SPOKANE
RESTAURANT WEEK
is proudly brought Scratch is one of 53 eateries participating in the first-ever Spokane Restaurant Week.
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Why The Inlander and Visit Spokane want you to go out to eat this week By E.J. Iannelli
G
ood ideas are often their own best ambassadors. They don’t need “Not only did other people rate our city that way, our own resisomeone to proselytize on their behalf; they speak for themselves. dents rated it that low also,” says Rich Grant, communications direcAnd Restaurant Week, by all accounts, is a good idea. The event tor at Visit Denver. “We wanted to elevate Denver’s reputation as a gives restaurants of all styles and sizes a means to woo customers en city for fine dining, to get people out and talking about restaurants.” masse. In turn, diners will have the opportunity to sample new fare Through determined sponsor collaboration, Denver began — or revisit longtime favorites — at an affordable set price. Tim Zaits own Restaurant Week in 2005 with 84 restaurants. That numgat, who’s credited with co-founding the very first Restaurant Week, ber has now grown to 351, and one week has stretched into two. has been quoted as calling it “a win-win” for everyone involved. “I think we’re now the largest in the country,” Grant says. “We’ve That would explain why a concept that emerged as a four-day progrown phenomenally each year, so the restaurants like to complain that motional stunt during the 1992 Democratic Nait’s too busy. But everybody comes back each year. tional Convention in New York City has since For the residents, it’s something they look forward been eagerly adopted by cities around the world. to all year long. We get a lot of people coming down This year, thanks to a collaborative effort of The from the mountains who want their city break.” Inlander and Visit Spokane, our city can count itself Denver’s success with Restaurant Week is the local scene..................4 among that unofficial list of global participants for one of many examples of how these indepenthe first time. According to T.J. Hake, senior direcdent events have flourished in their respective meet the chefs....................5 tor of business development at Visit Spokane, the cities and contributed to a larger phenomenon. decision to launch Restaurant Week here was a reHake looks to Denver and sees no reason why sponse to a “larger trend” that couldn’t go unnoticed. Spokane, which has a metropolitan area just oneeye-catching dishes...........8 “If you look over the past few years, Restaurant quarter the size, couldn’t expect similar results. Week events have evolved and spread throughout “Before we even had a full restaurant list and the country,” he says. Some weeklong events have menus,” Hakes says, “people throughout the Northmake a night of it..............9 turned into months. Some have become biannual west were calling me because they wanted to plan celebrations of local cuisine. And when Seattle beaccordingly. We’re extremely excited to have 53 the week’s menus.............10 gan enjoying its own pair of Restaurant Weeks in restaurants in our first year. In the next couple 2010, it seemed self-evident that Spokane should of years we could probably even double that.” follow suit. Organizers at both The Inlander and Visit Spokane were Experimentation and socialization are clearly part of the event’s conpleased to see 53 restaurants — more than initially anticipated — register tinued and ever-widening appeal. “In Spokane, Restaurant Week will to offer fixed-price menus for a 10-day period beginning on Feb. 22. give people two attractive price points — $18 or $28 — to allow them to “When you look at the culinary establishments we have try restaurants they haven’t been to,” Hake says. “Instead of a fast food in our area, they’re just as good, if not better than Seattle. A restaurant, they can go to a steakhouse or a fine-dining establishment.” good portion of Spokanites can vouch for that,” says Hake. And thanks to the prix fixe menu, diners can feel more comfortable about Ten years ago and about 1,000 miles away, the staff of Visit going along with friends, colleagues, neighbors or extended family. Denver found themselves in a similar — though slightly more pressNow that opening night is finally here, all that’s left is for loing — situation. Travel + Leisure magazine had just rated the Milecal restaurants to brace for the onslaught. “Everybody’s excited,” High City a mere 24th out of the top 25 cities in terms of fine dining. says Hake. “I’m looking to hit as many restaurants as I can.” n
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BON APPETIT!
restaurant week guide 2013 INLANDER 3