Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Sandpoint Cookin' Up Flavorful Dishes on June 24th

On Thursday, June 24th favorite Sandpoint restaurants, wineries and breweries will be cookin’ up favorite recipes for the 5th annual Sandpoint Summer Sampler at Farmin Park and Main Street in downtown Sandpoint from 5 to 7:30 pm.

“Over sixteen restaurants are creating savory samples this year,” said Kathy Hubbard, chairman of the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce board. "You won't want to miss this summer kickoff event."

Joe’s Philly Cheesesteak will not only serve their scrumptious Philly cheesesteaks but will additionally have good ol’ American hot dogs, hamburger sliders, chips, and soda for the whole family. Long-time favorite Pend Oreille Pasta & Wine will tingle your taste buds with portabella crimini mushroom raviolis with creamy tomato vodka, a chopped shrimp waldorf salad, and chocolate chip cookies and a refreshing blend of white, rose, and red wines. Skeyes the Limit always has a scrumptious sample with BBQ spareribs and coleslaw or grilled chicken satays. DISH Home Cooking has a southern style menu with house smoked St. Louis BBQ pork ribs with potato salad and homemade strawberry lemonade. For those looking for sweetness, check out Pine Street Bakery for their assortment of bakery goods.

Chimney Rock Grill, Connie’s CafĂ©, Eichardt’s, Evans Brothers Coffee Roasters, 41 South Restaurant, and Tango Cafe will reveal their surprise dishes and drinks at the Sampler; and MickDuffs, Pend d’Oreille Winery, and Laughing Dog Brewing will have brews and wines.

To top off the evening, don’t miss the ever-popular Litehouse sponsored cooking competition. Local chefs will compete for the traveling trophy as they cook using a box of ingredients and their ingenuity. Competing this year is Eddie Sneva from DISH Home Cooking battling and Jason Clarke from The Bistro Inn at Sand Creek.

Radio host Gary Lirette will emcee the event, and Litehouse CFO Kelly Prior, Sandpoint Magazine writer for “eats and drinks” Carrie Scozzaro, Bonner County Daily Bee’s David Keyes, Stephen Evans, and Sandpoint Chief of Police Mark Lockwood will judge and determine the best of show.

The Summer Sampler will be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m., and the cooking competition begins at 5:45 p.m. Tickets for samples are available at the clock tower, and samples range in price from $1 to $7. Cash will be accepted.

The Sandpoint Summer Sampler is proudly sponsored by Litehouse, Horizon Credit Union, Reynolds Auto Sales, Mountain West Bank, Bonner County Daily Bee, and K102 and hosted by the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber thanks Schweitzer Mountain Resort, 2nd Avenue Pizza, Taylor-Parker Motor Company, participating businesses, and countless volunteers who come to support this event year after year.

For more information, call (800) 800-2106 or (208) 263-2161 or visit www.sandpointchamber.com.