What’s on menu?

If you could capture the flavors that define the Inland Northwest in a recipe, what would you make?

Get ready to create an original dish that showcases the best ingredients this region has to offer in the Flavors of the Inland Northwest Recipe Contest. We’ll create the ultimate Inland Northwest menu with the winning recipes for appetizers, entrees, salads or side dishes, and desserts. The winner in each category will be invited to whip up his or her dish at The Spokesman-Review’s Cooking Expo in late February.

Look here next week for all the details and deadlines.

Brownie bites

Here’s the buzz: Lindaman’s Gourmet Bistro has the best excuse for eating chocolate at breakfast since the mocha. The bistro’s stirs a half-cup of finely ground espresso or dark roast coffee right into the batter.

If that is too much sugar for you first thing in the morning, never mind … you can save it for dessert. The brownies are topped with a Bailey’s glaze along with a chocolate glaze.

Lindaman’s Espresso Brownies are featured in the new “Best Places Northwest Desserts Cookbook,” by Cynthia Nims. She gathered the recipes from 80 of the restaurants, cafes and other eating establishments featured in the 14th edition of the “Best Places Northwest.”

The book was published by Sasquatch Books. It has 224 pages and mouthwatering photos, including a shot of Lindaman’s brownies and can be found at local bookstores for $22.95. It is also available online at www.sasquatchbooks.com.

Wine help

Need an expert opinion on a wine to serve with your holiday meal? Now there’s a hotline that can help – 1-866-VINAMOR.

Based in Sandpoint, Vinamor is an online retailer of hard-to-find wines from small production vineyards.

CEO Jeff Burns will answer questions during the holiday season to help customers choose wines to complement any meal.

“This idea really came as a result of the suggestion of many of our customers,” Burns said in a news release.

The hotline will be answered live from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Callers who leave their questions after hours will receive a call the next morning. Vinamor is also on the Web at www.vinamor.com.