Dinner celebrates merlot – and other varietals, too
Merlot is the star of Europa’s wine dinner tonight. Well, mostly.
The Mostly Merlot Wine Dinner is at 6 p.m. for $55 per person. Courses include grilled sardines with fennel and sparkling rosé from Italy, braised oxtail with wild mushrooms and a red Bordeaux blend, and grilled buffalo with Brussels sprouts and Washington state merlot.
For reservations, call Europa, 125 S. Wall St., at (509) 455-4051.
Spokane Club hires executive chef
Originally from Pennsylvania, Mark Miskiewicz served as head chef at Mystic Café in Lewiston before starting at the Spokane Club in late July.
He attended the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, and founded Crème de La Crème Catering in Costa Mesa, California, where he worked as head chef from 1989 to 2013. He was also chef-owner at Alta Italia Restaurant in Santa Ana, California.
Spokane Club is a private, membership organization with athletic, dining and other amenities in downtown Spokane and Spokane Valley. Call (509) 838-8511.
Blaze of pizza glory
Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza is slated to open in Spokane in September.
The fast-casual restaurant chain’s first store in Washington state will feature an open-concept kitchen and assembly-line-like counter. Custom, 11-inch, thin-crust pizzas will cost about $8 each and be ready in about three minutes.
Started in 2012 in Irvine, California, by Elise and Rick Wetzel of Wetzel’s Pretzels, Blaze is backed by celebrity investors such as Maria Shriver and LeBron James. The Spokane store will open at 926 N. Division St. On the Web: http://blazepizza.com.
Wineries win awards
Three local wineries won awards at the recent 2015 Indy International Wine Competition.
Barrister Winery’s 2012 cabernet franc won double gold. Its 2012 sangiovese and red blend, Rough Justice X, both won gold medals. And its 2012 petit verdot won a bronze medal.
Nodland Cellars won silver for its 2010 Private Blend and bronze for its 2012 merlot blend Bad Attitude.
Cougar Crest Winery won gold medals for its 2012 merlot and 2011 syrah and silver medals for its 2011 cabernet franc and 2011 blend of merlot, petit verdot and malbec.
More than 2,000 wines from 40 states and 11 countries entered the contest, held at Purdue University in Indiana. On the Web: www.indyinternational.org.
Cool it
Roast House baristas will teach you how to make cold-brew coffee on Saturday.
The $20 class starts at 10 a.m. and includes a classic iced americano, frothy shakerato and 1-pound bag of coffee.
Reserve a spot by calling (509) 995-6500. Roast House is at 423 E. Cleveland Ave.