Food

January has long been associated with a fresh start and a time to adopt new practices, but in recent years it’s been an especially popular period to reflect on drinking habits. For many, this has been spurred by the growing trend of participating in Dry January, a month-long commitment to abstain from booze. But just because you aren’t drinking alcohol doesn’t mean you can’t sip on something fun. There are now more alcohol-free spirits than ever, and mocktail options at bars and restaurants just keep getting better.

The food and travel editors of the Seattle Met Magazine have named three Spokane restaurants the best in the state.

There is a new flavor coming to the South Perry District.

Love is in the little things.

She grew up in a leprosy colony in Thailand, moved to the U.S. and became a wife, mother, food blogger and photographer, but Suwanee Lennon never forgets where she came from.

Celeste Shaw-Coulston happened across a casting call for a Spokane home makeover show – and encouraged her daughter-in-law to apply.

If you’re trying to get on a healthier track as we start the new year, you might be tempted to heed the unrelenting call to cut certain foods out of your life. Sure, most of us could pull back on added sugars, refined grains and processed meats, for example, but instead of focusing on saying “no” to those, why not take a more affirmative path and turn your attention to the foods to say “yes” to?

The new year is nearly here, and, as is custom, we ring out the old by running down the very best bottles to hit shelves during the past 12 months.

As 2023 draws to a close it’s time for the Greatest Values of the Year, my annual selection of a dozen wines from the year’s recommendations that cost $20 or less. These are among my favorites that I tasted throughout 2023, wines that offer excitement and quality without making a dent in our wallets.

You don’t have to start a radical new diet to see big changes in your health. You can lose weight, improve your life expectancy, nourish your gut microbiome and boost your overall well-being by making small but powerful changes to what and how you eat.

Brandon Fenton, who has co-owned the Iolite Lounge in Spokane Valley for just over a year, says he’s always looking to try creative and different concepts for the cocktail lounge’s drink menu. Iolite’s “teardrop” cocktails, for example, come in different colors and are served in globules of ice shaped like their namesake. The Blazing Apple is a tequila-infused concoction that, naturally, is set on fire. 

If I’m home for New Year’s Eve – where I prefer to be – chances are I’m making fondue. Sometimes I make two: a cheese one for dinner and a chocolate one for dessert. The fun, informal nature of the dish sets just the right tone. There’s an ease about fondue, from the stress-free way it’s served to the freedom each person has to choose what they want to dip in it.

Nothing has Idahoans divided quite like In-N-Out Burger. The California fast-food chain’s Meridian opening Dec. 12 sorted residents into two factions: those who are willing to wait hours for an In-N-Out burger, and those who loudly profess the former are wasting their time. The divide is no more clear than in, you guessed it, the Facebook groups dedicated to the company’s new store, the first ...

With most businesses closing for Christmas, many look forward to their holiday off. That’s not the case at some Chinese restaurants that in Spokane, who historically stay open in Spokane.

From staff reports

I consider caramel as evidence that cooking is a form of magic. With just heat, you can turn simple, sweet sugar into something deliciously complex with a range of textures (depending on the addition of other ingredients). This is thanks to chemical reactions that create new flavor compounds. But as with any potion, making caramel can be hard to master and even dangerous if not handled properly.

Liberty Lake’s 3 Ninjas restaurant refuses to be put into a box. Melding flavors from places like Thailand, Mexico, Japan, Korea, America and others, their menu offers mouthwatering bowls, sandwiches, wraps, tacos, salads and more.

Holiday gifts don't have to be big or expensive to be appreciated. In fact, it's often the smaller, practical items intended for everyday use that end up having the most impact in the long run.