced in colorful chalk “Voted Coeur d’Alene’s Best Chinese Food 2008.” I have no idea where and when this important election was held, and frankly I feel a little emotionally bruised for not being asked to participate. Anyway, if you’d asked me six months ago for my thoughts on this issue, my snarky reply would have been that there really weren’t any “best Chinese food” places in town. Certainly grungy Chinese Gardens wouldn’t have qualified. In fact, I’d quit bothering with it several years ago after a series of meals arrived tortoiselike and at room temperature, flavorless and adrift in a deep sea of grease. One of their only saving graces was that they delivered to my local corner bar, where tipsy hunger pangs occasionally made the food seem almost palatable.
Opened in 1972 by the venerable Chane family, Chinese Gardens was one of the first places in town to serve such then-exotica as Chow Mein and Pork Foo Young. The newly emigrated Chanes lived upstairs in the same building as the restaurant and had nine kids who helped run the family business in various ways. I have distinct memories of dining there as a child, eating a cheeseburger and fries and listening to Mama and Papa Chane carry on vociferously from behind the thin kitchen walls in the harsh tones of their native language. It sounded like ferocious fighting and arguing to my young ears, and mixed with the dull thud of the chop-chop-chopping of the butcher knife, I was sure they were going to kill each other. In later years, I remember dear old Papa Chane always running the cash register, grinning from ear to ear but otherwise seeming slightly bewildered since he knew about as much English as Idahoans know Cantonese. After the elder Chanes had finally fried their final won ton, the family drifted, with son E-chen taking the reigns.
Heading up 4th street several months ago, I was so aghast to see that Chinese Gardens was dark during dinnertime that I had to pop into a nearby bar to see if anyone had the scoop. I suddenly felt guilty and rotten for saying mean things about them over the last few years. Okay, maybe I hadn’t found their food that fabulous lately, but the idea of the place being gone forever was too much to handle, like a part of my heritage ripped away. “Health board shut ‘em down?” blurted some lame drunk but no-one else seemed to have a better answer. Relief permeated the air after a friend of E-Chen’s was finally able to fill us in on the fact that they were simply undergoing a much needed remodeling and facelift. “Cheers!” we roared as our shot glasses clanked together. “Long live Chinese Gardens!” “Great, but are they going to remodel the menu too?” slurred the lame drunk to no-one in particular.
Thankfully, the answer to that question is an enthusiastic “Yes!” Like their elegant new interior look, the Chinese Gardens menu has been reconfigured and brought from the 70’s right into the 21st century. There are plenty of unique specialty dishes on the new menu, including trendy Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Savory Braised Tofu, Hot & Spicy Salmon with ginger and chili sauce, and Ma Ma Chicken, a stir-fry named after Mama Chane herself and served in a sauce nearly as spicy as she was. Creative lunch and dinner combos are available, and I was delighted to see that they now offer the option of Hot & Sour Soup along with the more traditional Egg Flower variety. I tried each on recent visits and both are incredibly tasty; the Egg Flower Soup is packed with fresh mushrooms, greens and a deeply satisfying chicken flavor and the Hot & Sour holds enough power to pleasure the most stubborn sinus passages.
On my first return visit, I found it hard to pay attention to the menu as I was distracted by taking in all the classy cosmetic improvements Chane has made to the place. The old tattered bright red booths and tacky Chinese lanterns have been replaced with sleek black metal chairs, faux-marble tabletops and lively framed prints. The ratty carpeting has been replaced by a subtle gray berber and the walls are a warm butterscotch tan. Gone are all traces of overt kitsch, replaced with antique hutches, low slung glass light fixtures, and a dazzling gold room-divider screen. Even the gigantic light-up mural of the Great Wall seems somehow understated hanging in the lobby above the burbling aquarium. Chinese pop music plays gently in the background, a gesture that I always notice and appreciate so much more than being forced to dine under the caterwauling din of Celine Dion or something.
