1)  Sweetheart Sunset Dinner Cruise on Lake Coeur d’Alene
A romantic dinner on the lake that includes prime rib, chicken piccata, Caesar salad, au gratin potatoes, fresh fruit and a special Valentine’s dessert, served with a complimentary bottle of champagne.
Saturday, February 11th | 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Tuesday, February 14th | 6:30 – 8:00 pm

2)  Wine Tasting and Chocolate Pairing at Sawtooth Winery
Enjoy an array of Sawtooth Winery’s wine paired with
The “Chocolat” Bar’s chocolates, for a most enjoyable taste treat.
Saturday, February 11 |12:00pm to 5:00pm
Sunday February 12  |  12:00pm to 5:00pm

3)     Stay & Spa – Mountain Decadence at Shore Lodge in McCall
Steal away to Shore Lodge with the one you love. Shore Lodge has prepared the perfect evening of decadence for you and yours.  Decadence package includes: One-night stay in a Lake View Suite; Two one-hour spa treatments of your choice at The Cove, an authentic McCall Spa; in-room champagne and strawberries nightcap.
Be forewarned! The Decadence package is stronger than Love Potion #9.  Plan accordingly.

4)      Romance Package  at Silver Mountain Resort in Kellogg
Luxurious condo, chilled champagne or huckleberry wine, two complimentary wine glasses, bath salts for the tub, souvenir candle and sweetheart chocolates. Deluxe romance package includes his and her massage and dinner for two at Noah’s Canteen.

5)      Celebrate with your Valentine in Sun Valley
Forever Plaid will serenade your sweetheart in the Boiler Room.
Swing back through time to the 1950’s with the Plaids as they revive close-harmony hits such as
Moments to Remember, Crazy ‘Bout Ya Baby, and  Love is a Many-Spendored Thing!
Tuesday, February 14 | 7: 30 pm
Cocktails at fire pit 2 hours before show time

6)      Trinity on the Beach in Sandpoint
Enjoy live acoustic music, along with food and drink specials.
Tuesday, February 14 |  5:00 – 8:00 pm

7)      His & Hers Valentine Special at Hotel 43 in Boise
Spoil each other this Valentine’s Day with a special night .
You will be treated to two nights in a Capitol level room, “Hers” night is tickets for two on Friday, February 17th to La Bohme presented by Opera Idaho plus “His” night tickets for two on Saturday night to the Idaho Stampede basketball game. To top it off, enjoy breakfast for two on both Saturday and Sunday from the Metro Café.  Valet parking for two nights, plus special Hotel 43 Valentines treats will be waiting for you upon arrival.

8)      The Whole Ski Bang!
Skiing, pampering and tasty treats, this getaway to Aura Soma Lava Hot Springs in eastern Idaho promises quality couple time and a lot more!  The Whole Ski Bang! package for two includes: a two night stay at Aura Soma Lava Hot Springs; a day of skiing at Pebble Creek Ski Area; a half hour of facilitated stretching and sports massage, day passes for soaking in the hot springs pools, soothing massages after a day on the slopes; Grounds for Change brand organic coffee, Chocolove chocolate bars, bottled water; chilled champagne or cider and more!

9)      Inn-Credible Idaho!
Seeking a bed & breakfast that is intimate, romantic or rustic?  Browse through “Inn-Credible Idaho”  to find the accommodations that are right for you and your valentine!

10)   Sweet to Spicy at the Idaho Botanical Gardens in  Boise
Mustard is the king of condiments.  From Dijon, France to Boise, Idaho and from sweet to spicy, the possibilities are endless. Join Sylvie Ryan to discover the wonders of cooking with mustard. Sample different mustards, including local products, and prepare a few simple recipes that are sure to bring sweet and spicy inspiration to your Valentine’s Day Feast!
Thursday, February 9 | 6:30 p.m.

11) “The Chocolate Affair” in Downtown Coeur d’Alene
The sweetest ‘Walk’ of the year ~ for the chocoholic.   Join in the tasting.
Friday, February 10th | 5:00  – 8:00 pm.

12) Sweetheart’s Weekend at Silver Mountain Resort in Kellogg
Speed dating session on chair 3 and cupcake tasting paired with wines from Cupcake Winery.
Saturday,  February 11

13) Oh Fudge!   Make your Valentine’s Day even sweeter with this decadent fudge.
Idaho’s “Black Canyon Fudge” makes mouthwatering sweets with real cream and butter.

