In an epic version of the "honey-do list," Clint Janson became a pastry master to fulfill his wife Christie's dream of owning a bakery.
"For a year, the hardest thing I've ever done in my entire life was trying to perfect croissants," says Clint, who grew up in Deer Park and had to incorporate his knowledge of the local climate and altitude to perfect Leaven Bakery & Patisserie's baked goods.
To get a taste of the Deer Park bakery's most popular items — croissants and cinnamon rolls — be sure to set your alarm to an ungodly hour, especially if you have a decent drive to arrive at the location north of Spokane. Many days, these bestsellers are gone before 10 am.
Christie, a full-time nurse supervisor, pops in on mornings and off days to make her famous cinnamon rolls. Scones, cookies and a large selection of sourdough bread are also favorites.
Supporting other local businesses is important to the couple: Wacker Coffee Co. supplies their coffee; the honey is from Greenbluff Honey Farm and flour is from Shepherd's Grain in Palouse.
Leaven is reminiscent of a modern French bakery, with circular marble tables, white tile backsplashes and wrought iron bistro chairs.
"I wanted to bring something that Deer Park could embrace, but that would also elevate what people think of Deer Park," Clint says. "We are not just this tiny farming community, which we have been forever — and that's great — but we are also a place where you can go and get really good stuff, and it's good to be a part of that."
MORE TO TRY
ARABIAN PALACE
4902 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley, 509-251-3459, open daily 10 am-9 pm
When war broke out in Syria in 2011, Abdulkareem Mahmoud had to leave his life and his family restaurant behind. He'd grown up in the food industry, starting at age 8 when he began helping his father in their family business that specialized in savory pastries.
When civil war broke out between Syria's Bashar al-Assad regime and rebel groups, Abdulkareem fled with his four children and wife to Jordan until they were able to move to Spokane with the assistance of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in 2015.
Abdulkareem worked at Feast World Kitchen, serving up authentic Syrian food every month until he could assist his two sons, Maher and Mohammad, to start a family restaurant.
The family's new restaurant, Arabian Palace, opened Jan. 4 in the corner space of a small retail complex on East Sprague Avenue in Spokane Valley.
Arabian Palace's entire menu is made fresh daily by hand, with nothing frozen, ensuring high quality for reasonable price points. Though you can't go wrong with choosing classic Middle Eastern options like shawarma, Maher encourages customers to expand their taste palate and try dishes like their lamb ouzi and savory pastries. If you want a drink with a sour and salty kick, try the aryan, a yogurt-based drink.
PATERA TEMPERANCE LOUNGE
1507 E. Sprague Ave., Instagram: @pateralounge, 509-906-4973, Tue-Fri noon-8 pm; Sat-Sun 10 am-8 pm
The newest addition to the Sprague Union District is Patera Temperance Lounge, a place for a festive no-alcohol night out. Owner Annie McGuinness' first step into the botanical beverage world was her pop-up business Loving Libations. Patera offers pop-up menu favorites like her Lavender Libation, served hot or cold, in a coupe glass garnished with a sprig of lavender.
There is also a selection of elixirs crafted with kava, a plant root traditionally prepared and drunk ceremoniously in Polynesian culture. The plant is anti-inflammatory and is known for the slight tingle and numbness it brings to the mouth.
Other drinks include hand-blended herbal teas and coffee from Peaceful Valley Coffee Co.
Patera also serves food — the menu is all-vegan and includes the popular mango chai tart for dessert.
EDDIE'S KITCHEN & TAVERN
10115 N. Newport Hwy., Instagram: @eddieskitchentavern, Wed-Sat 11:30 am-9 pm, Sun 11:30 am-8 pm
Spokane restaurateur Kevin Pereira has teamed up with his wife, Julie, to open Eddie's Kitchen & Tavern in North Spokane, near the North Division Y.
The restaurant features an amalgamation of the things that worked in his two other businesses, Lost Boys' Garage and Summit Kitchen & Canteen, like fish & chips, mozzarella sticks and jalapeño poppers — which have gluten-free variations. The most popular item so far is Eddie's Signature Burger, a half-pound Angus beef patty with gouda cheese and thick-sliced crunchy bacon on a brioche bun. For a hearty meal, you can't go wrong with the lasagna or the mac and cheese.
