Where work is always a treat

Marcel Kopplin is no newcomer to the local pastry scene.

For 22 years, the baker and cake decorator, taught students of the Inland Northwest Culinary Academy at Spokane Community College the secrets of fondant and buttercream frosting. Since her retirement in 2008 she’s continued to bake and decorate specialty and wedding cakes with daughter Stephanie Lentz.

“For all those years, I was baking only what was ordered,” she says.

Now, Kopplin is baking what she wants for the cases at her first retail shop – monster cookies, individual pineapple upside down cakes, gourmet brownies and cupcakes. There are also slices of layer cake, coconut macaroons and mini quick breads behind the glass.

Marsells Cakes and Dessert Boutique, 920 N. Division St., opened at the end of June. Kopplin’s sister Maureen Orndorff offers espresso with Cravens Coffee Co. roasts inside.

Kopplin says she’s enjoying the freedom and fun of whipping up new treats and meeting customers. The shop has a Division Street address but fronts Cataldo facing north, next door to Super Cuts. They’ve decked out the store with chandeliers, fun quotes and glittery paint on the walls. Cookie jars, handsewn aprons and other gift items are sold. There is a small patio for outside dining.

Marsells Cakes and Dessert Boutique is open Monday through Friday 9:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Saturdays 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call (509) 448-2512 for special orders. There is more information online at marsellscakes.com.

Williams Seafood move complete

Owner Mike Offield and the crew at Williams Seafood Market and Wines are still getting used to their new digs – and filling it up for customers.

The 30-year-old seafood market recently opened the doors at 2118 N. Ruby St., near the intersection of Montgomery Avenue, doubling their space and making the store more accessible to customers and deliveries.

The extra room has allowed them to add some seafood salads, bring steaks into the cooler and expand the wine and beer offerings. Williams Seafood now makes King crab, shrimp and smoked salmon salads. They’re selling three cuts of natural steaks – rib eye, New York and filet. They’ve also made room for Bouzies Bakery breads and will soon have a case of desserts from Just American Desserts. A new wine club is taking shape.

Even better than the new offerings, Offield says, is that the extra space will give employees more space to maneuver behind the counter. For example, during the busy Dungeness crab season they were often bumping into each other while they cracked and cleaned crabs in the old location. Last year, they sold some 4,000 pounds of crab during the Christmas season. Now, there’s room behind the counter and beyond the doors in the back.

Williams Seafood Market and Wines is open 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday. Reach the store at (509) 922-4868.

MacKenzie River Pizza Co. opens

Montana-based MacKenzie River Pizza Co. has opened its first Spokane store at 9225 N. Nevada St. A second location at 57th Avenue and Regal Street is slated to open in early October.

The casual, family friendly chain started with a flagship store in Bozeman, in 1993, and now includes 13 locations in Montana, one Coeur d’Alene restaurant and its first franchise in Indianapolis.

The new Spokane restaurant, at Nevada and Jay, features MacKenzie River’s signature rustic Montana style. Although it is known for pizza served on thick or thin sourdough or natural grain crusts and sandwiches made atop fresh-baked breads, the Spokane restaurant also offers new entrees such as fish and chips, meatloaf and blackened salmon.

Almost everything, down to salsas and salad dressings, are made in house, says spokeswoman Erica Coffman. That is what sets them apart from other restaurant chains, she says.

The North Spokane location offers a full bar in addition to beer and wine. There are two rotating taps for area and seasonal offerings. The Big Sky Brewing Co. beer brewed for the restaurant, Driftboat Ale, is always available.

The restaurant’s summer hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday.

Reach the restaurant at (509) 413-1043 or find out more online www.mackenzie riverpizza.com.

The South Hill location, in the former Hollywood Video location at Moran Prairie Cedar Canyon Village, is scheduled to open in October.

Coeur d’Alene welcomes Seasons

The former Coeur d’Alene Brewing location is now Seasons of Coeur d’Alene.

Peppered Bistro Steak ($19), Kobe Pub Burger ($12) and Short Rib Pasta ($17) are some of the signature offerings of the new restaurant, 209 Lakeside Ave., in Coeur d’Alene.

Chef Scott Miller has worked for restaurants in Tucson, Ariz., San Diego, Portland, Seattle and Spokane, as well as the Steamboat Springs ski resort in Colorado. He was the executive sous chef at Northern Quest Resort and Casino before taking the executive chef position at Seasons of Coeur d’Alene.

Co-owner Don “Pepper” Smock said in a news release, “Our goal was to create a venue where people would enjoy great meals made from the highest quality ingredients, paired with an extensive wine and martini list in a fun and welcoming atmosphere.”

Pat Krug, who also co-owns Seasons, says they are also focusing on excellent service to highlight the seasonally inspired fare.

Seasons of Coeur d’Alene is open daily for lunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dinner is served 4 to 10 p.m. and a bar menu is offered until 11 p.m. The bar closes at midnight.

For more information online go to www.seasonsofcda.com. Reach the restaurant at (208) 664-8008.

Dutch Bros. open at Fourth, Freya

Dutch Bros. has opened its fourth location at Fourth Avenue and Freya Street in Spokane.

Franchise owner Kevin Parker says they’ll have free coffee all day today to celebrate the grand opening of the store, 402 S. Freya St. Dutch Bros is open 5:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5:30 a.m. until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Parker says they’re checking out possible locations in Spokane Valley and North Spokane for future expansion.

For more, go to www.dutchbros.com.