Food

Labor Day reminds me of New Year’s but with fewer fireworks, less noise and the absence of a crystal ball dropping in Times Square. Like New Year’s, Labor Day is a time of transition. Originally a tribute to American workers, the “workmen’s holiday” has morphed into a celebration (or mourning, perhaps) of the end of summer, amid the onset of substantial change in season and routine, especially, if school is involved.

Revival Tea Co. launched a new cafe with acai, coffee, boba tea, toast and grab-and-go bites on Spokane’s busiest weekend of the year.

It’s the second most wonderful time of the year!

Ken Hess once stuffed bears for a living, but now he is freeze-drying them. A lifelong crafter and purveyor of DIY Chalk Couture items, the former Spokane Build-A-Bear Workshop manager has discovered his newest airy niche dabbling in the universe of crispy freeze-dried confections.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, some would argue. And Rosie’s Restaurant knows exactly how important that first meal is. So before the classic diner opened late last month, general manager Tim Raridan made sure all of its recipes were the best options available for hungry customers.

What’s your favorite wine movie? I’m thinking of films made for theater or TV that feature wine as a theme, plotline or backdrop. To make my list, a film needs to get the wine part right, and not rely entirely on stereotypes about wine or wine lovers. For this discussion at least, I’m excluding documentaries aimed at the oenoscenti or movies meant to teach us about wine. These are films that tell a story with wine involved.

How to describe sumac?

Life pulls you in different directions, creating distance even between the closest of bonds. Yet, time seems to stop in the kitchen, and the world feels just a little lighter.

Pullman will be hosting the 35th annual lentil festival on Saturday, with activities for the entire family, including the world’s largest bowl of lentil chili – a 350-gallon vat prepared by Washington State University’s Catering Services - live music, cooking demos, science exploration for the kids and so much more.

We all know the value of starting the day with a healthy and filling breakfast. Although, some of us still insist that plenty of coffee is all we really need.

Doña-Magnolia, which opened in March in the restaurant space of Hotel Indigo, doesn’t just borrow from several food traditions. Italian pastas receive Mexican spices, tortas come with Indian fillings, ceviche is infused with Asian flavors. Chef Manuel Montijo Jr. wouldn’t have it any different – he’s been experimenting with flavors from the beginning.

Cucumbers sometimes get overlooked as fodder for a main dish or appetizer because they’re so ubiquitous and, let’s be honest, utilitarian.

Commissary kitchens are incubators for restaurants

Summer means getting outside and having fun with your dog.

There is a standard by which all dog-friendly patios must be judged.

PARIS – What does a city proud of its culinary reputation, but also committed to hosting a climate-conscious Olympics, serve to thousands of athletes seeking peak performance? It’s been a tricky balance at the Olympic Village, where caterers are preparing 40,000 meals a day.

Come August, you’ll find farmers market stands laden with bright, juicy tomatoes, vfresh zucchini and various nightshades in peak form, and somehow, they all end up coming home with you. A ratatouille galette, with its flaky, buttery crust and layers of tender, roasted vegetables, is the perfect vessel for all that peak-season deliciousness.

Each year in the Inland Northwest, dog owners eagerly await the days of sunny, warm, easy-breezy outings with their pack. Finally peak dog-walking season arrives and before you know it, it’s already so hot that Fido has to wait for a walk until after dinner.

The great Italian chef Luigi Portabello once proclaimed, “Bread feedsa the masses, but pizza feedsa the soul!” OK, I may have just made all of that up. If there ever were a real-life Luigi Portabello, I’m sure he’d agree with that quoted sentiment, just like the rest of us.