I am always in search of a place for grown ups to be able to sit and enjoy some great brews and be able to have conversations here in the North Idaho area.

What always happens is I find a place that has great Craft Beer choices, but it is just not a place to sit and hang out with friends and be able to have conversations. Or…I find a place that is good to hang out in, but the beer choices are minimal or they just don’t have any craft beer at all (why I have no idea!).

My recent find is Mulligan’s in the Best Western Coeur d’Alene Inn. If you have lived in the area for a long time you will remember that at one time Mulligan’s formerly known as Roxy’s was a hot spot in the area in days past. It is well past it’s Roxy days (thank goodness-pukers need not apply), but with the addition of a new GM to the hotel he is wanting to put Mulligan’s back on the radar. He has added a couple Laughing Dog Brews to his taps and is going to rotate in other regional craft brews in the future.

Now the beer choices are not elaborate, but at least they have started on the right path. So with some good brews on tap, decent food, and a quiet environment that you can sit and enjoy conversations with friends it just may be one of my new hang out spots. Oh…and did I mention they have a magician that is in the bar entertaining folks a few night a week?

What places have you found that you like to spend time in here in the North Idaho area? Maybe we need to get a list going!

Guest Blogger: Jamie Lynn Morgon, Bikes and Brews Northwest

Heading west from Montana or east from Washington atop Interstate 90, we always build in time to stop in the historic silver mining town of Wallace. Sometimes we stop for a pint at the brewpub, other times a shot of espresso and a pastry. Now we’ll stop for the cannolis.

A few weeks ago, heading east toward Seattle, we made our usual exit 62 stop. We walked by the quirky bordello museum, the stone chateau of the former Burlington Northern depot and our usual stops, then went into a different place. There on Cedar Street, behind the counter of the D & G Bakery, we met Anne Alexander.

I wanted caffeine and something sweet. “I’m known for my little cheesecakes,” Anne said, her Italian New Yorker accent coming out double-shot strong with each syllable. Two bites into a delicious mini huckleberry cheesecake, my fiancee, Jolica, said to Anne: “That was awesome. Any chance you make cannolis?”

Cannoli was my Italian grandma’s specialty dessert, and I’ll admit to being a cannoli snob. They’re hard to find because making them is labor intensive and they demand precise timing not always in synch with customer needs. Anne said, “I make the best, but I need at least a day’s notice.”

No worries, I said, giving her 18 days notice before our next trip across the top of Idaho.

Grandma used to say the perfect cannoli starts with a shell made from wheat, eggs, sugar and other “secret ingredients.” She would lightly fry the shell, then add a filling of cream, ricotta, chocolate chips and more “secret ingredients.” The keys were the texture and the timing.

Seventeen days later, we gave Anne the reminder call she requested, but she didn’t need it. The shells were done, and ready to be filled when we arrived. She noted, “we will have them like the Sicilian’s do: with a shot of espresso, a slight twist of lemon, and a few drips of Sambuca included.”

The bakery was actually closed that day, so we knew we were in for a special treat. Anne’s husband John joined us to clank glasses and savor an absolutely wonderful dessert. Then another. And one more for good measure.

We like traveling without reservations, but will now make an exception to that rule and call Anne to reserve cannolis whenever we’re 24 hours from Wallace. And although we won’t expect the off-day family treatment, we’ll bank on a welcoming smile and some fantastic Italian treats.

Cheers, John

Written by Guest Blogger John Deleva

Week 8: October 17 – 23

As we get closer to Halloween and the cool Idaho air gives us a reprieve from the summer heat, rich wines and hearty dishes of comfort foods take center stage. It’s not too late to enjoy an outdoor adventure and ease into fall with these great Idaho events.

October 23 – 29: 7-Day Wine Tasting Getaway, Red Horse Mountain Ranch, Harrison
Sample over 30 regional wines, be delighted with chef prepared meals, and enjoy a wide range of guided adventures including horseback riding, sporting clays, kayaking, and boat tours.

October 21: Pend d’Oreille Winery Live Music Line-up
Savor some delicious wine and listen to the soft, acoustic, indie folk/rock of Jean Mann from coastal Washington. Concert is from 5 pm – 8pm.

Sip Your Way Through Idaho Wine Country: Idaho Wine Passport Program

In partnership with the Idaho Statesman, the Idaho Wine Commission created the Idaho Wine Passport Program. Passport holders receive special deals at the 20 participating wineries located throughout Idaho, and will be entered to win a stellar grand wine prize. Passport is valid through the end of April, 2012.

