Heaven on wheels
Couple of Chefs take their fine-dining skills to the streets
Stir’s new owner mixes up a few changes
Stir Eatery & Lounge, 7119 N. Division St., has a new owner. Ryan Lieuallen bought the restaurant and martini lounge and took over in mid-February. He’s spiffed things up a bit and made a few other changes, but chef Nick Keslar is still in the kitchen. Keslar prides himself on the kitchen’s smoked meats and scratch-made sauces. He said in a news release, “I’d put Stir’s Reuben up against any in town as the best you have ever tasted.” The house-smoked pastrami sandwich is served on marbled rye and stacked with Swiss, red cabbage and from-scratch Thousand Island dressing ($10.99 lunch/$14.99 dinner). The menu features other pub grub favorites with a twist including lobster macaroni and cheese ($7.99/$12.99), spicy Korean tacos ($6.99), the Arizona burger topped with guacamole, red onion, roasted Anaheim pepper and a southwest aioli ($7.99). Kesler said other favorites include the spicy house gumbo ($7.99/$9.99), sesame ahi tuna ($13.99/$22.99) and seared flat-iron steak served with garlic mashed potatoes ($13.99). Lunch and dinner are served daily starting at 11 a.m. The restaurant closes at midnight most nights and later on weekends. Bartender Robert Dixon has developed new drinks, including a Basil Rangpur gimlet and Lemon Pound Cake martini, as a part of the expanded bar offerings. The restaurant also features libations from local and regional breweries, wineries and Dry Fly Distillery. There are more details about Stir Eatery & Lounge at stirmartini.com or follow them on Facebook or Twitter for specials. Reach the restaurant at (509) 466-5999.
Capone’s in Hayden open today
The latest addition to the Capone’s Pub & Grill family opens today. Owners Tom and Teresa Capone announced that the highly anticipated Hayden pub would open Wednesday on Facebook late last week. The new pub is in the former Cory’s Furniture at Hayden Avenue and Government Way. Capone’s Pub & Grill was born more than two decades ago when Capone took over a gas station turned dive bar in Coeur d’Alene. A second location in Post Falls opened in 2006, but it was later destroyed by an arson fire. That pub reopened in 2008. Capone’s pubs feature homemade pizza, serious sandwiches, from-scratch pub grub and beer taps galore. It was featured on the Food Network’s show “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” with celebrity chef Guy Fieri. The other Capone’s locations are at 315 N. Ross Point Road in Post Falls and 751 N. Fourth Ave. in Coeur d’Alene.
Scrounge up some wild food for dinner
Gourmet Foragables & More is teaming up with Casper Fry for an unusual dinner. First, Josh Yake of Gourmet Foragables will teach guests how to identify native edible plants and mushrooms in their natural setting during a forest-to-table foray on April 28. Then, two days later guests can join Casper Fry executive chef Joshua Martin at the restaurant, 928 S. Perry St., for a five-course dinner featuring ingredients found during the hunt. Tag along on the foray and learn to identify morel, oyster and coral mushrooms, fiddlehead ferns, sheep sorrel, wild ramps, miner’s lettuce, cattails, stinging nettles and watercress. The cost is $50 per person or $90 for two people. Children under age 12 are welcome to come on the foray free of charge. It will be 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 28 rain or shine. No refunds will be offered. Dinner is at 6:30 p.m. on April 30 and it is $60 for one person, or $100 for two. Sign up for both the foray and dinner for $110 per person or $190 for two. Gourmet Foragables & More sells mushrooms and other wild edibles to local restaurants and at area farmers markets during the growing season. There is more information or sign up for the foray and dinner at gourmetforagables.blogspot.com/.