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Applebee’s back with new look, menu

By Lorie Hutson lorieh@spokesman.com(509) 459-5446

The Applebee’s restaurants in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene have reopened after facelifts.

Each of the four stores – Spokane Valley, Spokane South Hill, Coeur d’Alene and Northpointe – closed for remodeling during July and have reopened with a new look, décor and menu items. It took just three days for each remodel.

Before each of the restaurants shut down, the décor, lamps and artifacts from the restaurants were auctioned off to benefit local nonprofit groups.

The auctions raised $11,278 from the Spokane restaurants and $6,376 from Coeur d’Alene for the Windermere Foundation. Another $1,925 was donated to the Ferris High School band. The checks were presented Tuesday.

For more information, go to www.applebees.com, or find each location’s page on Facebook.

Garden cooking class offered

Mizuna’s founding mothers are back in the kitchen together.

Sylvia Wilson, of Feast Catering Co., and longtime friend Jill Murdoch will offer a series of cooking classes at Murdoch’s garden and country kitchen in Valleyford.

The first class, “Cooking from your Garden” on Sept. 15 at 5 p.m., will be an interactive dinner. Guests can jump in to help and learn some new cooking techniques or sit back and watch the action.

The meal will feature five courses featuring produced picked from the garden. Guests will sit down to the dinner they create afterward. Wine is included.

The class is $95 per person. For more information or to reserve a space, contact Wilson at Sylvia@feastcateringco.com or call (509) 951-7994.

Can you can it?

Jarden Home Brands, the makers of Ball canning products, and the nonprofit organization Canning Across America will host Can-It-Forward Day on Aug. 13.

The idea is to encourage cooks who want to learn the art of canning homegrown and local foods. Jarden and Canning Across America experts will provide instructions for hosting a canning party, including an illustrated how-to, checklist for necessary items, recipes and coupons.

A live webcast at freshpreserving.com on Aug. 13 will feature a day of instructional canning videos and live cooking demos from Seattle’s Pike Place Market from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Viewers will be able to ask questions and post comments in real time.

There is a full schedule of the demos on the website along with a printable intro to canning guide, party tips guide, lid labels and party games.

We’re always looking for fresh food news. Write to: The Fresh Sheet, Features Department, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210. Call (509) 459-5446, fax to (509) 459-5098 or send an email to lorieh@spokesman.com.