Both recent visits were impressive enough that I might even agree with whoever voted the place tops in that mysterious poll they advertise out front. The Orange Chicken tasted fantastic but unfortunately, it arrived nearly cold. The Almond Chicken fared better and was among the best I ever had, all fluffy white chicken chunks, a light, not overly greasy batter and a rich gravy topped with powdery ground almonds. The crispy Chow Mein was flavorful and freshly made with dense pork sausage chunks. The hot mustard for my BBQ pork made me cry and I liked it. The fried rice is served plain, which is preferred to the method of adding nightmarish frozen mixed veggies. Best of all, the egg rolls were nice and light, free from the overkill of grease they used to drown them in here. The level of service was equally high on both visits as well, expedient and personable. I smiled when I read at the top of my receipt the name “New Chinese Gardens.” New, indeed, revitalized and ready for another forty years.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Booze of the Week: EFFEN Black Cherry
Ask your friendly bartender for an EFFEN vodka in the wrong tone of voice and you're likely to get squirted by the well gun. In Dutch "effen" translates as smooth, even and balanced. Imported from Holland, EFFEN vodka is made using a continuous distillation process that distills the vodka hundreds of times before it is bottled. EFFEN Black Cherry is the first flavored vodka to combine natural Black Cherry and Vanilla flavors together. The result is a fresh, contemporary liquid that is light in texture and flavor, suitable for sipping on the rocks with no sticky mixer necessary.
In the manufacturing process, EFFEN vodka uses continuous distillation and is filtered through peat, not charcoal. This process removes all impurities and congeners. Impurities can alter the taste of the distillate and increase the intensity of hangovers. I recently enjoyed several chilled EFFEN martinis - a seriously chatty case of the pleasant warm fuzzies set in with completely no evidence of morning-after blues.
The EFFEN vodka bottle even feels good when you pour it. The rubber sleeve keeps EFFEN vodka cold longer than glass for bottle service and ice-cold martini cocktails.EFFEN vodka is distilled at significantly lower temperatures than other vodkas. This eliminates “caramelization,” an occurrence that yields a harshness and “bite” on the palate. With EFFEN, there is no bitter, wince inducing alcohol flavor at all, in fact it's like a lightly flavored spring water. Delicious.
Of course, Get Out urges you to enjoy alcohol beverages responsibly and walk, cab, or Citylink your way home after a night out.
Nine Silly Questions: Tabie from Mik-n-Mac's
When she's not slinging drinks left and right at Mik-n-Mac's Lounge in Coeur d'Alene or frantically planning her upcoming wedding, Miss Tabie is tanning, shopping and definitely not eating sushi. We delve ever so slightly into what makes her world her go round:
1. Favorite Mexican Restaurant in North Idaho and what’s so cool about it?
I love Las Chavelas in Sunset Mall on US95. Best salsa ever! Amazing food and always good service.
2. Favorite Asian Restaurant in North Idaho and what’s so cool about it?
Um, I don’t eat Asian food…
3. North Idaho food place you’d suggest avoiding if possible?
Not sure, anywhere that serves Asian food, I guess…
4. Local place you’d be most likely to take out of town visitors?
Longboard Burgers (4th & Appleway, Cd’A)
5. Favorite local town for a day trip and why?
Kellogg is a fun little getaway town…
6. Most Beloved Breakfast Joint? What do you usually order?
It was the Sandtrap before they closed. Now I’m a pretty big fan of Down The Street. Their biscuits and gravy are awesome!
7. Favorite North Idaho bar/club/night spot and why?
Mik-n-Mac’s. Duh, I work there, that’s why. It’s so fun!
8. Someone offers to buy you a drink. What do you order?
An “X-rated Vacation” which is X-Rated Vodka, Peach Schnapps, Malibu Rum and Pineapple juice.
9. Most frequented North Idaho Coffee Shop/Espresso Stand?
Latte Lane on Best Avenue. Best drinks, fast paced, and great service.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Izabella @ Eichardt's Pub Tues 05/06
OK young hippies, put down that triple-chamber bong, it's time to get out of your musty basements and stomp around to some jam-based live music. Tripping through Sandpoint on Tuesday night in support of most recent self-released CD "In the West" is Izabella, a Sacramento, California based psychedelic/roots music band or as they describe themselves on their MySpace page "Dance rock with a cherry on top". Bring some bongos, I have a big hunch random drum circles will be breaking out all night. Izabella perform at Eichardt's Pub, 2121 Cedar Street from 9 p.m. until the shrooms start to wear off.
