Food

Celeste Shaw-Coulston happened across a casting call for a Spokane home makeover show – and encouraged her daughter-in-law to apply.

If you’re trying to get on a healthier track as we start the new year, you might be tempted to heed the unrelenting call to cut certain foods out of your life. Sure, most of us could pull back on added sugars, refined grains and processed meats, for example, but instead of focusing on saying “no” to those, why not take a more affirmative path and turn your attention to the foods to say “yes” to?

The new year is nearly here, and, as is custom, we ring out the old by running down the very best bottles to hit shelves during the past 12 months.

As 2023 draws to a close it’s time for the Greatest Values of the Year, my annual selection of a dozen wines from the year’s recommendations that cost $20 or less. These are among my favorites that I tasted throughout 2023, wines that offer excitement and quality without making a dent in our wallets.

You don’t have to start a radical new diet to see big changes in your health. You can lose weight, improve your life expectancy, nourish your gut microbiome and boost your overall well-being by making small but powerful changes to what and how you eat.

Brandon Fenton, who has co-owned the Iolite Lounge in Spokane Valley for just over a year, says he’s always looking to try creative and different concepts for the cocktail lounge’s drink menu. Iolite’s “teardrop” cocktails, for example, come in different colors and are served in globules of ice shaped like their namesake. The Blazing Apple is a tequila-infused concoction that, naturally, is set on fire. 

If I’m home for New Year’s Eve – where I prefer to be – chances are I’m making fondue. Sometimes I make two: a cheese one for dinner and a chocolate one for dessert. The fun, informal nature of the dish sets just the right tone. There’s an ease about fondue, from the stress-free way it’s served to the freedom each person has to choose what they want to dip in it.

Nothing has Idahoans divided quite like In-N-Out Burger. The California fast-food chain’s Meridian opening Dec. 12 sorted residents into two factions: those who are willing to wait hours for an In-N-Out burger, and those who loudly profess the former are wasting their time. The divide is no more clear than in, you guessed it, the Facebook groups dedicated to the company’s new store, the first ...

With most businesses closing for Christmas, many look forward to their holiday off. That’s not the case at some Chinese restaurants that in Spokane, who historically stay open in Spokane.

From staff reports

I consider caramel as evidence that cooking is a form of magic. With just heat, you can turn simple, sweet sugar into something deliciously complex with a range of textures (depending on the addition of other ingredients). This is thanks to chemical reactions that create new flavor compounds. But as with any potion, making caramel can be hard to master and even dangerous if not handled properly.

Holiday gifts don't have to be big or expensive to be appreciated. In fact, it's often the smaller, practical items intended for everyday use that end up having the most impact in the long run. 

Liberty Lake’s 3 Ninjas restaurant refuses to be put into a box. Melding flavors from places like Thailand, Mexico, Japan, Korea, America and others, their menu offers mouthwatering bowls, sandwiches, wraps, tacos, salads and more.

From staff reports

Since Hanukkah is approaching, I wanted a one-pot dish that was festive enough for a holiday meal, yet easy enough to leave time to make latkes. Tsimmes recipes vary greatly, but the version I grew up with included honey and orange juice to nudge the natural sweetness of the root vegetables and dried fruit.

For many customers, walking into Karar Market feels like home.

A big part of me loves to be a little extra. I love baking that looks a little extra. That part of me that loves all things extra is at war with the part of me that doesn’t always have time to make everything extra. I love finding something that feels like minimal work with maximum results. I have spent many hours decorating cookies, and I love it. However, I prefer dealing with something other than piping tips, many piping bags full of icing and then the cleanup.

The estimated wait time for a meal by drive-thru at In-N-Out Burger’s new Meridian location was, by noon Tuesday, up to 8 hours.