Mad Mary’s Is Cookin’ In Its New Spot Cda Culinary Institution Just Going Through Growing Pains

From the looks of construction outside the old Pines Restaurant on Northwest Boulevard, it would seem like “Meatloaf Wednesdays” are history.

Or maybe not.

Tim Cameron, co-owner of Mad Mary’s Thai Restaurant, which moved to the location at 1422 Northwest Boulevard about a month ago, reckons Mary could fire up a batch of the venerable Pines’ favorite in a pinch.

“Everything that Mary cooks tastes great,” Cameron said. “Hey, Mary, do you think you could do meatloaf?”

“Mad Mary,” of course, is Cameron’s wife, Aree. Until the recent move, their restaurant had been on East Sherman since 1995. Despite the ever-present construction, the eatery remains open for breakfast and lunch.

As remodeling hits its stride this week, workers, their trucks and piles of materials are sharing close quarters with die-hard Mary fans who still eat religiously there.

While neither the Camerons nor part-owner Bill Colacurcio would elaborate on just what the street-side building’s make-over will look like, all are boasting a final product that’s “going to be amazing.”

Astute observers of comings and goings here already will have noticed a truck from VON DAGO there. The local freehand artist painted the fire that surrounded Mad Mary’s old location.

VON DAGO - known by friends as Jeff Scozzaro - speaks of his role on the project only in the most obscure terms. He said simply that it’s going to encompass a sight more than just flames on a wall.

“This place is going to be a showpiece for Coeur d’Alene when it’s done,” he said.

Also seen on the construction site have been Pat Tagliaferro and his wife, Debi. Pat is the seasoned Hollywood art director who designed a pair of popular theme restaurants in Spokane, the Bayou Brewing Co. and Northtown Mall’s Heroes, which celebrates area sports stars.

Why all the secrecy?

Colacurcio and the Camerons said they simply don’t want to ruin the surprise. Their reasoning: Since the new look has resulted from a “combo-plate of ideas,” it doesn’t make much sense to be giving away “free samples” before the work is done.

“We’ll have some strange things in here, that’s for sure,” Tim Cameron said. “As long as the place has a good sense of humor, we’ll be happy.”

But inevitably it is Mary, who wields the hefty meat cleaver in her tongue-and-cheek ads, who will have final say.

“I don’t want to get too excited about it now,” she said. “If I’m not happy with it when it’s done, I’ll just get mad.”

, DataTimes