Original Taste of Sandpoint Serves Assortment of Cuisine

Tonight, treat family and friends at the Original Taste of Sandpoint presented by Dine Around Sandpoint – the official kick off event for the 2010 Winter Carnival. Savor flavors of Northwest cuisine, wines, and brews at “bite-sized” prices at the Sandpoint Business & Events Center on the corner of Pine and Euclid in downtown Sandpoint.

▪ 41 South – Sandpoint’s newer fine dining establishment owned by local restauranteur and community favorite Claudia Dick, 41 South stews up hatch green chili beef stew and stone harbor crab bisque.

▪ Bab’s Pizzaria – Pizzeria serves assortment of Italian with pizza, stromboli, savory pockets, fruit turnovers, and huckleberry cherry cheesecake.

▪ Bistro at the Inn at Sand Creek – Making premier showing at the Taste, the Bistro offers chipotle braised lamb shanks, goat cheese polenta cake, kobe beef cheek tacos, micros cilantro, queso fresco, and twice cooked salsa rojo.

▪ Chimney Rock Grill at Schweitzer – Taste welcomes back well-renowned eatery serving new England clam chowder, seared salmon with a petite parsley, shallot and caper salad on wild rice, and delicious apple caramel break pudding with whiskey sauce.

▪ Cruz Family Tamales – New business with well-known local chef Gabe Cruz cooking authentic pork & red chile tamales.

▪ Dish Home Cooking – Gary Peitz’s restaurant brings home cooking to the Taste for the second year with butternut squash salad with roasted butternut squash tossed with orzo, sautéed kale, parmesan, red onion, and pumpkin seeds with a honey-apple cider dressing in addition to a wine assortment of Cono Sur Sauvignon Blanc from Chile, Wily Jack Zinfandel, and Argentinian Malbec.

▪ Eichardt’s Pub Grill – A local favorite pub and grill serves a surprise menu.

▪ Evans Brothers Coffee Roasters - New coffee roaster business with Rick and master roaster Randy offer their freshly brewed coffee and hot cocoa.

▪ Ivano’s Ristorante – Seasoned veterans the Lippis toss together an Italian surprise.

▪ Laughing Dog Brewing – Local brewer and successful entrepreneurs brew Rocket Dog Rye IPA and Cream Ale.

▪ Liaison Catering – New caterer makes premiere appearance at the Taste with steak salad chimichurri on bruschetta, potato bleu bisque, and corinnns prawlinnns.

▪ MickDuff’s: Local downtown Sandpoint brewery owned by the Duff brothers serves up favorite brews.

▪ Pend d’Oreille Winery – Long-time award-winning winery serves 2007 Bistro Rouge, Washington, 2008 Chardonnay, Idaho, 2005 Merlot, Washington, and 2008 Huckleberry Blush.

▪ Pend Oreille Pasta & Wine Market – Ponderay market and caterer and recent Business of the Month winner will serve oven roasted portabella and crimini mushrooms in a black and yellow striped triangle-shaped ravioli in a brown butter sage sauce and homemade lemon pepper fusilli pasta lasagna with chicken, artichoke hearts and mushrooms in three cheese sauce.

▪ Pine Street Bakery – Baker extraordinaire returns with yummy desserts and baked goods.

▪ Skeyes the Limit – Priest River caterers Skeyes the Limit will delight crowds with sautéed triple sausage stuffed mushroom caps and hob nob shrimp served on a bed of romaine with a slice of baguette.

▪ Trinity at City Beach – Local favorite with a new location at City Beach has a New Orleans and Mexican flare with carnitas tacos and chicken, shrimp, andouille sausage gumbo.

▪ Winter Ridge Natural Foods – First-timer to the Taste but well-known foods market serves delectable surprises sure to be fresh and wholesome.

The Taste will be from 5 to 8 pm. Tickets are $1 a piece, with samples ranging in price from $3 to $7, and available at the door starting at 4:30 pm until the event concludes.

For more information on the Taste of Sandpoint, call (208) 263-2161 or visit SandpointChamber.com. For additional information on Winter Carnival, visit SandpointWinterCarnival.com.

And new this year, the dining continues throughout the Winter Carnival festivities until January 18th with Dine Around Sandpoint. Fifteen restaurants around town will feature specialty menu selections at a low price each evening, and diners will be entered to win a year of monthly dinners out. There will be free items, special events, and more.

This year the Taste of Sandpoint is proudly sponsored by 95.3 KPND and the Bonner County Daily Bee.

For more information, contact the Chamber at (208) 263-2161 or visit www.SandpointChamber.com. For more details on Winter Carnival, visit www.SandpointWinterCarnival.com or call the Downtown Sandpoint Business Association at (208) 255-1876, and visit www.DineAroundSandpoint.com for details on the new Dine Around Sandpoint.