Food Network eyeing Inland Northwest for ‘Diners, Drive-ins and Dives’

It’s true.

That Food Network guy with the signature white blond spike has plans to roar up to the diners, drive-ins and dives of the Inland Northwest this summer.

Producers for Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” began sniffing around for suggestions starting in April and have been in contact with several area restaurants. However, the restaurants appear to have been sworn to secrecy (although a few have been hinting) and public relations officials for the Food Network aren’t saying anything just yet.

If the Food Network had called you for suggestions about which local restaurants to feature on “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives,” what would you have suggested?

Drop me a line at lorieh@ spokesman.com or call (509) 459-5446 and leave a message.

Taste Washington Spokane canceled

There won’t be a 10th anniversary for Taste Washington Spokane.

The Washington Wine Commission will not hold the wine tasting event in 2011. Executive Director Robin Pollard says board members decided that, in part, to concentrate on marketing efforts that would have a year-round effect on wine sales.

She says they’ll work with area wineries, restaurants and retail businesses to help launch a new comprehensive local marketing campaign this fall, which will be called “World Class Value Pass.”

Consumers will be able to download a discount pass online and present it at participating retailers for Washington wine discounts, Pollard says.

The decision had more to do with plans for the new marketing campaign than the success of Taste Washington, Pollard says: “It has been a great event for the past nine years.”

The flagship Taste Washington event held in Seattle – featuring more than 200 wineries, 60 restaurants and drawing more than 3,500 tasters – will go on.