This past
week, we celebrated America's birthday with our family in Spokane, Washington.
Shout out to my niece and nephew, Jordan and Jack!
Though we have been visiting Spokane for the past 15 years, it's
only been in more recent years that the city is catching on to the concept of
veganism. The restaurants in Spokane are adopting more organic,
allergy-friendly menus, and I was eager to try out some new spots on our most
recent trip.
Here's a look at the places I explored in Spokane.
This aptly named market on Main Street reminded me of our beloved
Bellingham Co-Op. The small organic grocer includes a plethora of options for
any diet, especially vegan. They had a beautiful salad bar, several deli case
offerings, hot soup, and many appealing desserts. I loved the colorful mural
and cute patio out front for street side eating.
This historic winery is housed on an estate that dates back to
1924. The original owner, inventor Royal Riblet, was a bit eccentric, but he
was most notable for inventing the modern ski lift. His unusual taste is
what led him to design the estate after gothic architecture. The original
structures (the ones that survived the December 2009 fire) all seem as if they
were plucked off castle grounds from somewhere in ancient Europe. The
landscaping and sweeping views of Spokane and nearby Idaho are breathtaking.
But, the wine is even better. For $50/person, you can arrange for a private
tour of the grounds, which includes several tastings of their red and white
wines, light appetizers, and a commemorative wine glass. Our tour was not only
fun, but also informative. And, every wine we tasted was divine. Good thing we
bought a couple of bottles to bring home.
This all-vegan bakery was a happy accidental find thanks to my
visit to the Co-op next-door. You can order deli items from the case such as a
curried chickpea salad or a tofu scramble, or you can keep it easy and order a
latte and one of their many baked goods. We opted for almond milk lattes and a
peanut butter and jelly bar. The bar was like your favorite lunch from
childhood transformed into a crumbly pastry. Rich, salty, and oh-so-peanutty.
I'd go back again just for one of those bars, but the coffee was great too.
This swanky old-school restaurant overlooks the Kalispel golf
course. Even though I don't like golf, I do appreciate the carefully manicured lawns
of a beautiful golf course (and of course, I love golfers since I married
one!). The pane-less floor to ceiling windows perfectly frame the bright
fairways and greens against the mountains in the background. Though the
restaurant has that old-school country club vibe, the food is anything but
stodgy. Executive Chef Tyler Schwenk has created some tasty Asian fusion
dishes, including the best carrot ginger soup I've ever tasted and some smoky,
crisp Brussels sprouts. Spokane insiders told me the 1898 is THE best happy
hour in town.