With fall comes an abundance of gourds. Courtesy of the Idaho Preferred recipe library, this delicious recipe is perfect for warming up as the temperatures cool down.

Beef-Picadillo-Stuffed Acorn Squash

1 pound ground beef
1 cup torn Romaine
1 medium onion, chopped
1 tablespoon Mexican Seasoning Mix
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
⅓ cup raisins
1 acorn squash, quartered, cooked
1 tablespoon slivered almonds (optional)

1. Brown ground beef in large nonstick skillet over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes or until beef is no longer pink, breaking up into ¾-inch crumbles. Pour off drippings.

2. Sprinkle seasoning mix and cinnamon over beef; mix well. Stir in tomato sauce and raisins, bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve over squash. Garnish with almonds, if desired.

Enjoy local food and wine at these Idaho restaurants.
Farmers Market Guide
A Harvest Guideto farm festivals, pumpkin patches and corn mazes

Culinary Event Calendar for August 29 – September 5
Culinary Event Calendar for September 6 – 11
Culinary Event Calendar for September 12 – 17
Culinary Event Calendar September 18 – 25
Culinary Event Calendar September 26 – October 2
Culinary Event Calendar October 3 – October 9
Culinary Event Calendar October 10 – 16
Culinary Event Calendar October 17 – 23
Culinary Event Calendar October 24 – 30
Culinary Event Calendar October 31 – November 6

Written by guest blogger, EA Stewart.

Boise, Idaho

We started the trip in Boise, Idaho which is a really cool city.  Last time I was there I was about 5 or 6.  I don’t remember much from that trip, other than going snow shoeing, but I’m guessing things have changed a little.  We had a delicious dinner at Chandler’s Steakhouse the first night, then spent the next morning exploring an incredible local farmer’s market, along with the state Capitol Building.

Little Salmon Lodge

We spent two nights at this beautiful lodge nestled beside the Little Salmon River.  My family shared a room with 2 double bed and 6 bunk beds.  As excited as the kids were about those bunk beds, in the end they chose to sleep in bed with us.  Oh, and not to boast, but we played a game of croquet by the river, and guess who won???

Clearly a major highlight of the trip!  This was my first time ever white water rafting, and it was a blast!  My dad had been once before on the Colorado River, and Ian had done a few day trips, but the kids and I had never been before.  We did mostly class 2 and 3 rapids, with a couple of class 4′s as well.  I now know how people can get addicted to rafting, and I’m already thinking about where our next rafting trip should be! Any suggestions?

Each day we spent about 5-6 hours on the river, then ended our days on beautiful sandy beaches.  The setting was truly spectacular!  One of the best part of the trip for me was waking up in the morning, unzipping my tent to the beautiful view, then making my way across the sand to the BEST camp coffee ever!  Oh, and it was a delight watching my kids unplug from their electronic gadgets and spend HOURS of time playing in the river, on the sand, skipping rocks, catching frogs, and simply enjoying nature!

The Food

I couldn’t write this post and not mention the food!  Best camp food ever.  Period.  I already mentioned the delicious coffee each morning.  Breakfast always include fresh fruit and fixings for oatmeal, then depending upon the day, eggs or pancakes.

For lunch, we would stop somewhere on the river for fresh fruit and a salad or cold cuts, and veggies.  Oh, and then there were cookies for dessert!

Around 5 pm when we were at our camp site, the appetizers came out.  Tuna Poke one night… turkey, cheese and asparagus roll-ups another night…cheese, crackers, and veggies…bruschetta…You get the picture!

Dinner was served around 7 or 7:30 and was always delicious…lasagna….enchiladas….roasted asparagus…surf and turf!  And the best part of all???  I didn’t have to cook any of it! Of course I love cooking, but it’s nice to take a break once in a while!

The People

The guides on our trip from Northwest Voyageurs were incredible!  Their days lasted from 6 am until around 10 pm when most of us started heading off to bed.  They hauled 26 people and all our gear for 5 days down the rivers.  They cooked us all our meals, rowed our rafts, set up our tents, played games with us on the beach {volleyball…washers…frisbee…raft sliding…and, last, but not least, “butt darts”-I’ll only tell if somebody asks, all with big smiles on their faces.  Truly amazing!  And, then, of course, there were all the fabulous people and families we met and hung out with. It was truly an adventure my family and I will never forget!