dining on a dime twenty W
e were wondering what you could get for $20. The answer: a lot, actually. After sending reporters out into various regions of the Inland Northwest armed only with their own hunger and a single Andrew Jackson, we learned just how deliciously far you can stretch your money at our region’s restaurants. The rules were simple: no fast-food chains, no make-it-yourself food and it all had to happen in one day. Take a look and see how we fared, then perhaps take a look in your wallet and see what you’ll be having for lunch. — MIKE BOOKEY, section editor
inside Coeur d’alene 30 15 delicious items under $8
32
north side
36
spokane valley
38
Illustrator
polly powell
section editor mike bookey
contributors
Annemarie Frohnhofer, Eric Gavelin, Joe O’SUllivan, Chey Scott, Carrie Scozzaro, Leah Sottile, Daniel Walters, Lisa Waananen, Matt Zambito
photographers
young kwak marshall e. peterson JR.
Granola, BBQ and Ti p s for by mike bookey
S 20
I
almost never have cash. But on the occasion that I do have actual paper currency in my wallet, I feel like Burt Reynolds or someone of equal social import and the money seems to evaporate at a curious rate. It was with that in mind that I set forth last week to eat on a single, crisp $20 bill. I work downtown and live on the South Hill, so those were the areas where I’d be eating, giving me no shortage of locales at which to turn this cash into calories. Figuring I’d end up blowing money on some shiny trinket in a store window before too long, I thought I should start with a humble breakfast. At Brews Brothers I stared at the chalkboard, searching for a tasty way to get the day going. The bagel sounded good, but too simple, so I opted for a yogurt cup ($3.30) with blueberries and strawberries that was smiling at me through the glass of the cooler. The barista asked if I’d like granola. “Sure, let’s get crazy,” I said. She laughed, so I dropped a pair of quarters in her tip mug — a thanks-for-laughing fee, we’ll call it.
$16.20 REMAINING
The yogurt sustained me better than I figured, given that it was lighter than the sort of gravy-soaked abomination I’d typically eat for breakfast. But by about 1:30 pm, there was an audible
Brews Brothers’ yogurt — an easy way to start your day. rumbling in my midsection, thus I began to wander downtown. I didn’t make it too far thanks to the alluring scents emerging from Chicken-NMore. Waiting in line, I scanned the walls, checking out the black-and-white photos featuring African-American baseball pioneers, old license plates and a 2007 Lewis and Clark High School football poster. It feels like your neigh-
Marshall E. Peterson Jr. photo
bor’s living room in there. I ordered the beef brisket sandwich ($8.03 with tax) and fumbled in my pocket to find those three pennies that never materialized. Owner Bob Hemphill said we weren’t going to quibble over three cents and called it good. I tipped him a buck for his kindness. He in turn told God to bless me. ...continued on next page Fair trade.
JANUARY 24, 2013 INLANDER 27