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Despite fire, Santé rolls on

The crew at Santé Restaurant and Charcuterie is still turning out a limited menu despite a small fire that damaged much of the kitchen equipment.

General manager Kate Hansen said the grease fire last week, along with sprinklers and other fire suppression efforts, ruined equipment in the restaurant’s kitchen. Insurers estimate the damage, including lost profits, at $35,000.

“Fortunately, there wasn’t any damage to the building,” said Hansen, who owns the restaurant with her husband, executive chef Jeremy Hansen.

Santé, 404 W. Main Ave., shares the main floor of the Liberty Building with Auntie’s Bookstore.

However, they still have limited breakfast and lunch offerings, and hope to have a small dinner menu online soon, using loaned equipment.

Breakfast begins at 9 a.m. with quiche, pastries and espresso available. Lunch options include charcuterie plates with house-made cured meats, cheeses, fruit and breads. Guests can build their own sandwiches from the spread, which has proven popular, Hansen said. They’re also offering soups from the little kitchen they’ve set up in the dining area. The restaurant closes each day at 4 p.m., but sooner if business is slow.

Hansen said they’re waiting on more loaner equipment and hope to be ready with what they’re calling a “demi” dinner menu in the next two weeks. The limited service would include about four choices each for appetizers, salads and entrées.

Hansen said people have been very generous since the fire, visiting the restaurant to support them and offering commercial kitchen space and equipment.

“It has actually been really busy, the turnout has been incredible,” she said.

The silver lining is that they’re using the downtime to rewrite the menu and make arrangements for upcoming events. They’re hopeful that the kitchen can be back to full service by the first week in January, when they have a cooking class and First Friday events scheduled.

Supporters can also purchase charcuterie, cheeses and condiments from Santé for holiday parties. Sausages, prosciutto, bacon and other meats are made in-house from locally raised beef and pork. They also have mustards and preserves made in the Santé kitchen available.

Everything is sliced or packaged to order. Call ahead for availability or to order. Reach Santé at (509) 315-4613.

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.