Band Info Via MySpace:
Band Members:
Band MembersMurph - bass/guitar...
Sean Lehe - guitar/vocals...
Lucas Carlton - drums/percussion...
Brian Rogers - percussion/guitar/bass/vocals...
Sam Phelps - keyboard/synth/vocals...
About Us:
Bringing positive vibrations to your community through song, dance and celebration.
Izabella was born out of years of musical connections. Like many bands before, and many yet to come, the search for new music is what ultimately brings these musicians together. The love of the improvisational/jam community is what drives and inspires them to push forward. Sean Lehe (guitar/vocals), Lucas Carlton (drums) and Murph (bass/guitar) spent four years recording and touring with Bay Area jamband, Home At Last. With a desire for a fresh start, the trio decided in the spring of 2006 to branch out with a new face and renewed sense of purpose. After years of networking in the scene, close connections were made with some of the most talented players around. As a result, the trio has grown to a five-piece machine following a musical merger with Sacramento based “Four Guys From Reno”. The Sacramento boys bring the soulful energy of Brian Rogers (vocals/bass/percussion/guitar) and the chunky funk of Sam Phelps (keyboard/vocals). Brian and Sam have been musical brothers since High School and have already created an impressive legacy of solo recordings.
The intent of this group is to develop a musical space that is exploratory, challenging AND accessible. Inspired genre-bending songwriting, danceable energy, and emotive vocals are the key ingredients toward this end. No musical experience, however, is complete without strong community. As Izabella was born from musical connections, so will it thrive and grow with positive connections made in the community.
The band made big strides in its first year of operation. After 80 gigs from March to December of ‘07, exceptional performances at Bobolink Music Festival and Las Tortugas Dance of the Dead, and sit-ins with Tim Carbone and Andy Goessling of Railroad Earth and Scott Law, this band has created a huge buzz in California. In January of 2008, the Izabella boys released their second studio creation "In The West", and began to tour fulltime and nationwide. The first release, "Dream When You Sleep", was recently picked up for distribution in Japan by Grey Dog's Records.
Listen here:
http://www.myspace.com/izabellaband
http://www.izabellaband.com/
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Day Trip: St. Maries, Idaho
Day Trip to St. Maries
Rolling into an active downtown St. Maries with snarling appetites, I wanted to eat somewhere where we might be able to experience some local history. The Gem State Grill was originally constructed in 1910 as a Red Cross drug store, and according to our waitress Nann, it was “a zillion other things” before the current owners established it as a diner in 1982. It’s got a clean and classic vibe and a good selection of breakfast, lunch and dinner items ranging from the “Apple Tree Omelet” to a nice steak with an
The accompanying crinkle-cut fries were golden and perfect. Lou ordered the gigantic $9 Gem Burger which sated even his alarmingly enormous appetite, causing him to groan with satisfaction. There’s nothing too fancy or festive about this place, but you’ll find little to complain about.Our window booth was a prime spot for some post-lunch people watching, and downtown St. Maries was alive with a spring mix of seniors, leather-clad bikers and young families, many of them coming and going from Main Street Antiques and Espresso, a tiny shop whose “Handmade Fudge” sign came into focus and immediately motivated us across the street to check it out. I couldn’t really justify breaking out the Visa solely for a chunk of Reese’s Pieces fudge so I had to find some other unnecessary thing to spend my rent money on. It’s an itty-bitty store but its crammed floor-to-ceiling with interesting collectables, kitchen implements and touristy kitsch. I came across a small rack of “Fragrances of the Northwest” incense and was intrigued by the notion of “Idaho Essence.” What could the scent of
The counter girl gave us two-for-one fudge since they were the last pieces on the tray. “Sorry, these are the only boxes we’ve got,” she apologized as she handed over the goods in a foofy pink and purple floral patterned package. “That’s okay, I’m man enough to handle a girly looking box,” I quipped and she laughed nervously as she bagged our fudge and incense. We were drawn into the Paperhouse store by the insane psychedelic Swiss mural out front, then decided to shuffle a few blocks down Main St. to c
heck out the log-built It was time to head back to the booming metropolis of